Reasons Plum Tree not Fruiting Freezing temperatures before blooms open will also kill the flowers. Without flowers, you will have no fruit. Insects that chew the terminal ends, shoots, and flowers will also cause no fruit on plum trees. Excess nitrogen fertilizer promotes leafy growth and can diminish fruiting.
What causes plums to fall off tree before they are ripe?
There can be numerous reasons why a plum tree drops its fruit before it ripens: insects, disease, high winds, and stress ( too much water, too little water, lack of nutrients, poor drainage, weed competition, and excessive shade, for example).
Do plum trees produce fruit every other year?
Do Plum Trees Produce Fruit Every Year? Plum trees do not produce fruit every year. The most common reason for a lack of fruit on a plum tree is that it has not matured to the point where it can produce fruit. Most plum trees will need 3 to 6 years after planting before they mature enough to bear fruit.
How do you get plum trees to produce fruit?
Plum trees never self-fruit, and trees require a cross-pollination process to produce fruit, so in order to set fruit, you will need to plant two or more compatible varieties. Four to six years after the tree is planted, it usually begins bearing fruit.
What happens if you don’t prune a plum tree?
When plum trees are not carefully pruned, they can easily become heavy and break under their fruit load. Developing a strong foundation is essential to the life of any fruit tree. In addition, keeping fruit trees well pruned protects against both disease and pest infestations.
Why doesnt my plum tree have plums?
Many plum trees are self-incompatible; that is, they require cross-pollination from a different variety of plum tree before they will set fruit. Even the plum varieties considered self fertile tend to produce more fruit when they are cross-pollinated.
How do you prevent fruit from dropping?
To avoid fruit drop as a result of overbearing, we recommend thinning the young fruit before the tree drops it. In general, it is best to leave 4-6 inches between each fruit and break up any clusters that may form. You may use small, sharp pruners to remove the fruit or simply pluck it off with your fingers.
Should you prune plum trees?
Plum trees do not require as precise pruning as apples and pears, but still benefit from initial training and the thinning of old wood to ensure they produce as much fruit as possible. Plums are pruned in early spring or mid-summer to avoid infection by silver leaf disease.
What is the best fertilizer for plum trees?
Best Plum Tree Fertilizer Reviews
- Jobe’s Fruit & Citrus Fertilizer Spike 4-6-6. Best For Potted Trees.
- Down to Earth Organic Citrus Fertilizer Mix 6-3-3. Best Organic Dressing.
- Jobe’s Organics Fruit & Nut Granular Fertilizer 3-5-5.
- Miracle-Gro Citrus, Plum, & Mango Food 6-4-6.
- Miracle-Gro Fruit Food Spikes 15-5-10.
How long does a plum tree live?
Plum | 10-25 years*
Do plum trees need lots of water?
Young plum trees need to be watered at least once a week to promote healthy root growth. Once the tree is established, it requires regular watering, especially in the dry summer months. Deeply water your plum tree once every two to four weeks.
How can you tell if a plum tree is male or female?
If a tree is male and contains flowers, then it has male flowers and produces pollen. Meanwhile, if a tree is female and contains flowers, then it has female flowers and produces fruit.
How do you revive a plum tree?
To revive a dying plum tree, remove pests with chemical or organic sprays or kill them with insecticidal soap and water. Also, remove fungi-affected fruits and branches and spray them with fungicides. Lastly, adjust the watering schedule, fertilize, and use well-draining soil.
What month do you prune plum trees?
Prune when the buds are just bursting, or when the tree is just beginning to flower. Established plum trees that are more than three years old can be pruned in summer, from mid-June onwards. Again, the aim is to keep the tree a manageable size and shape, while allowing the fruit to ripen.
Can you cut the top off a plum tree?
A mature tree that hasn’t been pruned needs help to become a good fruit producer, but whacking off the top is not the optimal solution. If pruning old plum trees this way doesn’t kill them, it will assuredly produce unattractive and unproductive new growth.
Do plums grow on new or old wood?
But remember, plums fruit on young wood. Avoid removing branches that are less than three years old unless you have to.
Do I need 2 plum trees to produce fruit?
Most plum trees are not self-pollinating, so you will need to plant at least two plum trees to bear fruit. When planting a plum tree, it is important to make sure that the variety you choose will grow well in your climate. European, Japanese, and Damson plum varieties are available depending on your location.
Why does my quince tree not fruit?
The reason behind a quince tree not fruiting may not be a complicated one. It could be simply that the tree is not mature enough to bear fruit yet. A quince tree can reasonably be expected to start bearing fruit when it reaches five or six years in age.
How long do purple plum trees live?
Purpleleaf Plum Care. The purpleleaf plum is a relatively short-lived tree, lasting only around 20 years, and it requires a bit of maintenance.
What are the main causes of fruit drop?
Most fruit trees have at least two waves of fruit drop. The first occurs shortly after bloom. This drop is usually caused by lack of or incomplete pollination. The second drop occurs three to four weeks later.
What is a good citrus fertilizer?
Most citrus growers in our area will use 13-13-13 fertilizer the first 3 years. The first 3 years the tree is to develop the root system. If fruit develops it is necessary to pick it off to allow for the root development. Trees 4 years and older can use 13-13-13 but 15-5-10 is the preferred fertilizer.