Victoria used to be fruity, but now lacking perfomance :)

[Bear]

Hi, I have a Victoria plumb tree (self fertilising, supermarket job) that's about seven years old, and for the past three or four years all I get is about six plumbs.
Allmost all of the plumbs that start growing turned yellow and dropped off.

The old leaves are dark green, young leaves are light green, nothing unusual, a bit of sap on the bark here and there.
I had to cut back the limbs two years ago as it was getting way too big, and I keep the new growth back which is rampant. It seems all the energy is going in to the trees growing than producing fruit.

Anyhow, any help appreciated.

 

[DirtMechanic]

It is not flowering. Your research question is "why is my plum not flowering?". Could you tell us about your context? Soil, Geolocation, pH, fertilizing and water habits etc?

 

[Tetters]

Hello @Bear It is good to have you on board. Welcome to the forums. Maybe you will find this link helpful.

No Fruit On Plum Tree - Learn About Plum Trees Not Fruiting

When a plum tree fails to bear fruit, it is a big disappointment. It is important to identify why your plum tree's not fruiting in order to prevent this from recurring again next season. Read here to

www.gardeningknowhow.com

 

[DirtMechanic]

Ahh.. self pollination may not be true even as the salespersons misled op to believe it true. Thank you again @Tetters !

 

[Bear]

Yes it is flowering! Bees all over it.
The second year we got quite a few plumbs, then , bbbbbbrrrrrrrr.

 

[DirtMechanic]

Oh - let the forensics begin!

 

[Tetters]

I'm far too daft to talk forensics, but I do know that if plants are ''pruned'' at the wrong time you can lose all the fruit. Most of the orchards around here (Garden of England - Kent) have pollinators at the end of every row, and bee hives everywhere.

 

[DirtMechanic]

I'm far too daft to talk forensics, but I do know that if plants are ''pruned'' at the wrong time you can lose all the fruit. Most of the orchards around here (Garden of England - Kent) have pollinators at the end of every row, and bee hives everywhere.

The Lady is very advanced in her knowledge of the subjects. Forensics or otherwise.

 

[Chuck]

Dropping, yellowing fruit is a sign of poor pollination. Even though this is a self fertile tree poor pollination can result from everything from pruning at the wrong time of the year, insects not showing up or showing up late to tree stress due to multiple factors including nutrition. Also, self fertile trees like Victoria produce MUCH better if there is a different variety of plum tree nearby. Just because a tree is self fertile doesn't necessarily mean it will produce.

 

[Bear]

Thank you all for your advice.
I think I'll get one of those bamboo bumble bee homes, can't hurt, and another plumb tree. Would you recommend a green gage?

 

[Chuck]

Thank you all for your advice.
I think I'll get one of those bamboo bumble bee homes, can't hurt, and another plumb tree. Would you recommend a green gage?

This link should help

List of pollination partners for Victoria plum (european)

Find compatible pollenizers for Victoria plum (european) trees, based on flowering group, parentage, self-fertility and other attributes.

www.orangepippintrees.co.uk