Old Plum tree - pruning??

[jonny]

The garden I'm working in this year has a plum tree that is fairly old. Don't really know. Last year, apparently several branches broke under the weight of fruit. Can I, and should I, prune this tree. It is approx 15feet high, but has branched out so that there is no real trunk. I believe it is a Victoria, but it may not be. If I can prune, how savage can I be

[nick the grief]

I wouldn't Jonny not yet. Plums really need to be summer pruned else you run the risk of infection getting in (silverleaf I think it's called) If you prune now you'll get loads of leaves & growth & not many plums. Also, when it's got leaves on you can see which bits are dead & take these out.

It's the 3 d's - Dead Damaged & de other one I can't remember (diseased, I remembered!!)

Also You can remove some of the fruit after June Drop has occoured to cut down on weight, then earmark the ones to cut back later on if you really want to cut it back hard, but seal the ends with Aborex I think it is to stop infection.

[jonny]

Thanks NTG. Filed so I won't forget:-)

[andrewo]

Ooops I pruned mine a few weeks ago to create shape for my fruit arch - now I am worried.

[nick the grief]

you will probably be OK Andrew, as it would help it establish if it doesn't fruit this year anyway. Also, as its a new tree it won't have the tangle of branches that old & neglected trees have.

[andrewo]

I have set it up as a cordon between two apple trees. See how it goes, it is the centre of my fruit arch.

[nick the grief]

Plums are fairly vigourous plants, so yu may have to cut the summer growth back by about a 1/3 to keep it in check.

[andrewo]

Cheers, will keep an eye on it

[fruit&vegvirgin]

we've got a very old plum tree. 7 years ago, when we moved in, it fruited very well (made fab plum crumble). however, we havent had any fruit since, although it seems to be healthy enough. could it be that its not getting pollinated any more? - maybe someone else had one locally which died. in which case, should I plant another one, and does it have to be close by?

[andrewo]

It could be self fertile but the flowers set early in the year on some plums and no bees mean no fruit. You could try and self pollinate with a brush.

[fruit&vegvirgin]

dunno, we always seem to have loads of bees... the plum tree is about halfway down the kitchen garden and the area beyond it is my wildlife haven (erm, that should read bit that nobody's ever done everything with, but I like to think of it as a haven for bugs and beasties).

[andrewo]

But when does the tree set flower? If no bees around then no plums.

[fruit&vegvirgin]

ah good point. but we have dozy bumblebees at the mo, and the tree has not even budded yet.

[Jaxom]

Bumblebees here in Cardiff for the last week or two. Loads in our garden but that may be to do with not only the flowers in bloom but also the blue fences. I understand that bees can see blue and are attracted to it. The Bumblebees here are also rather lethargic at present.
Jax

[andrewo]

Oh yes, can testify that bumblebees love blue, I always plant borage and tagetes by my tomatoes or beans. They supposedly can see blue in the spectrum and weirdly enought, taste it, what does blue taste like?