Should this have flowered by now?
Marwaneldallal
Posts: 87
in Plants
Hi folks,
This black plum has been in the ground for over a year now and has grown lots...its bigger than it looks in the pic.
Yet still no flowers.
Can i expect flowering next year or if not by now then is likely never?
This black plum has been in the ground for over a year now and has grown lots...its bigger than it looks in the pic.
Yet still no flowers.
Can i expect flowering next year or if not by now then is likely never?
0
Posts
Trees can take 2 or 3 years after planting to get their roots down deep and to establish their feeder roots. Flowering requires a great deal of energy which means adequate watering and feeding which can be rainfall and good soil but sometimes needs help from the gardener.
You can help yours along by clearing away all that scrubby weedy stuff around it and enlarging that circle of stones to one that is at least 60cm radius from the trunk. give the tree a regular drink in hot and/or dry spells. This needs to be 15 to 20 litres at a time and poured slowly at the roots so it soaks in.
Once the soil is moist, you would be well advised to give the soil round the trunk a mulch of some composted bark or bark chippings to help retain moisture and deter weeds. You could also scatter on some pelleted chicken manure before mulching so that you provide extra nutrients.
In spring, give it a generous scattering of pelleted chicken manure or tomato feed granules as these will encourage healthy growth and flowering. The tomato feed will be especially good for flowers and fruits.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
Will take your advice though...
15/20 litres is quite a bit...i water 3 times a week id say at around 6 litres...so 18 litres a week.
Im in africa... we're very conscious of our water consumption here : )
Whereabouts in Africa? It's a huge continent with widely varied weather systems and, like me here in western France, can be subject to drought so I understand about water conservation. Even parts of the UK are suffering from drought this summer.
Mulching the soil will help reduce evaporation and maintain moisture.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
I saw once an idea i liked where a tube is dug in next to the tree and its dug in deep and water is fed into the tube to encourage the roots to grow downwards more.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw