Damson trees loosing fruit

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evie2

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Damson trees loosing fruit
« on: May 16, 2011, 18:14 »
We have 2 apple, 2 plum, 2 damson and an old pear which has been chopped to 3 and a half feet.

The plum is laden, as it was last year, can't see much in the way of apples as yet and there are 3 pears growing. However, I noticed the damson fruits are dropping again, we've only had one year when there was any useful fruit, the first year they flowered.

Anyone any advice or insight into what the problem could be?
May this day be blessed with gifts, understanding and friends.  Merlin 2001-2012 Pandora 2001-2013 xxx

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Kleftiwallah

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Re: Damson trees loosing fruit
« Reply #1 on: May 16, 2011, 18:34 »

Where the heck are you ?

Damsons dropping fruit in May ?  I leave it untill the threat of frost before I go trogging down the sheep drovers track to collect mine.  ! ! !   Cheers,   Tony.
I may be growing OLD, but I refuse to grow UP !

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evie2

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Re: Damson trees loosing fruit
« Reply #2 on: May 16, 2011, 18:36 »
 :lol: No, I meant the fruit buds :lol:

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Kleftiwallah

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Re: Damson trees loosing fruit
« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2011, 18:40 »

Could it be birds pecking at the buds looking for insects?  Somewhere in the back of my mind a little bell is ringing.  -  But that may mean my glass is empty and I nead more crab apple wine !   :wacko: Cheers,   Tony.

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evie2

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Re: Damson trees loosing fruit
« Reply #4 on: May 16, 2011, 19:03 »
I don't think so.  When we were sitting in the orchard the other week, when the sun was still around, they were just falling off.   I pruned them back before last spring, but it made no difference.  It's just strange that the other trees are ok.

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fatcat1955

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Re: Damson trees loosing fruit
« Reply #5 on: May 16, 2011, 19:15 »
Could have been frost damage, saw a programme on tv recently where they said that the fruit harvest is 1 month ahead of usual but the frost we have just had could have wiped out up to 80% of the plum harvest.

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gillie

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Re: Damson trees loosing fruit
« Reply #6 on: May 16, 2011, 19:19 »
How old is the tree? and how much rain  have you had?

This sounds like a tree that is not well established yet and is being stressed by the lack of rain.

If there is grass and weeds growing right up to the trunk I would clear them so that there is bare soil in a circle at least a yard across.   Weedkiller would be better as it will not disturb the soil, but each to there own.  Then when the ground is good and wet I would put a heavy mulch over the cleared area.  

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evie2

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Re: Damson trees loosing fruit
« Reply #7 on: May 16, 2011, 19:26 »
They were all planted 10 years ago apart from the pear, we inherited that.  There are no weeds round the base and like almost everywhere else, not much rain for a couple of months.

I was really looking forward to making damson jam this year too :(



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