I have a healthy ten year old plum tree which always has lots of blossoms but only yields around 10 plums?

Question

It gets plenty of sun and water. I place six spikes around the trunk each year.

Answer 1

You either need another plum tree to pollinate your tree, or bees.  Some trees are not self polinating, and need another tree.  Or you suffer from a lack of bees.  Google "Orchard Mason Bees," and make a habitat for them, and plant a fellow plum tree.  Your yeild will improve.

~Garnet

Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years

Answer 2

Our plum trees will produce no fruit this year because we had a frost after weather stayed warm long enough to get blossoming going.

Some years we get a frost that takes out only early blossoms or late blossoms.

Too much nitrogen fertilizer, and too little phosphate can result in low fruit set. But having pollinator trees and bees are more often our problems.

Having cherry fly infestations can cause plums to drop shortly after being set. But usually if one has no cherry or plum around for one year, there will be 3-4 years with few cherry fly.

Answer 3

When the tree is in blossom water it early morning and late evening.

If it is blossoming for a very short time you may try pollination with brooms or brushes.

The spiking will not increase the pollination rate. It is believed to increase the fruit growth and stop the fruit fall.

Check for availability of other plum tree in nearby vicinity for cross pollination.

Answer 4

Look at the soil.  See if there is a pollution source of some kind.

Answer 5

Some plum tress are self-fertile, but many require a compatible plum tree nearby (plum trees are not so common as apple trees) for pollination to occur. Plum trees have a short and very distinct pollination period (almost exactly ten days) so if you choose a tree which is not self-fertile, be sure to also choose a compatible tree.

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_...

Answer 6

sounds as if your tree is not self pollinating and you need another tree for cross pollination.

Answer 7

There may be two types of trees and you need the male/female one in order to produce plums.

Answer 8

Trim the tree so the energy goes to the fruit not to the tree growing .

Answer 9

Your blooms aren't getting pollinated.  They say that the bee population is shrinking daily, and if this trend continutes this planet is going to starve.  You can do everything right, but if the bees don't come, NO FRUIT

Answer 10

Indeed, the bee population is decreasing. They pollinate the plum flowers with neighbouring pollinator plum trees. Planting a few other varities of plum-trees will definately help pollination. You could try purchase bees from somewhere and you would also have access to creating your own honey... mmmm yum

Option B is to try give your tree more nutrients & minerals. Go to your local garden centre and buy a good fertiliser. Spray your plum tree with copper oxychloride once a month to keep your tree healthy.