Hello me again(Victoria Plum)

[jollyroger123]

I planted a plum tree in the spring and it seems to be doing well.  Do you cut it back or leave it to go its merry way.

In case you haven't noticed i am new to this having had my own garden for about a year.  I have caught the bug in a big way though.

Thanks in advance gurus

[jollyroger123]

[valmarg]

Basically, 'leave it to go its merry way'.

valmarg

[jennym]

You could festoon it, thats fun to have a go at.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Last time you posted that diagram I did a moderate festooning job on my Cambridge Gage. I haven't pulled the branches right down - they were too thick for that anyway - but I've weighed them down with bricks and string to spread them out, since it was going up rather rapidly, and I'd rather have a tree with more spread.

[Curryandchips]

Similar to you Robert, I used string and bricks, and they have been on since the early spring, with some sign of result. Come the autumn, I will change the lines onto other branches which look like they would benefit more.

[Robert_Brenchley]

I put mine on around midsummer, but woody plants tend to put on a good bit of the wood in late summer, so it shouldn't have been too late. Except that the drought may have upset things, of course. If it has, I can repeat next year.

[jennym]

Glad a couple of you have had a go - the first one I did took a couple of years to get to its shape, it's more productive now.

[Curryandchips]

Thanks for that snippet of essential information, I must learn not to be impatient !!!
Can you remind me, is the Autumn the best time to prune plums, or is it early Spring ? Oh for a good memory ...

[flossie]

Thanks all - this thread is really interesting and helpful. 

Please can you help with my Victoria Plum too?

It is about 5 years old (a £5 Morrison's job) and as you can see the main branch has broken - top centre of picture.

Can you advise....

..what to do about the branch?
...is it too old to festoon?


Many thanks

[Curryandchips]

I will leave advice on the broken branch to those more qualified ...

Regarding festooning, my plum tree was at least 7 years old when I decided to festoon it, possibly older, as it is a self seeded Warwickshire drooper (I believe, because they are very popular on our plots). I have been pruning and festooning according to jennym's sketch, and I appear to be getting a result, although I did snap one branch due to overzealous restraints ...  :) Having started to get some shape, I can now continue to develop that, and get a tree which looks something like the drawing.

[flossie]

Thanks Curry.

Can I start the festooning as soon as all the fruit has been harvested ot should I wait until the Spring?

Maybe I will have a go at my damson and gage if it works.

[Curryandchips]

That is something that I cannot recall, although logic tells me the ideal time is very early spring, when the boughs are becoming more pliable through sap. However, my method for attaching the lines is to tie the ends to bricks, which can then be positioned as required to provide the necessary tension. Thus, following this method, the lines can be attached anytime (eg now) and the tension added as required. Before you rush out and do anything though, this technique was highlighted to me by jennym, so wait for her comments ... probably what I have said is completely wrong :(

[Curryandchips]

Managed to activate the search facility, so see this ...

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/smf/index.php/topic,16215.0.html

Managed to answer my own question on pruning too  :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

You need to have the weights on the branches while they're putting on new wood, obviously during the growing season. That branch on the plum may have broken through the weight of the plums; I had a branch break off one of my apples last year, so I'm now supporting thin branches with loads of fruit by tying them to bamboo. The branch will regrow so don't worry too much.

[flossie]

Thanks for you help and advice

I found the link useful.

[jollyroger123]

Hi

Thanks for the advice i think that idea would really make the tree look more interesting, i think i may have to wait until it puts on more growth though.