A Damson Plum That Won't Produce Fruit

Life Cycle

• The simplest answer to the question of why your Damson plum is not producing fruit is that it is simply not mature enough or is too old to produce any plums. Plum gardeners expecting a swift return on their plum tree might be surprised to find it normally does not begin producing fruit for three to five years after planting and does not reach full productivity until its 10th year. After the tree begins bearing fruit, you can expect 15 to 20 productive years.

Cross-Pollination

• Some plum trees are adapted to self-pollinate, but most require cross-pollination to bear fruit. This means that other plums that bloom at the same time as the Damson plum tree must be planted nearby. Stanley, Italian Prune and Reine Claude are a few cultivars that tend to cross-pollinate well with Damson plums due to their overlapping bloom cycles. However, pay attention to your individual plant's space needs and do not plant the cross-pollinators too close.

Pests

• Plum trees are generally resistant to pest infestation, though a few pests can damage your plants and hinder fruit production. The plum curculio is a beetle that lays its eggs in the flesh of growing fruit. The adults that hatch feed on the leaves and buds of the plant, which can prevent fruit from appearing during the next cycle. The European red mite lays eggs on the undersides of leaves, making infestation difficult to spot. The larva feed on the plant, weakening its ability to produce fruit. Pesticides can solve most pest problems.

Disease

• Plum trees are highly resistant to disease. However, brown rot may still affect the flowers and fruit of a plum tree, hindering its fruit production or killing the plant outright. As the tree flowers, the blossoms will wilt and die. They may also be covered in brown spores. The disease can spread from the flowers to the fruit, causing the plums to shrivel up and fall off. Pests can carry the disease, so pesticide can be helpful in preventing it. If the plant becomes infected, remove all flowers and fruit that show any symptoms immediately.