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Plum tree - fruits very weak

joepatrjoepatr Posts: 23
in Fruit & veg
Hi all

I bought a plum tree in 2019 and this spring had a really strong & good blossom show, so was very delighted to for the first time see some fruits form. 

I have however noticed that a lot of the fruits that I did once see appear to have blown off in the wind. Really gently I touched a few of the ones still on and they fell to the ground; I didn’t even have to pull it was just a gentle touch. 

Does this perhaps imply something wrong with the tree? 

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    It sounds like the “June drop”
    a natural occurrence which is explained here 
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=340

    Hope that helps 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    Plums often overproduce then abort unviable fruit - June drop. This is made worse by drought conditions so make sure to keep it well watered. Your's is still a young tree so it is best to limit the crop. Thin out remaining fruit to about 3-4 inches apart, this may seem very drastic and you might be removing 75% of the fruit but you get bigger, better fruit and a less stressed tree.
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    You are lucky to have any fruit, as my tree flowered just as a cold snap started, and all the flowers were frost damaged,  so no fruit for me this year. Hope your tree keeps some plums.
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