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Diseases of Plum Trees (continued - page 7)
Diseases of Plum Trees (continued - page 7)
Harvesting and Storing PlumsPlum trees will begin to produce fruit at four or five years old. Like most fruit, leave the plums on the tree until they are ripe and ready to eat. Ripe plums will be produced over a month or so and it is best to pick a few but often over this time. Any diseased fruit should be removed immediately because they will only attract diseases and wasps.
Ripe plums keep for only a few days and are best stored in the fridge. If you want to keep plums for longer, pick them when they are slightly under-ripe, placing them in a paper-lined box in a cool dark place.
Pests and Diseases of Plums
Use the 'symptoms' column to diagnose the problem, then click on the
disease for more information and details of how to deal with it.
Disease / Pest
Symptoms
Plum Sawfly Small holes in the plums, sometimes with a gooey black liquid seeping from the holes. The young plums will fall before ripening fully.
Red Spider Mite Leaves fall earlier than normal and are bronze in colour.
Silver leaf Silver coloured leaves turning brown, wood flesh stained brown or purple, fungus growth on the infected branches.
Bacterial Canker Shallow depressions at the base of branches during Autumn which enlarge in spring. An amber like gum may also appear.
Aphids Leaves curl and new shoots are distorted
END OF ARTICLE ON PLUMS
