Plum tree never fruiting

[KarmenPQZ]

I bought myself a ‘self fertile’ opal plum tree in 2018. The website said ‘For the heaviest crops it is best grown with another variety.’ So I wasn’t expecting massive crops but I was ok with that as really we have a very small garden and very few nearby trees as its tiny inner city gardens. However we have had nothing. Every year we get an abundance of blossom and I’m always hopefully that it just needed time to mature. But yet another year and we have no fruits at all. I remembered this year to take a picture. I’m really disappointed that I’ve invested 5 years in this tree. Do I now have to go to the hassle of digging up a mature tree and replanting with an actual self fertile one (partially or totally) or is there anything I can do?

photo from 19 March showing the blossom

Hello KarmenPQZ,

Its always interesting to get an update on a post.

Happy gardening
TheSustainableGardener👩‍🌾

I think you mention 'van meuwen? They always put me off by over colouring their adverts and makjng their descriptions v 'flowety' (forgive the pun'. Did you want a selection of fruit trees or was it a bit of an impulse purchase? If trees planned then I suggest should have gone to specialist nursery...easy to say now after 5 years, but a specialist nursery will know better what would suit in your soil/position and advise accordingly.
My MIL bought a 'set' of patio fruit trees so 'she could have an orchard on her patio' (as in advert) but got 1 apple in 20 years.
Stsrt again. You'll have plkms (I'd reccomend 'victoria' in 2 years.

No car so it’s hard to get to nurseries to discuss and hard to get items home! I did want soft fruit trees, although it was for a house we were buying that then fell through so they were not really purchased with the spot they’re currently planted in mind. Cherry and pear are doing very well so I can’t complain. Although I have had mixed results from T&M and VM generally happy with them.

I have a dwarf opal plum. I've probably had it 6 ish years? Plenty of pollinators around.Every year it was on its last promise, after beautiful show of blossom and then... nothing!

'Til last year,when it had a fair bit of fruit. Not excessive and I didn't thin it. Delicious.

This year? Nothing!

@TheSpottedZebra It probably exhausted itself