Plums

[ellkebe]

Was up at the lottie this pm and went to check on the plum tree.  Practically all the fruit has changed colour in the last couple of days, but is still really tiny (certainly not what you think of as plum sized and not the same size as fruit on neighbouring trees).  I took one home to check out - perfectly clean flesh inside and out, but very hard. Is this the result of the tree not having been pruned by previous holder for approx. 5 years?  Certainly the tree is very big.  Or is this just a mini variety of plum - or not even a plum at all?  OH thought the fruit might carry on growing after going purple, but this didn't seem likely to me - though I'd be very happy to hear that he's right! (And I don't admit that very often  ;D)
Any thoughts gratefully received.

[ellkebe]

[Imp]

No probs, I'd say it's the variety you have, my plums are still green and small, they'll enlarge and ripen for August/September eating as they have over the past 5 years since I moved here- yum  ;D

Lynda

[Mrs Ava]

I would suggest type, don't forget, they could be bullace, damson, greengages....

Here is an interesting link to plums, maybe you can narrow your type down...

http://www.orchard-group.uklinux.net/glos/plums/index.php

[carloso]

My plums are fine also !!! ;D


carl


OK OK i know its 03:00 in the morning its Saturday im on nights i deserve a laugh!!!

[Robert_Brenchley]

At least you have plums, which is more than I do. Wait till they turn softer and are ready to drop off easily. If you notice wasps at them, you'll know they're ready! The problem then is to deal with them all while they last.

[ellkebe]

Thanks everyone - looking at your link EJ I reckon they might be damsons of some sort.  I'll try to post a picture with some indication of size, cos they really are tiny!  In fact, if they've done growing I'm not quite sure what to use them for - in cooking/ jam making I suppose (have to get OH on to it as he's responsible for the kitchen!)
No sign of wasps yet - although some do have a clear sticky fluid hanging in small beads, so I guess something knows what they are and likes them ;D
Carloso - glad to hear that your plums are doing well  ;D

[ellkebe]

Ok - if I've remembered this right there should be a picture of plums (?) below!
I stupidly forgot to put in something to show scale, but each is only about an inch long  :(  Pretty puny for plums I would have thought - ?




Any further thoughts on whether they might actually be some sort of damson instead?

[Mrs Ava]

That small I would almost have said sloes!  According to a Damson society site i have been looking at, the fruit don't really ripen until the later half of September!  Also have been looking at pics of damsons and the fruits seem redder than yours - yours are much more 'plum' colour...if you know what I mean.  Cor, I am no help at all....sorry...  :-\

[ellkebe]

Ye - it's all rather confusing!  A neighbour on site reckoned sloes - right size but not really the right colour though.  I looked around on line and sloes seem to ripen in September/October so it'll be interesting to see if these have softened up in a couple of weeks or so, or are still rock hard and do indeed intend to hold on to branches until late September!  I also emailed some retailers with an image and again opinion seems divided: one said sloes, two have said probably damsons (but the proof is in the eating!) and I'm waiting on an opinion from a damson society after sending a little more info. Have to say, I didn't necessarily expect to hear back from these emails - it was just a way of trying to get a range of in-the-know opinion -  but all were answered the next day (one the same night!) with everyone being really interested and informative  :)

[Mrs Ava]

I looked at the sloes on our plot today and they are black already, but like little bullets.....and I find they usually are still like little bullets when I start picking them in October!

[ellkebe]

The damson society reckons damsons - hurrah  :)  So now I wait a couple of weeks, and try them again!