My plum tree is growing well but it has not produced any fruit. Should I give it more fertilizer or do something else?
Answer notes:
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Ask if the person knows what variety their plum is and if it is a mature tree or recently planted. Also, inquire where the person lives and what kind of care the tree receives: pruning, irrigation, fertilization, etc.
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Variety: Some plums are self- fruitful and others require another variety for cross pollination to set fruit. Both trees must bloom at the same time and this may not occur if the two varieties have different chilling requirements. Also, honey bees must be present to transfer the pollen.
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Tree age: The tree may be too young to bear fruit if it was recently planted. A new plum usually needs to grow 3-4 years before it is mature enough to flower. Inadequate chilling may inhibit flowering and fruit set. Also, a mature tree that bears a heavy crop one year may bear little or no fruit the next year.
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Pruning: Plums bear most of their fruit on stubby shoots called spurs which develop on 2 or 3 year old wood. Be careful not to remove fruiting spurs during winter pruning. Also, heavy pruning especially on young trees will cause a tree to be more vegetative and less fruitful.
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Irrigation: Plums and some other deciduous fruit trees develop flowering buds during summer for the following year. Inadequate irrigation during summer can reduce flowering and fruit set.