The reasons why the plum falls before it ripens and what to do
Why plum fruits fall off often worries gardeners. Until recently, the tree pleased with an abundance of flowers and ovaries, but today they are all on earth. The harvest is gone. And the problem might not have been if there was competent care for the drain. Knowing and taking into account the characteristics of the plant prevented the death of the crop.
Most common reasons
It is almost impossible to eliminate the problem that caused the shedding of the plum. But prevention is easier than lightweight.
If the plum is frozen over
Sometimes the gardener plants on the site non-zoned varieties with frost resistance above average winter temperatures. As a result, the tree freezes over: fruit buds, bark and wood are damaged.
After such a winter, the plant weakens and sheds excess fruits, keeping only the necessary ones. This reduces yields. It happens that a plum tree is planted in a place blown by northern and northeastern winds. Then, during severe winters, the plant will certainly freeze. In this case, it is recommended to transplant the plant or (if the event is impossible) to install a protective screen.
Improper watering
The tree has a fibrous root system located in the upper layers of the soil. It cannot independently extract water from nearby horizons. Therefore, it is not able to keep ripening fruits: shedding occurs.
Abundance or deficiency of fertilizers
The type and location of the root system of the plum allows it to receive nutrition only from the upper layers of the soil. With a lack of elements, the fruits are dropped:
- Lack of nitrogen manifests itself through the color of the leaves (they become pale). In this case, green ovaries crumble. It is required to feed the plant with mullein infusion or urea.
- With a lack of potassium, green, but already slightly grown fruits crumble. It is recommended to feed with potassium fertilizer (salt).
- Lack of phosphorus leads to shedding of large, but immature fruits. The plant should be fed with double superphosphate.
But the excess of elements also leads to shedding of the drains. In oversaturated with nitrogen and acidified soil, the crop will be lost.
Poor pollination
Sometimes gardeners choose non-self-fertile plum varieties. These plants require pollinators. It is recommended to plant plum trees in the garden, the flowering of which coincides with this.
To attract pollinating insects, it is required to plant honey plants.Hyssop, basil, mint, clover cope with their role.
Diseases and pests
Fruit crumbling causes pests and diseases. Among the pests are dangerous:
- Sawfly. The butterfly lays eggs during the flowering stage of the plant. The first caterpillar eats out the inside of the cream with a bone, crawls out and pupates. Then the process is repeated. If you do not take protective measures, several generations of pests parasitize on the plum during the season.
- Plum moth. It works in the same way as the sawfly. But it damages the ovaries and pulp of the cream. The fruits do not ripen and fall off.
- Tolstopod. The butterfly lays its eggs on freshly bloomed trees. The caterpillar eats green bones. The fruits fall off.
Disease of the tree with scab, fungal diseases weakens the tree, and it sheds damaged fruits.
What varieties are susceptible to this pathology
Scattering is characteristic of all old varieties of plums. They get rid of excess fruits and plants that give an abundance of root growth. But breeders are creating new varieties and hybrids that are resistant to shedding. They should be chosen for planting in the garden.
Nuances
To effectively help the tree and preserve the harvest, it is recommended to first establish the cause of the fruit shedding.
Plum drops the ovary
Often, the matter simply does not reach the ripening of the fruits: the ovaries turn yellow and fall off. Reason: lack of nitrogen. Unscheduled feeding with organic fertilizer (mullein infusion or solution of bird droppings) will help to correct the situation.
It is recommended to pour a bucket under each mature tree. In the absence of manure, it is permissible to feed the plant with urea or fermented plant residues. But sometimes just green ovaries fly from the tree. In this case, the plant gets rid of the fruits that have overloaded it. This often happens with young plums.
Drops green fruits
Sometimes gardeners complain: the fruits fall before they ripen. The ovaries have increased in size, but are crumbling. It is recommended to pick up several fruits, carefully examine and break them. If unripe berries are affected by caterpillars or scab, then most of the crop has died. The rest can be saved by spraying with insecticides and antifungals.
If healthy unripe fruits crumbled ahead of time, then the plant needs complex feeding. First, it is recommended to add liquid nitrogen, and after 4-5 days - phosphorus and potassium. At the same time, no elements are added, with the exception of ready-made mineral complexes. To accelerate the absorption of nutrients, fertilizing should be combined with watering.
Sometimes an unripe plum crumbles due to a sharp change in weather: a prolonged cold snap or persistent heat. In this case, the fruits fall from young or weakened trees. So the plant is trying to escape from death.
Mature cream falls
Plums often fall off the tree in large quantities. The fruit turns blue and begins to ripen. But for some reason the tree drops its harvest. It is recommended to pick up one or two fruits and break them. If there is a worm inside or traces of its vital activity, then pests have attacked the fruit tree, and it throws off the crop. Unfortunately, it will hardly be possible to save the harvest. But it is recommended to take into account the mistakes and carry out preventive treatments in the fall and spring.
If the plum is healthy and falls to the ground without ripening, then the introduction of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers will help to partially correct the situation. To increase the effectiveness of the event, top dressing is recommended to be combined with watering. In July, the fruits stop growing and fall to the ground. Traces of fungal diseases are visible on them. In this case, it is recommended to spray with antifungal drugs.
What to do in such cases
To prevent shedding of fruits, a set of measures should be carried out during the season:
- do routine fertilizing with organic and mineral fertilizers in spring and autumn;
- carry out preventive spraying against diseases and pests;
- observe the watering regime;
- timely remove weeds in the trunk circle;
- select pollinating varieties;
- remove root growth;
- rake and burn plant residues (leaves, twigs, carrion);
- plant zoned varieties and hybrids.
To prevent the plum from shedding green or ripening fruits, the condition of the trees should be monitored regularly. When pathology is detected, protective measures must be taken immediately.
Correct care
To obtain a stable harvest, it is recommended to follow all the rules for tree care.
Features of watering plums
To preserve the harvest, it is recommended to water the plant 4-5 times per season:
- after exiting a state of rest;
- after flowering;
- 2-3 weeks after the second watering;
- while pouring berries.
Pour 20-30 liters of water under an adult tree (the soil should be moist to a depth of 50 cm).
Regulation of top dressing
Gardeners need to know how to feed the plum. The sequence of fertilizing:
- after the tree leaves dormancy, add a solution of mullein or chicken droppings (norm: 1 bucket for an adult plant);
- after flowering, add potassium-phosphorus fertilizer (at the rate specified by the manufacturer);
- after harvesting, the loss of minerals in the soil needs to be replenished: it is recommended to apply phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
Dry fertilizers are scattered over the entire trunk circle and embedded in the soil.
Prevention of diseases and the appearance of insects
For the prevention of diseases, it is recommended:
- avoid thickened plantings;
- carry out regular sanitary and formative pruning;
- remove weeds;
- timely fertilize;
- remove anthills;
- to carry out treatment with antifungal drugs in the garden.
To fight insects, it is recommended to attract their enemies: ladybirds, ant lions.
To prevent infestation by pests, it is recommended to carry out preventive spraying with insecticides:
- the first after the awakening of the tree;
- the second at the stage of budding (pink bud);
- the third after the formation of ovaries;
- follow-up as needed.
Pest and disease control is carried out throughout the year.
Increased pollination
Often it is not the ovaries that crumble, but the barren flowers. To avoid such troubles, it is recommended:
- plant pollinating plants (for 2-3 varietal plums 1 tree with flowering at the same time for pollination);
- avoid thickened plantings;
- plant honey plants to attract pollinating insects.
Simple measures will help you get healthy fruits and preserve the harvest.
