"Jeff Layman" wrote

Despite the strange weather this year, the apple tree (unknown variety of
eater, but looks to be 40 or 50 years old) is covered in apples. So much so
that I've had to prop up one of the branches which is touching the ground.
And that is after the June drop and thinning out! I'm wondering what will
happen as we finally got some rain yesterday - 30 mm - and no doubt the
apples will swell and add even more weight to the branch.

Looks like a decent crop of plums, too. Actually, I'm not sure what they
are, as they are around the size of a damson, but a lighter burgundy-red
colour. I thought the tree was just ornamental, as it has attractive
purple-bronze leaves, and flowers fairly early. We've been here three
years, and this tree, which is, I guess, as old as the apple tree, only had
a couple of dozen fruits last year, and none the first year.

Anyone else getting a good crop of top fruit?

Regarding the small plums, they probably are ornamental but effectively the
same as what the French call Mirabelles and they do make superb plum jam.
Just a pain getting all the stones out but well worth it.
We used to forage for them in the hedgerows etc., you can tell where they
were by the plums on the ground, and they make superb jam especially the
slightly red ones. Did find one tree where they were very dark red.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirabelle_plum

--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK