DAMSON TREE NOT WORKING

[ALAN HOWELL]

Hi .....a friend of mine has had a "Merryweather"damson tree for five years now and it has never fruited !!.

I have determined that it does not require a polinater,so has anyone any ideas why this prob exists,he would appreciate any help at all.Many thanks.....Alan

[ALAN HOWELL]

[Palustris]

The main reason why Damsons do not produce fruit is the weather at the time of flowering. For example this year we have virtually none, and we are talking here of a normal crop in the hundredweights, not pounds. Why, extremely icy and strong winds while the flowers were there, hence no bees. So if your friends tree is in a position where the flowers may be damaged then no fruit.
OR. There may be a lack of bees at the time of flowering. Damsons etc. are most often pollinated by mining bees and bumble bees which operate at lower temps than honey bees.
OR. Despite not needing a pollinating partner, they actually do produce more fruit where there is more than one tree.
OR. The tree may just not yet be of a frutiing size.

[ALAN HOWELL]

Many thanks for your reply...I will pass it on to my friend,regards...Alan

[jennym]

If its any help I have a damson 'Shropshire Prune' which has just started giving good crops, around 5 or 6 years old, but I have a greengage next to it, same age, no fruit yet. We have sloe bushes in the hedgerows around, so pollination is not a problem.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Neither of my plum trees has any fruit this year. It was far too cold when they were flowering, the bees were well into clustering mode.

[jennym]

The Victoria plum in my back garden has no fruit at all on it for the first time in 12 years because of a really late, hard frost we had which made everything drop.
I was looking forward to the plum jam.... never mind.

[ALAN HOWELL]

Many thanks everyone......Alan