Lesson learned

When buying fruit trees do some research first! I now have another addition to my fruit trees...another plum! *sigh* I read a lot on plants and gardening and have actually read some on growing fruit trees because I knew I wanted some one day if I could. However, that was some time ago and I had forgotten one very important thing regarding fruit tree! Some are self pollinating (self fertile) and some require another vareity of its kind in order to produce fruit. Well unfortunately I bought the kind that needs another variety to produce fruit (two of the same variety will not work)! When I bought the Bruce Plums I went by the info on the tag which said nothing about it needing another variety to produce fruit. It had fruit on it already so I didn't even think about it. I guess it was pollinated at the nursery. I also bought them for there size which was very important to me.

 So I started digging the holes for them and this morning I decided to look them up and find more info on the Bruce Plums. So I'm reading and everything I am reading about them sounds wonderful. One of the best plum trees for the south. It is one of the toughest and hardy plum trees there are that comes from hardy stock. They are very tolerant of direct sun, excessive heat and humidity.  Flavor is tops! One of the most popularly consumed plums. Ripens May -June ....then I saw it...needs a pollinator! Ugh! Now what am I going to do?! So it lists a few trees and mentions the Methley Plum as one of the best cross pollinators. So I call the nursery where I got the Bruce Plums from and they have 3 Methley's still available! Good I will be right over...after I text my husband telling him the situation.

So here we have it the Methley Plum...

Here is some information on Methley Plums in case you were interested, click on the link or if you want the basics here...

For one thing they are self fertile and do not require another tree to pollinate. It says they are great for beginners. A vigerous tree that is said to be more productive and attractive than any other plum tree. It is said to produce so much infact in one harvest that it requires multiple pickings. Though it does get a little larger than the Bruce it is said to be ideal for limited space getting 10-20 ft tall, requires little maintenance, no pruning and the ideal fruit tree for gowing in zones 5-9. Sounds like a winner to me!

 By the way the Bruce Plum tree is said to make an excellent tree to espalier. If anyone has tried this please email me about it I would love to hear about your experience with doing this!

So there you have it..lesson learned...always read up first before you buy! This tree will be going along my back fence but should be close enough to pollinate the other two trees. I hope one is enough! Otherwise I will have to open up a fruit stand!