JaneJudge Our pears are never really big so there doesn’t seem to be much difference this year. They remind me of the ‘children’s packs’ in Asda. They aren’t ripe yet, so there’s time.
I have had a plum tree for years and always understood that you got a good crop every second year, Last year there were so many heavy plums that a couple of branches were torn off during a storm. This year much smaller crop but I expect a bumper crop next year. Fortunately I have a friend whose tree is on a different 2 year cycle so she gets some of my excess (for jam and chutney) one year and repays the favour the next year.
I've gone by the book this year and thinned the clumps of plums on my 3 year old plum tree. Instructions say to do that so what's left can grow bigger. I wish I hadn't done that now as I've had to snip off loads and I've not got all that many left now. The branches were drooping and I was afraid they would break. That's what happened to another Victoria plum tree I had. I took it out in the end. Some of the leaves this year have rust? I Googled the problem. Some posts say to spray it in the Spring and some say to leave it as it does no harm to the tree. Does anyone have any advice please? I'm beginning to think it's more bother than what it's worth.
I hate to brag but I’ve got big ones! Lots of them too, which was surprising as there didn’t seem to be much blossom and it didn’t last 5 minutes. Our plums won’t be ripe for at least a couple of weeks though.