Do you know why my damson trees don't have any fruit this year?

[cranmorefifi]

We've been in our house for about 18 months and inherited some pretty straggly damson trees. Last year we got LOADS of fruit - more than I knew what to do with. This year I think I've seen one fruit. We haven't done anything with them (the shame!) - no pruning, feeding or anything but I'd guess they're pretty well established. The house was empty for 4 years before we moved in as well, so they wouldn't have had any care in that time, and yet they fruited well last year. Any ideas?

[prettybird]

It just depends on whether the flowers manage toset before, say, a hailstorm. There were quite a few bad hailstorms up year during "blossom time". I though our plum crop had been knackered but it seems like the flowers had been pollinated before they hapened as we have a good harvest developing.

However, I know my dad's damosn tree hasn't produced this year. Some years he gets a fantastic harvest and some years he goets one damson off the tree.

There's no really care you need to do. Feeding at the base of the tree may help abit. make sure when you do prune that you do so while the tree is in active grwoth (unlike most trees) otherwise you risk getting sliver fungus.

Given that this year you have no fruit, it's a good year for pruning! (but do it soon). It's heart breaking to have to prune off branches laden with developing fruit!

[WelliesAndPyjamas]

with plum and damson you get alternate good years and bad years. You are having a bad year , it's just the way it goes. Next year you'll know you are preserving for 2 years not one!!

[prettybird]

Our plum tree seems to have good years just about every year: I keep on wanting to give it a radical prune, but never have the heart to while there is a good crop on it!

Our pear tree prodcues a gazillion pears every year, come rain or shine - that then have to be picked up on a daily basis off the lawn (undereds every day) otherwise they just rot and ruin the grass.

[WelliesAndPyjamas]

you lucky bugger, prettybird!!!

actually, it sounds like you must have great conditions for them. We've just planted a plum orchard on what we understand to be a great spot so fingers crossed, we'll be as successful.

Know what you mean about pruning when they have good crops on them. Seems a shame!

[prettybird]

Want some pear jam or chutney?

We still haven't finished the 2006 plum jam (the first year we started making jam) - but the 2007 jam was even better. We keep on giving jars away (with the admonition to give the empty jar back )

This weekend I've got 2.5kilos of home picked raspeberries to make into jam!

[WelliesAndPyjamas]

no no no no no thanks
we have the same problems!

have fun with the raspbs