hello just wondering if you can do this hopefully this will stop the wasps from getting them all
many thanks Lorraine
I don't think it will work that way..for start with you fruit will need the tree to supply water and nutrients..and when it is picked this conection is broken so fruit cannot develop...you can pick unripe fully developed/coloured plum which is still hard ..those will ripen soft...but you will still loose the best flavour..
This is how supermarket fruit is picked..still that little bit under ripe...
thanks goodlife looks like my OH will have another little job to do putting netting round
Lorraine
I didn't know wasps attacked them.
How much damage do they do?
I let my plums ripen on tree...minel rarely get 'attacked' by wasps..and if few does get nibbled it is not end of the world..if any does they tend to be those few that has dropped on ground..so no loss..
I never net my trees neither.. ;) ;D
How about trying leave some just for the wasps...maybe somewhere little away from the tree..they do prefer the over ripe ones.. ;)
Hi - Wasps are beneficial insects and will eat greenfly and larvae - I agree they are a bit of a nuisance but generally you should get quite a few without any damage and you can always cut off where they have made small holes.
I would be wary of netting them against wasps as a few may get trapped in the netting and you could get stung?!
Hope you get a good crop!
Old Bird
thanks everyone I am in a dilema now its just that the tree is only a couple of years old last year
we got about 6 plums and the wasps had 4 of them they dont seem to appear till we are ready to pick them perhaps I should just leave them to do their own thing or I could use fleece than they wouldnt get in!!!!!!
lorraine
Lorraine
You may only have 6 this year but every year the tree will get bigger and you will - promise you - get loads of plums! It is a bit of a shame when you have so few - but think that maybe next year you will have a lot lot more and so then it doesn't seem so bad sharing them with the wasps!!
I planted a cherry tree this year and quite a few set - I am losing loads already to birds - but still hopeful of getting a couple or so - but I am planning on next year - or maybe the year after - having shed loads - so I don't mind sharing (just so long as they clear off when I want them to do!)
Old Bird
;D
Plums really do need to be ripened on the tree and yes wasps later on can be a nuisance so pick your fruit in the evening when they have calmed down.
And Old Bird-if you don`t protect your cherries you will lose them all. For various reasons of bad siting/planning my cherry remained a dwarf,but I can fleece it and get a decent crop.
Next door their cherry is a large ,handsome specimen with an enormous potential crop every year-and every year they lose the lot. You cannot imagine until you see it how quickly birds can strip a tree
If the tree is small, use a cheap mosquito net closed off with clothes pegs as per the photos on this page :- http://www.growyourown.info/page137.html
If the tree is bigger, it may be possible to net some of the branches.
thanks realfood that was very informative I shall keep that on my favourites page
lorraine