Questions on: Plum - Plum Trees

Ron Smith, Horticulturist, NDSU Extension Service

Q: I have a Santa Rosa plum tree. This is the first year it's producing fruit. The fruit is tiny, about the size of a golf ball. It's delicious, but so small! Why is that? Also, the small, ripe fruit is falling off the tree. The other day I saw a squirrel sitting on the fence right next to the tree. I think the squirrels are eating my plums! (Long Beach, Calif.)

A: The small size is likely due to the heavy fruit set. To get larger, but fewer plums, do some hand picking early in the season to lighten the load somewhat. Do this just after the fruit has set. This allows more carbohydrate energy to go into the remaining fruits, which gives you (squirrels, too!) something larger to sink your teeth into.

Hortiscope
Ron Smith, Extension Horticulturist
NDSU Extension Service
NDSU Dept. 7670
Loftsgard 116
P.O. Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
(701)231-7123