Q. I have a plum tree that is 2 or 3 years old. Every year it blossoms beautiful white flowers but doesn’t bare fruit. I’d like to know what I can do to have the tree bare fruit. Thank you, Leona Massier – Tacoma, WA
A. What you can do is exercise one of my undeveloped traits – patience. I just can’t wait for the promise of those fruit trees, especially when they tease us with those beautiful flowers. But it is common for most dwarf fruit trees to take anywhere from 3-5 years to start producing fruit. The first year will arrive when they produce that wonderful handful of fruit that you savor. Then in the next few years there will be enough to share with your close friends and relatives. Next thing you’ll know you’ll be buying a canner or giving the fruit away to any acquaintance that will take them! So hang in there and just keep up good general care of watering, fertilization and pest control and you will be amply rewarded.