plum tree problems

[Headfry]

Hi kind people,

My Victoria plum is poorly

some of the leaves on several branches are curling up, not going brown, just curling.

The tree is about 5-6 years old now.
Any ideas?

[Flummery]

You do get a leaf curl thingie on plum types. (Not too technical for you am I? ) Our damson gets it - if you uncurl the leaf there's some sort of grub thing inside - quite gross. I usually ignore it (I'm like that - most things cure themselves and/or the plant survives it). It is unsightly but it doesn't stop the tree producing heaps of fruit. No doubt there's a chemical you could use but I'd rather not.

[Headfry]

Thanks again Flummery - you are a wealth of information and great help! I shall try not to worry- to much.
Sue
x

[rustylady]

Probably aphids attacking the underside of the leaf - Shouldn't be a major problem. How big is the tree and is it in a pot or in open ground?

[valmarg]

Another disease that can affect plum trees is bacterial canker.

valmarg

[Countrygirl]

Hi,

I was about to write about my poorly plum when I saw this. The leaves on mine are curly, when I looked inside the curl there were green fly which I have now sprayed. The other problem with it is that I haven't had any flowers. Before it's leaves came out I had 2 flowers, I just assumed that they were extra early and ahead of the others. Since then there hasn't been any other flowers or buds even. The tree is about 6-7 years old and planted in the ground. Last year we had loads of fruit so I will be gutted if I don't get any this year. Any ideas out there?

[Headfry]

Hi, and thanks for all the help. its about 5-6 years old, planted in open ground. loads of plums last year, did not expect to get any this year (its a Victoria = bi annual cropper) so should fruit ever other year. But, we have some fruitlets this year too!
Its only on one or two small'ish branches and not all the leaves are affected. there is a wound in the small trunk, but my pesky cat loves to climb this poor little tree! trunk about thickness of a drain pipe-just!

[rustylady]

I have a Victoria Plum in the back garden which I inherited when I moved in. It had been butchered, but the last two years I've had a huge crop off it. Actually last year I should have thinned the fruit out more than I did. Not many flowers this year, so I think I will probably pay for being greedy last year.

[broadsman]

plum problems

I have a victoria plum which cropped well last year (year 3) but this year has curling leaves, poor fruit (some oozing sap) and bark which is tending to split in many areas. What has happened? I sprayed for general pests early but the tree continues to fail on me! Do I take some action or just give it a decent burial? Help please.

[valmarg]

I have a victoria plum which cropped well last year (year 3) but this year has curling leaves, poor fruit (some oozing sap) and bark which is tending to split in many areas. What has happened? I sprayed for general pests early but the tree continues to fail on me! Do I take some action or just give it a decent burial? Help pleas fe.

The oozing sap and split bark are classic symptoms of bacterial canker. You will not achieve much with an insecticide, as it is a fungal disease.

To be brutal, I think a decent burial. It is incurable. You could spray with fungicides, but would you want to eat the fruits?

valmarg

[broadsman]

Thanks. I think I might just part with sweet sorrow; after all, we did have a good year together last year.

Broadsman

[Seabreeze]

We have a Victoria which is about fifteen years old and has terrible leaf curl this year. I never spray it... and it does have plums (but nowhere near the glut as last year). Most of this year's plums have brown spots.

I am considering cutting this tree back really hard after picking the fruit (no frost likely here). Will this help for next year?

I have two more, much younger trees, grown from this one's roots, not far away. I don't want them to get the curl / spotted fruit. How can I prevent this?

Thanks,

Keith

[adrian901]

Couple of thoughts

1. Interesting article in the Torygraph gardening supplement this morning. There have been more tree "illness" concerns this year than ever before. The RHS suggest that the incredibly uneven weather we have had for the past few years may have something to do for it, weakening trees so they fall ill to all sorts of things they used to shrug off.

2. If your plum is bleeding, it is almost certainly canker. If it is on a branch, cut it off (at least 15cms below the wound) NOW and burn it NOW (or take it to the dump). ANd then sterilise your secateurs/saw. And paint the wound with something like Medo (any garden centre. You may save it. If the wound is on the main trunk there is no hope and you should try to get rid of as many roots as possible at the same time as the tree.

You reduce the risk of backterial canker if you prune in the summer/early autumn.

Good luck

[Two_Sheds]

I've been meaning to check out my curly plum leaves for ages. I just did, and yes it is aphids. The ants are running all over it too.

I'm just going out for a major defoliate...

[Samson]

I have a 3 year old plum tree which for the first time was covered in blossom, and now has hundreds of baby plums. However, most of the green leaves are curling up, and some are starting to die. I have checked and there are no insects or aphids, and the trunk and branches look healthy. Any suggestions?