Knowledgebase
Plum Tree is overwhelmed with fruit #878169
Asked July 21, 2024, 7:38 PM EDT
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Good Morining Bobbie,
Thank you for contacting the U of M Extension Service.
This could be a problem for the tree if the limbs break. For the short term, you could take some of the unripe fruit off the ends of the branches to relieve some of the weight. Or, you could just wait for the fruit to ripen and pick it.
Please click on the following link from the U of M Extension Yard and Garden website about growing stone fruits: https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-stone-fruits-home-garden
If you scroll down towards the bottom, it discusses pruning in late winter. To avoid this in the future, you would need to prune the tree adequately. There is pruning guidance on the website. Your tree branches need to be strong enough to hold the fruit. If you prune the tree in the future, you should be able to develop strong branches to hold the fruit.
Good Luck!