'Little Vic' plum & 'Reine-Claude Oullins' Greengage Update - 2 May 2024

[@lyonheart84]

Looks like they are enjoying being up in the fresh air and sun Dom, i feel your pain regarding space , we never have enough lol

[@MoebiusUK]

Thanks, Brett. Yes, up on the wall there isn't the worst spot in my garden. Yeah, can't do anything about the limited space until I get my allotment, but hey-ho. I remain grateful for the little area I do have, especially in my borough .... Doesn't stop me dreaming though. 😂

[@Randyb4ut]

Looking great 👍. New subscriber. 💚❤️💚🙏

[@MoebiusUK]

Thank you, Randy. This is the first time these plants will have fruited for me so I'm excited at the prospect of getting some fruit. I've also subbed to your channel. That's a very interesting hydroponics system you're using. I've not seen anything like it before. 👍🏽

[@Randyb4ut]

@@MoebiusUK Thanks for subscribing. I am glad to hear your getting fruit and am looking forward to seeing more of your videos. I have to grow indoors because of several reasons due to my health and my neighborhood restrictions. But these hydroponic systems are working out well. Thanks again 💚❤️💚♥️🙏🙏

[@PeterEntwistle]

Very exciting to see fruit set on both of your trees Dom! 🎉. I don’t think either of my little vic or greengage have set any fruit this year. Hopefully next year 🤞 Also, great use of space with the wall too!

[@MoebiusUK]

Thanks, Peter. By placing the plants on the wall they aren't shaded by anything so get maximum sunlight. Hopefully they appreciate it. lol. I'm quite excited at the prospect of growing these varieties as they're supposed to be quite good. It's taken a couple of years for them to set fruit so I'm sure yours will set fruit next year.

[@PeterEntwistle]

@@MoebiusUK yeah, I suspect my trees need to get a bit more mature. My Little Vic could definitely do with a repot.

[@MoebiusUK]

@@PeterEntwistle They would make good inground plants either at your allotment or garden as they stay quite small ... alternatively I think they do benefit from larger pots. I think mine are currently in 70L and I don't see any roots coming from the bottom so they should be OK in this size for a bit.

[@edark94]

Looks stunning Dom, I got 2 green gage bare root trees last autumn, but unfortunately one of them have yet to come out of dormancy... seems I might've gotten a dead tree! 😑 I've heard good things about the fruit, so a bit of a shame!

[@MoebiusUK]

Oh, Greeengages are THE best plums to eat fresh imo. It's a shame one of your trees hasn't broke dormancy yet, I don't know how or why this happens with bare-root trees. A number of the quince rootstock I bought haven't come out of dormancy either, it's most frustrating. If you can, maybe complain to the seller? They may offer a replacement.

[@VirginiaFruitGrower]

Nice use of your available space. Yeah, sometimes mulch can have the opposite effect with moisture retention

[@MoebiusUK]

Thanks, G .. Yes, no other choice but to cram in plants wherever I can. 😂 The neighbours cat sure loves lazying about in those pots. The black plastic must be warm and the straw mulch is a cushion. I like my feline visitor but will now pay attention he or she doesn't compact the straw down too much.

[@samMTL514]

Once the mulch starts breaking down by Fungi, it can feel like compacted or someone added glue to mulch! I know green gage plum has strong root system and can survive -30c. Check if your tree is root bond or add tray under it to catch more rain water.

[@MoebiusUK]

@@samMTL514 Thanks for the ideas, Sam. At the end of the season I'll check the rootball for sure. I do have large trays for these pots so that might be a good idea actually. ... I'll monitor the substrate moisture over the next few weeks to see if I need them now we're moving towards summer. Yes, both plums trees have easily come through the last 2 winters here, including Dec 2022 when we dropped to -7. They should be among the hardiest plants I have.

[@backyardsnackyard]

Lovely to see some fruit forming. I bought two Dwarf Greengages last year and was really hoping for fruit, but no luck this year...even my regular Victoria Plum, which produced well last year is not having it this time. I guess it's not a plum year for me.

[@MoebiusUK]

Thanks, Dani ... This will be a first fruiting for these trees so I'm very excited to see fruitset. I remember seeing the fruit on your Victoria plum tree and it looked epic. If I get anything half as good as what you grew, I'll be over-the-moon. Sorry your 2 Greengages didn't produce for you this year. Mine took 2 years to hold fruit so I'm certain yours will produce next year. Plus, if your varieties are different, this will aid in cross-pollination.

[@backyardsnackyard]

@@MoebiusUK I'm sure yours will be wonderful. I think plums are underrated - I have been eyeing up a Plumcot recently...sooo tempting! 😆 I look forward to future taste tests of your first Greengages. They're supposed to be so good!

[@MoebiusUK]

@@backyardsnackyard I've seen Peter's Plumcot tree and would love to get one, alas, I just don't have the space atm. All the areas of sun in my garden are taken up. I do have some shady areas, so have been looking for shade tolerant plants. A Green gooseberry plant was the best recommended option I could find for shady areas. If you have an area you could fit a Plumcot in to, they do sound like a wonderful stone fruit... at least they aren't succeptible to peach leaf curl, like most peaches are.

[@backyardsnackyard]

@@MoebiusUK that's so true. I have avoided the dreaded peach leaf curl so far on my little Nectarine by keeping it under cover all Winter, but it is such a faff...they really don't like our climate. Have you heard of Jostaberries? They are a Gooseberry - Blackcurrant tribrid, which do well in semi-shade; they are also thornless, which I really appreciate after being scratched badly every time I visit the Gooseberries 😁