Why the plum does not bear fruit and what to do, how to make it bloom

In garden plots, most summer residents grow plum, which occupies one of the leading positions among stone fruit crops. For some summer residents, trees grow well and regularly bring crops, while others have difficulty growing. Having figured out why a plum may not bear fruit, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for the plant in order to get a large harvest.

Why the plum does not bloom and bear fruit

There are many different reasons why a plum may not bear fruit. To restore the ability of trees to bear fruit, it is important to correctly determine the cause of the violation of the process 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. It is difficult to determine the specific cause of the carrion. Plums often fall off when the trees do not have enough strength to provide nutrients to the fruits. Can lead to carrion:

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

Self-fertile plum variety

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

With frequent rains, cross-pollination will not be highly effective, because the pollinating insects will not show enough activity. In this case, it is recommended to plant self-fertile plum varieties.

Plum diseases

A diseased tree is unable to form he althy fruits. In practice, there are often cases when a plum ceases to bloom, bear fruit due to clasterosporiasis or fruit rot.

When clasterosporiosis disease affects the ground elements of the plant, 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 tissues.

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

Pests that cause shedding of the ovary

Common plum pests are codling moth caterpillars, larvae of the pachypod and sawfly. Insects are able to gnaw through ripening fruits and seeds. Damaged fruits fall off before full ripeness and quickly rot. If pests damage the flower buds, then the trees lose the ability to form ovaries.

In order to control pests, regular digging and loosening of the soil around the trunk helps. Traps are used to kill larger pests. Periodic insecticide treatments are also recommended to repel insects.

Bad weather conditions

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

Unsuitable climatic conditions

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

Incorrect planting of seedlings

When transferring a seedling to open ground to a permanent place, you must follow the list of rules. Specifically:

• you can not deepen the root collar;
• the soil should not be acidic, since the plum is demanding on the composition of the soil and bears fruit only in areas with a neutral acidity index;
• seedlings are placed on the gentle slopes of the southern and southwestern directions;
• the location of the seedlings should be well aerated.

Lack of light and dense wood

Planting trees in shady areas, near tall plantations and behind solid fences leads to a lack of natural light. Low light levels prevent trees from developing properly and producing 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 sunlit areas.

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, it is necessary to insulate them. 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 for tree care. Absence, rare moisture or, conversely, excessive irrigation of the soil leads to improper development of the root system and unstable fruiting.

Too much or too little fertilizer

Using the wrong amount of fertilizer results in fruit drop or no fruit at all. This is typical for mature trees that grow and bear fruit in one place for several years. Each time the trees deplete their fertilizer reserves, a new batch of top dressing is required.

In most cases, plums need a complex fertilizer high in 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 crops and save 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 ground around the trunks is fertilized with mineral and organic top dressing. Also, as a prophylactic, you can use Bordeaux liquid, which is a fungicidal drug.

Proper crown shaping

In the second half of the spring period, when the risk of return frosts passes, it is required to form a crown. The process involves the removal of excess shoots and fading leaves. On trees with a formed crown, air enters the fruits, which favorably affects their growth.

Deoxidation

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

Feeding

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

Moisture

Watering plums is necessary as the soil dries. Depending on the amount of rainfall, the frequency of soil moisture may vary.

Caring for the root collar

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

Protection from cold winds

Fencing structures in the form of a fence can be used to protect the plum from the through wind. Other types of trees planted nearby also reduce the impact of the cold wind.

Transfer to sunny side

If the seedling was originally located in a shaded area, you should transplant the plum to the sunny side. Constant lighting is one of the main steps in tree care. It is recommended to transplant plants during a warm period to prevent freezing of the roots.

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