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?

[Desiderata]

I think they have one year on and one year off.

Sorry for the non-garden-type-speak, but I'm sure we had the same problem in our garden years ago.

It was feast or famine, alternately.

[Desiderata]

Bump for the rude bint who didn't bother to repond.

[Bronze]

It may be the weather. The ones here havent fruited yet either though last year they were slightly later too.

[MadBadandDangeroustoKnow]

Yes, I was put off buying a damson tree by the nursery owner, who warned me that they tend to fruit in alternate years.

[choccypig]

Frost at blossom time I think. I've got 4 kinds of plums at the allotment, and only one has any fruit. My neighbours damsons are also very thin. Previously we had 3 good years in a row.

[cranmorefifi]

Thank you! I think it possibly might be frost??? I vaguely remember that at blossom time. Hopefully better luck next time

[sophy]

Some fruit trees are effectively biennial - get bumper ctop one year followed by poor crop the next.

But is most likely to be due to the late frosts we had this year.