Protecting Plum Blossom

[Bigmallly]

Sorry if this has been discussed before, I tried a search and drew a blank. Anyways, does a 3 year old plum trees' blossom need fleecing? If so, does it need hand pollinating as the buzzes wont be able to get to the pollen? Sorry for so many questions at once.

[Jeanied]

As far as I know plums are fine BM - it is apricots and peaches that are more delicate.

Unless they are really early and the weather turns wintry suddenly.

[binley100]

I've never bothered fleecing my plum tree , tis a little too big for one thing . Still get plums , more some years than others but it is fairly well sheltered .

[Bigmallly]

Cheers ladies, I've lost the blossom 2 years running due to frost and wondered if there was owt I could do about it.

[Jeanied]

Well shove some fleece over for an experiment BM - but whip it off when the insects are about - which will be when it isn't frosty!

I remember seeing the net curtains drawn over the early blossoms growing on the trees in a fruit garden on the telly.

[binley100]

If you decide to fleece then it probably would be a good idea to get your tickling stick out

[Bigmallly]

So basically as I thought, either leave it open to the beasties or cover it up & tickle it............

[binley100]

ooh err ......tickling under the covers

[FB.]

Light a few small bonfires under the tree , or hang some Christmas lights to add some heat among the branches.

Are you certain that you're losing blossom to frost?
Could it be that your plum tree is not particularly self-fertile, and - because plums flower so early - pollinating insects are few and far between, especially if your tree is in an exposed position which deters bees from flying to it.

Depending on the variety being self-fertile, hand pollination might not work. Besides; more fruit, larger and better quality fruit is produced when cross-pollinated by a different variety. Self-pollination is in-breeding and that's not likely to give the healthiest pips. Cross-pollinated, healthy, vigorous pips encourage better fruit quality.

[Bigmallly]

Thanks for that FB. It's a Victoria and I got one plum last year. I have now moved it from garden to Lottie, no lecky & no fires......We'll see how it goes as it is a fairly sheltered position.

[Matt94]

are your plum trees blosoming now?

[Bigmallly]

No, not yet Matt. Just want to prepare myself for it.

[Matt94]

oh few, i thought i killed mine the way you lot was going on about blossom, i havent even got leaf buds yet!

[FB.]

oh few, i thought i killed mine the way you lot was going on about blossom, i havent even got leaf buds yet!

None of my fruit trees or bushes have flowers or leaves yet, although my blueberries, gojiberries and currants are showing signs of buds swelling, and my blackberries, raspberries and rhubarbs have some little shoots beginning to appear above ground.

Plums probably won't flower until late March, pears in mid-April and apples in early May - depending on the season and the variety it can be a little earlier or later; Crawley Beauty apple is notoriously late to come out of dormancy and sometimes doesn't show any sign of life until late May.

[Matt94]

well it was the first year my plum produced blossom last year, i can remember it being early, but i wasnt sure of when exactly. thanks fb for the info.

thanks
matt