Plum tree pruning?

leoni-

Hi everyone!

I have had my allotment a year now and it’s time to tackle the huge plum tree at the back of my plot! 

I have taken some of the taller branches off as we have a height limit at our plot. But I am unsure where to go from there. As you can see from the photos there are actually 7 trunks. Should I be aiming for one? 

Also I had so many plums forming this year that just shrivelled up and became lumpy. I have seen lots of wasps hanging around, would that be the issue? 
Any advice greatly received!! 

Many thanks 
Leoni

pansyface

Lumpy rotten plums are just that. Lumpy and rotten. Don’t blame the wasps. Take them off and take them away and get rid of them. 

Why do you want to remove what seem to be perfectly happy stems? The tree looks like it’s growing well. Why spoil its fun?

robdunford

Is that normal for plum trees to grow several trunks from ground level? Or is it an older tree that was cut back to ground level and allowed to sprout new limbs?
I have a young greengage, the branches start about I metre from the ground.

purplerallim

It's a bad year for plums so it seems @leoni . Maybe take out a weak trunk to keep the air flowing through as that will help with disease. Cut back side shoots to open canopy and hope for a better year with less wasps.

leoni-

Thanks for your replies. 

@robdunford I don't think it is normal that is why I was a bit confused! 

Thank you @purplerallim I will remove a couple of the trunks, some are crossing and rubbing each other so I will go for them

Fingers crossed for next year!