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Talkback: A plumb job

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
I'd put splitting down to heavy rain following a dry period. I'm not sure what part of the country you live in, Dawn, but fruit splitting can be a problem with many fruits, including tomatoes. The fruit's skin grows quite slowly, and if heavy rain causes the plant to take up moisture quickly the fruit swells causing skin to split. I hope this hasn't happened to all your fruits, and you manage to enjoy a few.
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  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I would agree with the you. I was disappointed with my damsons. Very good crop but little flavour.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    So sorry you have been disappionted. Our plums have been very tasty and we have had a bumper crop. One thing puzzles me though.... we have an apple tree next to the plum (with a heavy crop), there is a branch which has 2 plums growing on it. - No, I haven't had too much 'plum juice'!. Both trees are more than 15 years old and I have never seen this before. I would be most grateful for an explanation, I can take some pictures if needed.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Best year so far (out of 3 after inhereting my tree during a house move). Last year the (Victoria) plums were plentifull but small and tasteless, this year there was a better June drop resulting in fewer but tastier fruit. Suprising after the tree had its feet in 3" of water for a week during the recent floods!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Sam, please do send us a picture to [email protected] as we'd all like to see this. If it is true, I'm at a loss to explain this. Plums belong to the genus Prunus while apples belong to Malus, and while both are members of the family Rosaceae I'm pretty sure you can't get plums growing on an apple tree or visa-versa. I'll get back to you one I've seen your picture.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Hi, I live in Derby and over the past two years have created a wild garden for insects and animals alike. My family are the lucky ones as we can sit out under a scoth pine, listen to the trickling water from our ponds, watch the numerous dragon flies, hear the bees buzzing around us and laugh at the squirels as they prance up and down the garden. All this on an estate just 3 miles from the city center!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    We resisted interfering with a busy wasp nest throughout the summer and have now been rewarded by an insight into the most intricate and amazing construction of the nest. the wasp was the Norwegian wasp common in Aberdeenshire and we first notice the football shaped nest in a shrub in July.

    We placed a notice to warn visitors to Beware. Occasionaly our German Shaperd accidentally caused a bit of excitment in the nest but took warning and no-one ever got stung.
    We noticed that all activity at the nest had completely ceased a few days ago, so in the company of our three grandchildren, we investigated by pruning the bush to free the large orb. Inside we found deserted quiet and wonder........ My message is leave wasps alone.

  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Hi all,
    We moved to our new place in the Clyde Valley in 2004 and inherited an ancient orchard as a consequence. Over the last few years the trees have been less productive and in general dying. Is there any way I can rescue these wonderful old trees?

    A few orchard owners have come together under the guidance of Scottish Natural Heritage to for the Clyde Valley Orchards Group, so any advice you offer will be passed on to my neighbours.

    Many thanks
    Andy
    www.orange-house.co.uk
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Fascinating to read about Graham and Janet's Norweigan wasps. I always keep clear of wasps having experienced a nasty reaction when stung a few years ago. Now I carry an Epipen (adrenaline) around just in case!
    Andy, do try and get your fruit trees identified. If they are old and rare varieties then it would be a great shame if they died, and you should try and get them propagated into new trees. Perhaps a fruit nursery or the RHS Fruit Officer could offer further advice.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Our plumb tree has fruited heavily but like last year the plumbs have often had a single grub in the flesh. I would like a recommendation on a suitable spray and how and when to prune.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I live in Swindon, Wiltshire. I've been picking wild plums that grow in many of the hedgerows in and around the area. I'm not sure of the variety, the fruits are about the size of a large cherry and are either apricot orange or dark purple. They do make good eaters though I usually use them for jam. This year though I have noticed that despite looking just as good as normal there are fewer fruits, they two taste bland and potatoey.
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