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Plum Tree Pruning.

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Inkadog (U14278499) on Wednesday, 8th February 2012

  I have a plum tree that needs pruning, but I read somewhere that it shouldn't be done in winter, as it promotes water shoots [suckers]. It
  had very little fruit last year. Not sure of the variety, but probably Santa Rosa. I also have a greengage, but the deer prune that one for me. Any thoughts?

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by AlinaW (U2220240) on Wednesday, 8th February 2012

  Plum trees must not be pruned in winter because it will let in fungus which will kill the tree - nothing to do with water shoots. Wait until June, then prune if you need to.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by As-If (U15116884) on Wednesday, 8th February 2012

  Plums fruit on last year`s wood and on old wood, so don`t go mad with the pruning, unless the tree`s size has to be contained.
  You say the plum had very little fruit last year. I`m wondering, if the deer might have "pruned" your gage before it fertilised your plum?

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Inkadog (U14278499) on Thursday, 9th February 2012

  Thank you for your advice-will leave it for now. The neighbours have a couple of plums, so I don't think pollination is the problem.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by chrisbucks (U14300604) on Thursday, 9th February 2012

  Why do you think your plum needs pruning, is it because it's just too big, or do you think that pruning will stimulate it into growing more fruit. I have a couple of other varieties of plum trees, and find that there can be several reasons for lack of fruit:
  
  1. You say you didn't have much fruit, but were there many flowers? Late frosts can kill the flowers reproduction mechanism (and sometimes kill the pollinating insects).
  
  2. Quite a number of fruit trees, including plums, fruit heavily in alternate years, almost as if they've exhausted their energy and need a year to recuperate. What was it like last year, was this the first year you've had a poor crop? Although there is no quoted evidence for it, I find that thinning my plums quite heavily in mid to ate June does seem to help avoid this problem.
  
  3. I wouldn't think it is a fungal problem, as my Victoria has been riddled with canker for years and still gives a good crop. It could however be a insect problem, with moths attacking the baby fruit immediately after fertilisation leaving very few to proceed to maturity. If it happens again this year, watch the fertilised flowers carefully and see what happens to the baby fruit - if they fall off, examine them closely for minute maggot holes.
  
  4. Altho as hardy as hell from a temperature perspective, plums do like plenty of water and feed immediately the flowers have disappeared to help swell the fruit.
  
  Santa Rosa is in theory self-pollinating, but several pundits dispute this, and recommend a pollinator called Methley - no, I've never heard of it either - or a second Santa Rosa.
  
  

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