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Talkback: Damson trees

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
Glad that there is hope for me. I got a two year old damson tree last year - and nothing happened. This year - nothing happened. Sure I got plenty of leaves but no blossom. Same with my golden gage and my standard dessert plum. (As you may gather I have a very new orchard). My apples and pears are fine and producing a few fruit. Even my cherries (one of them produced a (yes A) fruit (but it did drop off, lol). But your story has enforced one thing. If you are a gardener - don't be in a rush. Thanks for this blog.
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  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Our damson tree has always had fruit, but we are always beaten to them just before they are ripe enough by the birds. This year we had a bumper crop and the birds didn't seem to be interested, unless they had pecked their way through so many they were full.
    We made delicious jam and did swaps for honey with our daughter as she keeps bees, so a fair exchange this year.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Pruning?
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I too have had a bumper crop of plums this year even though my neighbour chopped half the tree mid summer! Last year lost the whole crop to a swarm of fruit flies or something! I got there first this time.

    Also managed to get some large storage jars from Asda for £1 each and had a go at Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's recipe (in his River Cottage Handbook No 2) for plum jam with a twist of orange, cinnamon and a bit of stem ginger ... absolutely gorgeous. Planning to make these jars gifts for family and friends. I find it so satisfying being able to grow and eat your own.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I was lucky enough to be given Damsons from a friend they also had a glut of the fruits. the jam that I have made I am entering into the local Horti show this Saturday wish me luck!!!!!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    We have been picking damsons from my Mothers tree which must be 40 years old. The lower branches alone have yielded approx 35 lbs and we havnt used a ladder yet! Help!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    We Have a very old damson orchard. My grandparents never pruned them, but last year they had leaned over so much that I pruned some trees in the winter. Those two trees have died this year. I have read somewhere that damson trees should be pruned whilst green but I don't know if this is true, but it seems to be true, judging by what I did last winter ?
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have today just made 12 jars of Strawberry jam,I am thrilled to see all the jams you are making.Can anybody advise what sort of shelf life there will be?Thank you very much.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    We are thinking of buying a damson tree as we love the fruit. However, being pensioners, we wonder how long before we might have a crop to pick and if it is a practical idea. If we buy a two-year old when might we expect to see fruit?
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    6 years? Groan. I only planted my damson tree in March. I'll report back in 2015.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Its been four years since we planted our damson tree and not one damson have we seen yet. The green guage produced four plums which fell of before they were ripe. The Bramley apple tree has reasonable number of apples, the coxs has only three, with only one growing to a reasonable size whereas the old apple tree (no idea what type) this year only has two apples, and the pear tree has nothing. Not a good year for us despite the promise of all the blossoms in spring. Ah, well there's always next year!
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