I've just discovered a small damson / plum tree at the back of my newly-acquired plot. It has one - yes, one - smal fruit on it. I've seen similar trees around the edges of the site that have a lot more fruit on them.
So, first things first. How do I tell whether it's a damson or a plum tree? The fruit's very small but that could just be because it's not had sufficient food to grow properly. More importantly, what do I do with it to make sure that it produces a lot more fruit next year? I'm guessing that it might involve pruning after the fruiting season is over????
(Apologies if I don't respond straight away to any replies - internet access is going to be difficult for the next couple of days, but I wanted to ask my question now so that I can pick up any useful advice before I head off to the plot later in the week....)
for start with..noo! do not prune!!,,it is not right time of the year to do it anymore..any pruning with stone fruits should be done from late spring to late summer..and it is getting a bit too late now.
If you start feeding your tree to give a chance to put some strong growth on next few years..that is the most important for now.
So next winter give it a few good handfulls of bone meal...and then end of February same with blood,fish and bone meal..and maybe even end of May too. Repeat this few few years.. ;)..and if possible keep undergrowth short (less competition for food and water).
As for identification..ummm..easiest would be if you are able to take pic of fruit and a small branch with leaves..and we could actually see what we are 'up and against'..
What colour is the fruit..shape..size? Damsons are dark purple with yellow'ish flesh..not much to talk about..the stone is almost size of the fruit.. ::)..and the stone is roundish shape..most of the plums stones tends to be more almond shaped..pointy..
Sounds as if you have an old established wild damson tree. The hedgerows are full of them round here.
If you wanted to encourage fruit you could put sulphate of potash around the base of the tree.
Fruiting of such trees as plum/damson depends very much on the weather. They are very early flowering, and, if in full bloom there is a frost, then very little or no fruit.
If you do get plenty of fruit another year, damson gin is an absolute must. ;D
valmarg
If it is a self set.... from a discarded stone it may be better to get it out while small. On it's own roots a damson can get to 35'+... I know my plot came with several. Look for a graft (bulge) on the trunk just above the soil level. If it has one, maybe showing as a scar around the trunk, then it's is a cultivar and will be on dwarfing stock.... :)