As is happening all over the country I believe, our plum tree this year
has hundreds and hundreds of budding plums on it: last year it bore 4
(four).

My wife has heard that we should really thin out the plums, so that we
get bigger, juicier ones --- is this correct, or is it merely a tale
without foundation?

If it is correct, what is the best way of doing it? Thin a bunch of six
down to 3, or 2? (By snipping off with a pair of scissors?)

Cheers
John

"Another John" wrote in message
...
As is happening all over the country I believe, our plum tree this year
has hundreds and hundreds of budding plums on it: last year it bore 4
(four).

My wife has heard that we should really thin out the plums, so that we
get bigger, juicier ones --- is this correct, or is it merely a tale
without foundation?

If it is correct, what is the best way of doing it? Thin a bunch of six
down to 3, or 2? (By snipping off with a pair of scissors?)

Cheers
John

I wouldn't bother, the tree will thin itself for you. Ours dropped hundreds
of immature fruit a couple of years ago. I think it's the same thing as June
drop in apples.

Steve

On 25/06/2013 23:31, shazzbat wrote:
"Another wrote in message
...
As is happening all over the country I believe, our plum tree this year
has hundreds and hundreds of budding plums on it: last year it bore 4
(four).

My wife has heard that we should really thin out the plums, so that we
get bigger, juicier ones --- is this correct, or is it merely a tale
without foundation?

If it is correct, what is the best way of doing it? Thin a bunch of six
down to 3, or 2? (By snipping off with a pair of scissors?)

Cheers
John

I wouldn't bother, the tree will thin itself for you. Ours dropped hundreds
of immature fruit a couple of years ago. I think it's the same thing as June
drop in apples.

Steve





Indeed, it is just the same as June Drop, but I find it's rarely
sufficient to thin the fruit enough. Despite doing some thinnning on my
own tree years ago, the tree eventually produced so much fruit that the
branches broke, despite my efforts to support them.

So, do thin them, at least where you can reach to do so. Certainly take
out any distorted or damaged fruit, then any that are really tiny. You
may still want to thin some more, but I never thinned to a specific
quantity, just what felt 'right'. Clearly, it wasn't :~/. Be guided,
to some extent, on whether you want all large fruit or some smaller for
cooking, perhaps. An extra tip is to look out for fruits that appear to
be ripening (colouring) before they should. This is often a sign of
disease or insect attack so, even though you may have already thinned,
you can thin out again by removing these unwanted fruit.

Also trim back soft, whippy extension growths on your tree, to both
limit the size of the tree and to produce stouter, woodier branches
which will support the fruit better. Always prune your plum in warm,
dry weather to prevent Silver Leaf (fungal) Disease.

--
Spider
from high ground in SE London
gardening on clay