I have a plum tree with several grafted branches of different plums. I think this branch has golden shiro plums, and it blooms the earliest. Not too many pollinators are outside yet, and in previous years I haven’t gotten much fruit set. Today I went out there and used a soft art brush, maybe 4″ wide, to help out and make like a bee. I’ve done this before and it seems to make a difference.

White plum blossoms in early spring

The soft, wide brush I used to help with pollination

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In the break we had from rain a couple of days ago, I went out with my dry paintbrush and pollinated my two little fruit trees. (“Make like a bee!”) I am lucky enough to have a dwarf cherry tree with multiple grafts on it of different varieties. However, even though it is “self-fertile,” all that means is that it doesn’t need another variety to pollinate. It still needs some pollen to move around for the fruit to set. So out I go, on a sunny day, with my soft, dry paintbrush, and gently brush the blossoms. I have found it makes a big difference. Use this technique on tomato plants, too.

Fruiting cherry tree blooms in backyard orchard

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