I disagree with some of Ad's comments. Plum trees do not naturally give
fruit in waves. What happens to all fruit trees is that they have a tendency
to go biennial in production. This can be the result of allowing the tree to
overproduce fruit in any given year. The tree then takes the next year off,
and the year following that will give another bumper crop. Allowing this
cycle to continue will eventually condition the tree to that behavior. My
European Stanley Plum has been a consistent producer, except for one year
when it's production was negligible. The tree seemed to be having other
problems at that time, but it recovered the following year. I would not be
too concerned unless your tree gives you the same problem, next year.

In Dave's case, weather may have been a factor. An extremely cold night
during blossoming time could have killed them. In any case, I would not be
too concerned, for the reasons given above.

Sherwin D.

Ad Meijer wrote:

Plum trees tend to give fruits in waves. one year a bumper crop, than a lean
year. has been that way for years.
Yoy cant do anything about that. Its called nature. Better luck next year or
the tree next door. ( they seem to do always better ;-) )
"Dave Adams" wrote in message
...

We have a Santa Rosa plum tree in our backyard that has always given a
bumper
crop of fat, juicy plums. This year, there's only like 3 on the whole
tree.
I've done nothing different than usual regarding pruning, fertilizing,
etc.

Anybody have similar problems, or even heard of it? What could cause
this?

I'm in Marin county, CA

Thanks