Checking for frost damage and pollination success of plum trees

Our Japanese plums (Prunus salicina) are notorious early bloomers here, which can lead to pollination issues and frost damage.

A lot of the pollinators may not be out yet for the season, which can sometimes lead to a lack of pollination.

Also in our area, we can get super late cold snaps and freezes, which can do severe damage to plum blossoms in their later stages and especially if they have started developing as small plums.

Here's a quick video on an easy way to check if plums were pollinated and survived the late frosts!

Steve, Thanks for this -- I was actually wondering this morning if there was a way to tell if my wild plums (we have them everywhere) were going to produce fruit this year. The last couple of years we have had nothing! I miss my wild plum jelly!!! Does this work for other stone fruits as well? I have three 2-year-old peach trees that put out flowers early and I was wondering about the potential for fruits.

Deb Stephens wrote:Steve, Thanks for this -- I was actually wondering this morning if there was a way to tell if my wild plums (we have them everywhere) were going to produce fruit this year. The last couple of years we have had nothing! I miss my wild plum jelly!!!

I know how you feel, Deb. Ours have gotten hit the last two years by hard late frosts too. It's looking good for us this year, I hope the warm weather will stick around another week or two!

Does this work for other stone fruits as well? I have three 2-year-old peach trees that put out flowers early and I was wondering about the potential for fruits.

Yes, it does! I use it to check my peaches too! The healthy peach blossoms will be even stiffer than the plums, and the damaged or unpollinated ones should break off pretty easily!

I hope you get a good peach and plum harvest this year!

Steve Thorn wrote: I hope you get a good peach and plum harvest this year!

Thanks! Probably won't get peaches because the trees are so young, but I have fingers and toes crossed for those wild plums for sure!!!