can anyone tell me when to pick plums, when they are red&green or when they are red all over, if i leave them on tree bugs start to eat them

I wouldn't pick them until they are ripe. I don't know about plums, but
peaches receive 90 percent of their sweetness and flavor in the last five
days of their ripening process.

Maybe you could hang some sugar water in the trees in plastic jugs cut to
allow the bugs access. They will try to get into the jugs and drown. You
will have to change the water regularly.

Dwayne


"timbuc2" wrote in message
...

can anyone tell me when to pick plums, when they are red&green or when
they are red all over, if i leave them on tree bugs start to eat them




--
timbuc2

timbuc2 wrote:
can anyone tell me when to pick plums, when they are red&green or when
they are red all over, if i leave them on tree bugs start to eat them

Well sir, around here we wait until the fruit starts to fall off the
tree, and when it gets dark we go get as much as we can carry.

Not our tree, you see.

You could take one fruit and place in your kitchen window. It may ripen. I
do not have the answer,


--
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Consulting Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.

"timbuc2" wrote in message
...

can anyone tell me when to pick plums, when they are red&green or when
they are red all over, if i leave them on tree bugs start to eat them




--
timbuc2

timbuc2 wrote:

can anyone tell me when to pick plums, when they are red&green or when
they are red all over, if i leave them on tree bugs start to eat them

--
timbuc2

The longer you leave them on the tree, the sweeter they become. Timing is
critical, so if you leave them too long, they get spongy. You can pick them
a little early, if bugs are a problem. Leaving them at room temperature will

improve their flavor (mostly by eliminating the unripe taste, but not
necessarily
the sweetness). Don't refrigerate them until after they have rippened.

Not sure what variety of plum you have, but I would wait at least until they
are
red all over. They may still be partially unripe. Check that they are not
hard
but pick before they turn spongy. Of course, tasting a few is always a good
test.
Depending on the variety, there are no fixed criterias, but you will develop
your
own criterea from experience. You should also address the bug problem.
Identify
the bug and take preventative measures. Are these bugs wasps? If so, wasp
traps
may help.

Sherwin D.

I will say one thing. Prunus species do not tolerate improper pruning.
Small mistakes make big problems for the trees. Improper pruning greatly
reduces living parenchyma cells which store carbohydrates in the form of
starch. This starch is converted to glucose for defense and many other
features. This is greatly reduced by flush cuts and stems left long.

For more on pruning:

http://www.treedictionary.com/DICT20...ing/index.html
- -
Sincerely,
John A. Keslick, Jr.
Arborist
http://home.ccil.org/~treeman
and www.treedictionary.com
Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology.
Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us
that we are not the boss.


"sherwindu" wrote in message
...


timbuc2 wrote:

can anyone tell me when to pick plums, when they are red&green or when
they are red all over, if i leave them on tree bugs start to eat them

--
timbuc2

The longer you leave them on the tree, the sweeter they become. Timing
is
critical, so if you leave them too long, they get spongy. You can pick
them
a little early, if bugs are a problem. Leaving them at room temperature
will

improve their flavor (mostly by eliminating the unripe taste, but not
necessarily
the sweetness). Don't refrigerate them until after they have rippened.

Not sure what variety of plum you have, but I would wait at least until
they
are
red all over. They may still be partially unripe. Check that they are
not
hard
but pick before they turn spongy. Of course, tasting a few is always a
good
test.
Depending on the variety, there are no fixed criterias, but you will
develop
your
own criterea from experience. You should also address the bug problem.
Identify
the bug and take preventative measures. Are these bugs wasps? If so,
wasp
traps
may help.

Sherwin D.