Death of a plum tree ?
 

I planted a pot grown Victoria plum (on Pixie) early last summer. It
produced 2 plums and lost its leaves at the usual time. A week ago it
opened one flower bud at the end of a branch but, after that dropped,
nothing is happening. Soil around was on the dry side but with no leaves
it cannot be losing much water. I watered it well anyway. Does anyone
have any ideas ?

Thanks

Paul

--
CTC Right to Ride Rep. for Richmond upon Thames

Death of a plum tree ?
 

"Paul Luton" wrote in message
...
I planted a pot grown Victoria plum (on Pixie) early last summer. It
produced 2 plums and lost its leaves at the usual time. A week ago it
opened one flower bud at the end of a branch but, after that dropped,
nothing is happening. Soil around was on the dry side but with no leaves it
cannot be losing much water. I watered it well anyway. Does anyone have any
ideas ?

Thanks

Paul

--
CTC Right to Ride Rep. for Richmond upon Thames


Use a clean sharp knife to scrape away a *little* of the bark on the trunk
of the tree. If it is green underneath, it is alive still; if it is
brownish or black, then it is dead. If the former, feed with a general
fertiliser and water well. The single flower may just have been caught by
frost .. pecked by a bird .. knocked off by a cat or squirrel ..

If it responds well and flowers again, wait for it to set fruit (these will
be tiny), then feed it with a tomato fertiliser. *Do not* overfeed; if you
know you're inclined to be generous (heavy handed :~[), give a half-strength
feed only.

I hope it's good news.
Spider

Death of a plum tree ?
 

On Apr 9, 10:18*pm, Paul Luton wrote:
I planted a pot grown Victoria plum (on Pixie) early last summer. It
produced 2 plums and lost its leaves at the usual time. A week ago it
opened one flower bud at the end of a branch but, after that dropped,
nothing is happening. Soil around was on the dry side but with no leaves
it cannot be losing much water. I watered it well anyway. Does anyone
have any ideas ?

Thanks

Paul

--
CTC Right to Ride Rep. for Richmond upon Thames

Paul, I am no expert. I had plums in my last garden in England. When
did you prune the tree?

Judith

Death of a plum tree ?
 

"Judith in France" wrote in message
...
On Apr 9, 10:18 pm, Paul Luton wrote:
I planted a pot grown Victoria plum (on Pixie) early last summer. It
produced 2 plums and lost its leaves at the usual time. A week ago it
opened one flower bud at the end of a branch but, after that dropped,
nothing is happening. Soil around was on the dry side but with no leaves
it cannot be losing much water. I watered it well anyway. Does anyone
have any ideas ?

Thanks

Paul

--
CTC Right to Ride Rep. for Richmond upon Thames

Paul, I am no expert. I had plums in my last garden in England. When
did you prune the tree?



I don't think he did. Please read the post more carefully.

Death of a plum tree ?
 

"Christina Websell" wrote in message
...
|
| "Judith in France" wrote in message
| ...
| On Apr 9, 10:18 pm, Paul Luton wrote:
| I planted a pot grown Victoria plum (on Pixie) early last summer. It
| produced 2 plums and lost its leaves at the usual time. A week ago it
| opened one flower bud at the end of a branch but, after that dropped,
| nothing is happening. Soil around was on the dry side but with no leaves
| it cannot be losing much water. I watered it well anyway. Does anyone
| have any ideas ?
|
| Thanks
|
| Paul
|
| --
| CTC Right to Ride Rep. for Richmond upon Thames
|
| Paul, I am no expert. I had plums in my last garden in England. When
| did you prune the tree?
|
|
|
| I don't think he did. Please read the post more carefully.

I think you should read the post more carefully, where in it does it say
anything about pruning? Judith asked a valid question which may have impact
on his problem

Death of a plum tree ?
 

The message

from Judith in France contains these words:

Paul, I am no expert. I had plums in my last garden in England. When
did you prune the tree?

Never (or almost never) prune plums!

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

Death of a plum tree ?
 

On Apr 10, 1:11*am, "Christina Websell"
wrote:
"Judith in France" wrote in ...
On Apr 9, 10:18 pm, Paul Luton wrote:

I planted a pot grown Victoria plum (on Pixie) early last summer. It
produced 2 plums and lost its leaves at the usual time. A week ago it
opened one flower bud at the end of a branch but, after that dropped,
nothing is happening. Soil around was on the dry side but with no leaves
it cannot be losing much water. I watered it well anyway. Does anyone
have any ideas ?

Thanks

Paul

--
CTC Right to Ride Rep. for Richmond upon Thames

Paul, I am no expert. *I had plums in my last garden in England. *When
did you prune the tree?

I don't think he did. *Please read the post more carefully.

He didn't mention pruning, I did :-) I thought if he had, hence the
question, then the timing of the pruning could have had some impact.
There wasn't enough info to work out what could be wrong, hence my
question. I hope he has had some helpful answers, as I said, I am no
expert.

Judith

Death of a plum tree ?
 

On Apr 10, 9:31*am, "Angela" wrote:
"Christina Websell" wrote in message

...
|
| "Judith in France" wrote in message
....
| On Apr 9, 10:18 pm, Paul Luton wrote:
| I planted a pot grown Victoria plum (on Pixie) early last summer. It
| produced 2 plums and lost its leaves at the usual time. A week ago it
| opened one flower bud at the end of a branch but, after that dropped,
| nothing is happening. Soil around was on the dry side but with no leaves
| it cannot be losing much water. I watered it well anyway. Does anyone
| have any ideas ?
|
| Thanks
|
| Paul
|
| --
| CTC Right to Ride Rep. for Richmond upon Thames
|
| Paul, I am no expert. *I had plums in my last garden in England. *When
| did you prune the tree?
|
|
|
| I don't think he did. *Please read the post more carefully.

I think you should read the post more carefully, where in it does it say
anything about pruning? *Judith asked a valid question which may have impact
on his problem

I think that Christina was trying to be helpful to Paul and ensuring I
didn't lead him astray :-)

Judith

Death of a plum tree ?
 

On Apr 10, 12:11*pm, Rusty_Hinge
wrote:
The message

from Judith in France contains these words:

Paul, I am no expert. *I had plums in my last garden in England. *When
did you prune the tree?

Never (or almost never) prune plums!

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

Mine were very straggly. One year I pruned in the Autumn and was told
later that I should have pruned in Spring when the sap was rising.

Judith

Death of a plum tree ?
 

Judith in France wrote:
On Apr 10, 1:11 am, "Christina Websell"
wrote:
"Judith in France" wrote in ...
On Apr 9, 10:18 pm, Paul Luton wrote:

I planted a pot grown Victoria plum (on Pixie) early last summer. It
produced 2 plums and lost its leaves at the usual time. A week ago it
opened one flower bud at the end of a branch but, after that dropped,
nothing is happening. Soil around was on the dry side but with no leaves
it cannot be losing much water. I watered it well anyway. Does anyone
have any ideas ?

Paul, I am no expert. I had plums in my last garden in England. When
did you prune the tree?

I don't think he did. Please read the post more carefully.

He didn't mention pruning, I did :-) I thought if he had, hence the
question, then the timing of the pruning could have had some impact.
There wasn't enough info to work out what could be wrong, hence my
question. I hope he has had some helpful answers, as I said, I am no
expert.

Judith

No it hasn't been pruned. Thanks to everybody for contributions, at
least suggesting that I haven't missed anything obvious.

Paul


--
CTC Right to Ride Rep. for Richmond upon Thames

Death of a plum tree ?
 

"Rusty_Hinge" wrote in message
. uk...
The message

from Judith in France contains these words:

Paul, I am no expert. I had plums in my last garden in England. When
did you prune the tree?

Never (or almost never) prune plums!

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk


Rusty, perhaps that should be: Inexperienced people should never prune
plums.

I used to prune my Victoria plum tree most summers in good hot, dry weather.
It was vigorous, healthy and very fruitful for about 15-18 years. It
eventually died after three branches broke in less-than-appropriate weather,
letting in Silver Leaf disease. I replaced the tree with another trained
against a fence; that too, is pruned each summer. I am always scrupulous
about clean secateurs used in perfect weather conditions. Done correctly,
pruning of plums is possible and, when trained against a fence, essential.

Spider

Death of a plum tree ?
 

The message
from "Spider" contains these words:

Rusty, perhaps that should be: Inexperienced people should never prune
plums.

Some plums, whoever prunes them, shut-up-shop and refuse to fruit for years.

I used to prune my Victoria plum tree most summers in good hot, dry
weather.
It was vigorous, healthy and very fruitful for about 15-18 years.

Victorias are an exception, I believe.

It
eventually died after three branches broke in less-than-appropriate
weather,
letting in Silver Leaf disease. I replaced the tree with another trained
against a fence; that too, is pruned each summer. I am always scrupulous
about clean secateurs used in perfect weather conditions. Done correctly,
pruning of plums is possible and, when trained against a fence, essential.

Some plums.

Try pruning a greengage...

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

Death of a plum tree ?
 

"Rusty_Hinge" wrote in message
. uk...
The message
from "Spider" contains these words:

Rusty, perhaps that should be: Inexperienced people should never prune
plums.

Some plums, whoever prunes them, shut-up-shop and refuse to fruit for
years.


That's just plain stroppy, but surely a varietal problem, rather than a
pruning problem.


I used to prune my Victoria plum tree most summers in good hot, dry
weather.
It was vigorous, healthy and very fruitful for about 15-18 years.

Victorias are an exception, I believe.


Lucky for me then :~), and lucky for the op, who happens to be growing
Victoria.


It
eventually died after three branches broke in less-than-appropriate
weather,
letting in Silver Leaf disease. I replaced the tree with another trained
against a fence; that too, is pruned each summer. I am always scrupulous
about clean secateurs used in perfect weather conditions. Done
correctly,
pruning of plums is possible and, when trained against a fence,
essential.

Some plums.

Try pruning a greengage...

We tried a greengage, but the Husband Thingy signed it's death warrant when
it was stingy with its fruit :~{. Who knows, patience may have been
rewarded ...

Spider


--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

Death of a plum tree ?
 

The message
from Martin contains these words:

Try pruning a greengage...

or a narrow gauge, Dr B Ching.

Axing your pardon...

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

Death of a plum tree ?
 

The message
from "Spider" contains these words:
"Rusty_Hinge" wrote in message
. uk...
The message
from "Spider" contains these words:

Rusty, perhaps that should be: Inexperienced people should never prune
plums.

Some plums, whoever prunes them, shut-up-shop and refuse to fruit for
years.

That's just plain stroppy, but surely a varietal problem, rather than a
pruning problem.

Well, yes - if you prune the wrong variety...

I used to prune my Victoria plum tree most summers in good hot, dry
weather.
It was vigorous, healthy and very fruitful for about 15-18 years.

Victorias are an exception, I believe.

Lucky for me then :~), and lucky for the op, who happens to be growing
Victoria.


/prune/

Some plums.

Try pruning a greengage...

We tried a greengage, but the Husband Thingy signed it's death warrant when
it was stingy with its fruit :~{. Who knows, patience may have been
rewarded ...

IME, they tend to have good years and bad ones. I was going to turn a
greengage tree into timber and firewood, and it must have got wind of
the intention, and was loaded with fruit that year...

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk