Plums falling off before ripening

[TNhobbyfarmer]

I have two plum trees in my yard. Both have lots of plums but the plums are falling off prior to ripening. Any ideas why? I was looking forward to eating them, but they are not staying on long enough to harvest.

 

[oosik]

Most all fruit trees will drop fruit. This is to lessen the load so the branches can carry the ripe fruit. Other reasons can be insects or disease. Check your trees carefully and see if it could be either of the latter two. My apple trees have two "drop" times. When the apples have just formed and again, mid summer, as the fruit gets larger and about half way towards ripe. Otherwise, I end up doing an awful lot of thinning mid to late summer.

 

[ustmd]

Also, are the trees under water stress (too little or to much)?
What about temps--especially nighttime temps? You don;t have to hit freeze, just too cool will cause the tree to drop fruit?
What do the leaves look like? are you getting any yellowing or leaf curl?

 

[Mendonsy]

I had a plum tree like that. I solved the problem with a chain saw.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I had a couple nice plum trees in the past; what the bugs didn't get, the squirrels did. They even cleaned up the ones dropped on the ground!

 

[Wa11banger]

Tn? Mine up at the property in Lawrenceburg are doing the same. First response is right on.. too little water for us lately tree cant support them so they go first. I have no started watering mine in an attempt to save whats left.