Plum Tree

[Jency]

Hi I am a newbie to this site so thank you for having me.
I know very little about fruit trees and was given a Victoria Plum tree about 3 - 4 years ago in a plant pot.

I have never had any fruit but did have a small amount of blossom last year and again this year. I have looked around online and don't think this resembles a plum tree. I would be really grateful if anyone can give me an opinion if this looks like a plum tree and also a few tips please

[Guest]

Hi and welcome to the vine

What was the tree like when you were given it? Was it grafted?

If it was a relatively normal looking bought tree you were given then I would be concerned about the vigour of that tree for 3-4 years. Some possible thoughts

*If grafted the scion (top part) has died and the rootstock has taken over and suckered.
*Possibly stone grown which would allow for the vigour and lack of fruit and when it does finally fruit there is no telling if it will be any cop.
*The leaves to me look more plum relative that actual plum (but I have been known to be wrong ) so could be a cherry plum so the size would be right for 3-4 years.

[ecudc]

It's definitely not a Victoria plum as the leaves are the wrong shape. I guess what you do with it depends on how patient you are to see if it does fruit, are you prepared to keep on top of pruning what looks like it might grow in to a large tree and are you happy to experiment. If you are not very experimental, inpatient and want a smaller tree then I'd suggest taking it out and planting a named plum on a dwarf rootstock from a reputable nursery. If you are experimental and prepared to wait then let it keep going for a few more years. Feed potash but no other fertiliser..

[Jency]

Thank you for the comments

The tree looked like a normal tree, and it could possibly more than 3-4 years old. It has never been pruned ? I was wondering if that is why it is so bushy.

When would be the right time to prune it and do you think that would help ?

Appreciate any advice

Jen

[Bigmallly]

Hello Jen & welcome to the Jungle. When to prune will prove difficult to answer without knowing exactly what it is. Assuming it is a Plum it can be pruned in early Spring or mid Summer. I would be tempted when the time is right to cut out the inside branches, what you are looking for is a goblet shape. Take out any branches that are crossing each other as you don't want them to rub causing disease. What I did with mine was to festoon it, this entails tying weights (Water filled bottles) onto the branches, this will bend the branches to the desired shape & over a few weeks the tree will memorise the bend so when you remove the weight, the branch will stay. Festooning is also said to increase cropping & from experience I have found that to be the case.

[Jency]

Oh Dear!

Thank you for the comments & advice

As we have such lovely weather I thought I would have a good look at this so called plum tree. Firstly there is no sign of fruit or anything except large thorns!

So I have started to thin it out, as it is so thick and i guess overgrown it s going to take some cutting back and getting rid of the cuttings.

Although where I go from here im not sure

Jency

[veggiechicken]

Some members of the plum family have vicious thorns - sloes for instance. It could be that the rootstock has taken over from the grafted top as Norfolkgrey suggested.