The Methley plum is a popular choice for many gardeners, known for its sweet, juicy fruit and adaptability. While often described as self-fertile, meaning a single tree can produce fruit on its own, its productivity greatly benefits from cross-pollination.
Methley Plum Pollination Requirements
The Methley plum is generally considered self-fertile, meaning it can produce fruit using its own pollen. This characteristic makes it a suitable option for gardeners with limited space who may only wish to cultivate one plum tree. However, cross-pollination significantly enhances fruit production. When another compatible plum tree is present, the Methley plum often yields larger quantities of fruit and sometimes even better quality.
For optimal cross-pollination, it is important to plant other Japanese plum varieties. European plums are not compatible pollinators for Japanese plums like the Methley. Excellent choices for cross-pollination include Japanese plums Santa Rosa, Beauty, Shiro, Ozark Premier, or Bruce, provided their bloom times overlap with the Methley. The transfer of pollen between these trees is primarily carried out by insects, particularly bees.
Ensuring Productive Fruit Set
To maximize fruit production, planting a compatible pollinator tree nearby is a beneficial step, even for the self-fertile Methley plum. These companion trees should be planted within 20 to 25 feet of each other for the most effective pollination. While bees can travel further, closer proximity increases the likelihood of successful pollen transfer.
Attracting beneficial pollinators like bees to your garden is also important for fruit set. This can be achieved by planting a variety of pollinator-friendly flowers that provide nectar and pollen throughout the season. Avoiding the use of pesticides, especially during bloom time, protects these essential insects. Ensuring the plum tree is in a suitable location with adequate sunlight (at least six to eight hours daily) and well-drained soil promotes strong flowering and fruit development.
Addressing Poor Fruit Production
If a Methley plum tree is not producing fruit, or yields are consistently low, insufficient pollination is a common cause. Symptoms of poor pollination include a lack of fruit despite abundant blossoms, or fruit that forms but drops prematurely while still small. Even self-fertile trees can experience reduced yields if pollinator activity is low due to unfavorable weather conditions like cold or rain during bloom.
Other factors can also contribute to poor fruit production. Young trees may take several years, typically three to six, to mature and begin bearing fruit. Late spring frosts can damage blossoms, preventing fruit set. Improper pruning, which removes fruiting wood, or nutrient imbalances (such as too much nitrogen promoting foliage over fruit) can also impact yields. While pest and disease issues can play a role, inadequate pollination often remains a primary reason for a lack of fruit when other problems are not readily apparent.