Why a plum may not bear fruit and what to do, how to make it bloom

In their garden plots, most summer residents grow plums, which occupy one of the leading positions among stone fruit crops. Some gardeners have trees that grow well and regularly bear fruit, while others have difficulty growing them. Having figured out why a plum may not bear fruit, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for the plant in order to obtain a large harvest.

Why does the plum tree not bloom or bear fruit?

There are a large number of different reasons why a plum may not bear fruit. To restore the fruiting ability of trees, it is important to correctly determine the cause of the process disruption by external signs.

Physiological carrion

Plum trees can bloom together and form ovaries, but with further growth there is a risk of some of the fruits falling off before ripening. The specific cause of the fall is difficult to determine. Plums often fall off when the trees do not have enough strength to provide the fruits with nutritional components. The following can lead to carrion:

• undeveloped root system;
• unfavorable growing conditions;
• violation of agricultural technology rules;
• infertile soil.

Self-sterile plum variety

Most plums are self-sterile. Such varieties of trees need pollinating varieties, so when planting it is necessary to select the right seedlings. For each variety, pollinators are selected individually, taking into account the characteristics of the plants.

If there is frequent rainfall, cross-pollination will not be highly effective because the insects pollinating the plants will not be as active. In this case, it is recommended to plant self-fertile plum varieties.

Plum diseases

A tree affected by the disease is unable to produce healthy fruits. In practice, there are often cases when a plum tree stops blooming and bearing fruit due to clasterosporiasis or fruit rot.

When the disease is clusterosporiasis, the ground elements of the plant are affected, but visible signs appear only on the leaves. Small dark spots appear on their surface, which gradually increase in size and lead to the death of leaf tissue.

Fruit rot is considered a fungal infection of plants. Varieties of the disease are provoked by fungal spores. Infectious agents damage berries, shoots and foliage. The spread of the disease is facilitated by excessively thick foliage, which cannot dry out quickly with frequent rainfall, as well as a humid climate and neglect of tree care rules.

Pests that cause ovary shedding

Common pests of plums are codling moth caterpillars, thick-footed larvae and sawflies. Insects are able to gnaw through ripening fruits and seeds. Damaged fruits fall off before they are fully ripe and quickly rot. If pests damage flower buds, the trees lose the ability to form ovaries.

In order to combat pests, regular digging and loosening of the soil around the trunk helps. Traps are used to kill larger pests. To repel insects, it is also recommended to periodically apply insecticidal treatments.

Bad climatic conditions

Unfavorable climate and severe frosts after a thaw lead to damage to fruit buds. In the middle zone, such situations are often observed in April-May. Bad weather makes trees weaker, leading to reduced yields. If a cool wind blows during the day and the air temperature drops significantly, sterilization of the pollen may occur and the fruit will not set.

Unsuitable climatic conditions

Too dry or rainy season is also the reason for low fruiting of plums. Since it is not possible to influence the weather factor, all that remains is to give preference to zoned varieties. Such plants have an increased resistance to certain climatic conditions in a particular region.

Improper planting of seedlings

When transferring a seedling into open ground to a permanent place, you must follow a list of rules. In particular:

• Do not deepen the root collar too much;
• the soil should not be acidic, since plums are demanding on soil composition and bear fruit only in areas with neutral acidity;
• seedlings are placed on gentle slopes in the southern and southwestern directions;
• There should be good aeration at the location of the seedlings.

Lack of light and tree density

Planting trees in shaded areas, near tall plantings and behind solid fences leads to a lack of natural light. Low light levels do not allow trees to develop properly and form fruit. Some varieties of plums, in the absence of sufficient lighting, are unable to even bloom. For this reason, fruits should only be grown in sunny areas.

The concentration of a large number of plants in a small area leads to the fact that the roots cannot develop freely, and this provokes a delay in the growth of plantings. In order for the plum to bear fruit regularly, it is necessary to leave a sufficient gap between the trees when planting.

Freezing in winter

Plum varieties with low resistance to cold, young seedlings and trees that have not been pruned lose their ability to bear fruit in winter.The location of the roots close to the soil surface also leads to freezing. In order for plants to bear fruit, they must be insulated. The soil around the trees is covered with mulch, and the trunk is wrapped with covering material.

Violation of watering rules

Regular watering of trees is one of the basic rules of care. Absence, infrequent moisture, or, conversely, excessive irrigation of the soil leads to improper development of the root system and unstable fruiting.

Excess or lack of fertilizers

Using the wrong amount of fertilizer results in fruit drop or complete absence. This is typical for mature trees that grow and bear fruit in one place for several years. Every time the trees deplete their fertilizer reserves, a new portion of fertilizing is required.

In most cases, plums require complex fertilizer with a high content of phosphorus, zinc and iron.

What to do to resume fruiting

Depending on the identified cause of unstable fruiting, appropriate action must be taken. Timely restoration measures will help preserve the harvest and save the trees.

Prevention of plum diseases

The consequences of diseases can lead to the death of plants, so it is recommended to periodically prevent infections. To do this, the soil around the trunks is fertilized with mineral and organic fertilizers. You can also use Bordeaux mixture, which is a fungicidal drug, as a prophylactic agent.

Correct crown molding

In the second half of spring, when the risk of return frosts passes, it is necessary to form the crown.The process involves removing excess shoots and fading leaves. On trees with a formed crown, air flows to the fruits, which has a beneficial effect on their growth.

Deoxidation

The main material used to reduce acidity is lime. In its pure form, lime is not added to the soil, since it destroys soil microorganisms and harms tree roots. To deoxidize the soil, it is recommended to use slaked lime, dolomite flour, cement dust or peat ash.

Top dressing

Fertilizers are applied to the soil 3-4 times per season. Complex minerals are used as fertilizer for plums.

Hydration

It is necessary to water the plums as the soil dries out. Depending on the amount of precipitation, the frequency of soil moisture may vary.

Caring for the root collar

The root collar is a vulnerable part of trees. When planting a plum, it is important to position the root collar above ground level, so you should not bury the seedling.

Protection from cold winds

To protect the plum tree from draft winds, you can use enclosing structures in the form of a fence. Also, the impact of cold winds is reduced by other types of trees planted nearby.

Transplant to the sunny side

If the seedling was initially located in a shaded area, the plum should be transplanted to the sunny side. Constant lighting is one of the main stages of tree care. It is recommended to replant plants during warm periods to prevent the roots from freezing.