[jacnal]

There are still plenty, and I'm grateful, but so many are rotting away like in the photo. What can I do to stop this happening? What causes it?

Thanks!

[WG.]

Looks like botrytis to me.  Also known as Noble Rot so make a sweet wine which costs an absolute fortune - not my cuppa tea though.

[jacnal]

I can use the rotten plums for an expensive wine? Don't tempt me WG! I'll go to wilkos, buy plastic demijohns etc if I can - seriously! I know loads of people who like sweet wine....


So, this botrytis. Is it fungal? viral? bacterial? How do I treat the tree?

[WG.]

See http://www.internationalrecipesonline.com/recipes/dictionary.pl?852 but I'd await confirmation that it is indeed Noble Rot before you get too excited

[waddecar]

My vote goes for brown rot. Pick damaged fruit as soon as it shows and bin them. Spores get in via damage caused by insects and birds.