plum tree

[bedrockdave]

for some unknown reason to me my plum tree , laden with fruit has died whilst I was on holiday. the leaves are yellow and the fruit has shrivelled and is dropping off  :(
1/. can anyone explain what they think has happened
2/. could I plant another in the same place
3/. can anyone recommend somewhere to get one at a reasonable price
  T&M want £18.99 for a victoria which we like

this coupled to losing my toms with blight and onions to onion fly and the corgettes rotting on the plant I'm looking forward to 2009
Dave

[bedrockdave]

[saddad]

Has anything damaged the bark?

Sorry to hear you are not having a great time, we lost a bed of cabbage to Caterpillars almost overnight... picked about 200 of them, only 9 plants. Still have the hearts so a bit of TLC and we might get something...  :-X

[grahamatlocking]

I like getting my stuff from Bakker, here is the link for the plum section,

http://www.bakker.co.uk/index.aspx?Ntt=plum&Ntk=NL&Ntx=mode+matchallany&Nty=1&N=0&D=plum

G

[KittyKatt]

I'm sorry to hear that your tree has died. With all the rain we've had, could waterlogging be the cause? Is your soil heavy or badly drained? I think the RHS now recomend that trees are planted on a low mound to help drainage.  I don't think I would plant another tree in the same place (unless you changed the soil first!) just to be on the safe side. I would also be inclined to leave the tree in for now, just in case it picks up - stranger things have been known to happen! Blackmoor nurseries are very good for trees and I have found them reasonably priced  http://www.blackmoor.co.uk/index.php All of the trees I bought from them have lived and thrived. I don't know much about it, but I have heard that victoria plums are very susceptible to a disease called silver leaf. Could this possibly be the cause? Sorry I can't be of more help!
KK

[bedrockdave]

thanks for the replies: haven't thought to check the bark saddad  but will (if it ever stops raining). no problem with drainage as we're on the side of a mountain in the valleys of sth wales but will check the leaves KK,hope it does revive as its a fantastic cropper,had it given to me so don't know the variety
THANKS AGAIN
Dave