Welsh beauty is a bit sloe

fiona wrote:sunny Ramsbottom

Two words that make strange bedfellows

Tony

Think i hit the Send Reply button one second before you there Tony!

Tony wrote:

fiona wrote:sunny Ramsbottom

Two words that make strange bedfellows

I tbought it was supposed to be our transatlantic cousins who don't get irony!

And apart from which, when I went down to join the tree, the "bedfellow" turned out to be a cat called Tiffany (or was it Tuff-any) who made it quite clear which of us was sleeping in the bed and which curled up at the bottom of it.

Nick and Fiona. In the past, this Sloe flowers in April, on average. The only year it has'nt flowered was this year. Its looked very healthy, just hasnt flowered or put on extention. As others on this thread have suggested, this is probably due to root reduction to fit its present pot. As I said earlier this evening, the buds in the last couple of weeks have got considerably fatter and I see this only as a good thing. I am in two minds as to what to do. I think I'll leave it till nearer the time before I make up my mind.

Will...I don't have any direct experience with Sloe; but they are a Prunus sp. so the basic characteristics of the Prunus family would seem to apply. I am surprised that there has not been more direct comment on your initial question as to why the tree did not extend new growth this past season. The obvious area of concern is the condition of the roots. If they are not growing and extending then your not getting new growth above. If you root pruned to get the Sloe in the new and smaller container - the tree may just be reacting to that pruning. If the tree was heat stressed at all this summer or stressed hard this past Spring - it may have shut down for the year.

I do grow a number of different Prunus Mume; some large and small. The trees that flower are always the ones that did not get too stressed over the summer - no leaf drop. I do use a good strong potassium fertilizer to get a good bud set for the following season. Prunus sp. always flower on last year's old wood - so you prune after the tree has flowered or after the flower buds have differentiated from a leaf bud. A Flower bud will begin looking like a leaf bud - but the flower bud will appear much rounder - almost like a little sphere...

I think your tree has a great overall shape & movement - but with the lack of real growth (this past year)- it would seem to need another year - before it is strong enough to really flower. It may flower this coming Spring in your area - but the trees that are the healthist and strongst are always the ones you want to flower. This tree is worth the wait in my opinion........

Good luck with your tree and best wishes from New York.....Tom

Why oh why do I always want what I can't have. I want a blackthorn in the worse way, but I don't think it would ever survive down here. Beautiful trees.

Libby

Thanks for your advise Tom, sounds like your experienced when it comes to Prunus. I only have a couple, but along with the rest of my trees, they get a daily perusal, with a morning coffee and fag. I can't see myself ever getting bored with this daily task, as it gives me a real measure of my trees healthiness. You can pick up on the slightest change. Knocked it out of the pot this morning and its absolutely full of root. When I originally posted, I was concerned about this tree, but not now. This ones gonna rock and roll this Spring. Would love to see some of your Apricots posted

Libby, don't despair I f its any consolation, theres trees I want that I cant keep. Enjoy what you have around you, like the beautiful Oaks for a start

Tony wrote:Thanks everyone for giving me ANOTHER job to do at JOB

Tony

You must surely have heard of the bible tales of the Trials of JOB

GordonB... you are MY comforter

Tony

Will...you have a real winner here...flowers or no flowers...top drawer!

However...your avatar...that's a loser...

I like Fiona's latest MUCH BETTER!

Pat

a very beautiful tree will, great work, a credit to you.

Hi Will,
I have successfully encouraged a Prunus Incisa to flower approximately four weeks earlier than it usually would. I have done this twice on the same tree, two years ago and four years ago and it does not seem to have had any detrimental effect on the tree. I brought my tree into a room with a temperature of approx. 12c eight weeks before usual flowering time. The flower buds were looked at daily and after two weeks were starting to show colour and just open. The difference in the bud size over a fortnight was more than noticeable.
At this point I put the tree back out for a week and the buds hardly moved but I did ensure that the tree did not go below freezing. This action stopped the tree in its tracks. I then returned it indoors and within three days it was covered in flower ready for a February display. If you don't try it this year you will probably spend the next twelve months wondering '' what if.....''.

See you at J.O.B.
Regards,
Andy.

Hi Andy, and what a stunning little tree it is, can`t we see a photo of it,

Ian.

Firstly, thanks to Pat and Antonnio for their comments
Thankyou Andy for your advice on early flowering. By your reckoning, I should be thinking of bringing it in by the end of January

Will, I am
guessing here , but about St. Valentines day to move the tree indoors should leave you about five weeks '' to force '' your tree for the show you desire. If things do start happening too quickly it can be put back outside and put ''on hold '' for a while. Give it a go and let's see if we all learn something.

Regards,

Andy.

Hello Andy, I m going to have a go. The Sloe has certainly had its cold spell, with all this snow and night teps about -5 degrees c

Think that deciduous domancy requires something like 5000 hrs of 5 degrees c minimum for a good and proper rest.

That equates to 208 days. Not often we get a cold spell for that long.....thankfully

Having just re read my last post and a couple of bits in my books, i should have said 2000 hrs!
208 days of winter, some would love that but as a reptile that wouldnt suit me!
Looking like we may get what our trees need this season anyway, -8 here now!
Regards Nick

The Sloe as it is today. Don't think it's going to have a " knock em dead" flower display at Bath.

Minimalist one flower display

Hi Will, very nice tree. I love these compositions.

Just as nice as I remember. You dont get many blackthorn with bark like that. John Pitt has got a nice one. Also nice pot Are you selling many pots or are they for personal use?

Is the wire comming off before Bath?.