Question from newbie cherry tree grower

**21again** · 24-05-2010, 11:58 AM

I think I may have just found the answer.

Beginner Gardening Questions: What is the red bumps on cherry trees.

**Plot10** · 24-05-2010, 12:07 PM

Though I'd add to this post as I have a similar question re Stella. I bought a Stella from Morrisons just over 2 years ago. It seems healthy enough and has plenty leaves but it doesn't flower. Is it just too young or have I got a sterile tree?

**rustylady** · 24-05-2010, 12:09 PM

Originally posted by Plot10 View Post

Though I'd add to this post as I have a similar question re Stella. I bought a Stella from Morrisons just over 2 years ago. It seems healthy enough and has plenty leaves but it doesn't flower. Is it just too young or have I got a sterile tree?

Could be too young, or you may be feeding it too well. Where is it growing?

**Plot10** · 24-05-2010, 12:14 PM

Rusty

I'm not feeding it at all, if anything it's neglected. It's in the middle of the plot (though I plan to move it to the edge in the autumn, gets sun till early evening at the moment. Where it's planted was completely uncultivated before so I just dug a hole and plonked it in. An apple tree that was bought a year later and planted a few feet away is doing fine.

**WrexTheDragon** · 24-05-2010, 05:24 PM

Originally posted by 21again View Post

At the base of the leaves on the stems are little bright red lumps

These are glands that secrete a sweet liquid to attract ants., the ants guard the tree and will attack anything planning to eat the tree's leaves or fruits.

**21again** · 24-05-2010, 06:20 PM

Originally posted by WrexTheDragon View Post

These are glands that secrete a sweet liquid to attract ants., the ants guard the tree and will attack anything planning to eat the tree's leaves or fruits.

Oops!

I had ants crawling up my plum tree which I have in a pot and I have smeared vaseline at the base of the tree to stop them crawling up there, should I wipe it all off then?

I thought that the ants would eat the plums.

**FB.** · 24-05-2010, 06:33 PM

Originally posted by 21again View Post

Oops!

I had ants crawling up my plum tree which I have in a pot and I have smeared vaseline at the base of the tree to stop them crawling up there, should I wipe it all off then?

I thought that the ants would eat the plums.

Ants guard aphids - the aphids secrete sugars (from the sap that they're sukcing) for the ants in exchange for the protection. Ants will only eat damaged plums.
Wasps will be your biggest problem. They can make a fine mess of a ripe crop.

**WrexTheDragon** · 24-05-2010, 06:39 PM

Ants eat greenfly and other bugs, not sure ants could eat a plum when ripe, but wasps and birds are a bigger problem.

It all depends if you like ants, we have a butterfly called Silver-studded Blue that ants look after while in the egg stage.

**21again** · 24-05-2010, 07:21 PM

Thanks folks, I shall de smear the tree tomorrow!

**FB.** · 24-05-2010, 08:22 PM

I'd leave the grease, now that you've put it on. But I would have just let nature take its course (because I've got enough fruit trees that death or failure to thrive of one or two doesn't matter).
The grease will stop the ants from guarding the aphids - aphids can seriosuly reduce vigour, can deform shoots and can transmit viruses between plants. All of which can impair a young trees ability to establish.

**21again** · 24-05-2010, 08:29 PM

Originally posted by FB. View Post

I'd leave the grease, now that you've put it on. But I would have just let nature take its course (because I've got enough fruit trees that death or failure to thrive of one or two doesn't matter).
The grease will stop the ants from guarding the aphids - aphids can seriosuly reduce vigour, can deform shoots and can transmit viruses between plants. All of which can impair a young trees ability to establish.

Thanks for the advice although I think I may have to wipe that grease off tomorrow now that you have told me why I shouldn't have done it.

I only have the one plum tree so I had better take care of it a little better.

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