Why Plum Trees Drop Fruit
The plum tree is a fruit tree native to the United States. Plums range from dark-fleshed, small varieties to green-fleshed, large varieties. Harvest time is mid-summer to autumn, depending on the species. When a plum tree drops its fruit before harvest, it may be due to natural causes, water, disease or other factors. Does this Spark an idea?
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Thinning
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A plum tree may drop its plums when the tree produces more fruit than it can support. Reduce the fruit load by thinning or by hand picking.
Disease
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Diseases such as black knot, brown rot, plum pockets and other stone fruit diseases infect the tree and cause fruit drop. Use dormant oil or lime-sulfur spray to combat disease.
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Insects
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Insects such as the plum curculio grub and other larvae infect plums and cause premature drop. In late winter or early spring, spray with lime-sulfur and dormant oil before new leaves appear. Use Sevin or other orchard insecticides when blossoms fall.
Weather
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Wind, hail, frost and temperature extremes can cause fruit drop. Prune storm-damaged limbs and remove bruised fruit to protect remaining plums.
Variety
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Plum trees often drop fruit when the variety, whether European, Damson or Japanese, is not suited to the climate. Your local garden center or cooperative extension agency can help you pick the right cultivar for area.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of lost in translation) (Gordana Adamovic-Mladenovic
