Troubleshooting
Marjorie's Seedling Plum problems — and how to fix them
Marjorie's Seedling Plum (Prunus domestica 'Marjorie's Seedling') is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Brown rot
Monilinia fungus rots ripening fruit and causes cankers; remove and bin mummified fruit, never compost, and prune in dry summer weather.
Silver leaf
Chondrostereum fungus enters pruning wounds, silvering leaves and killing branches; only prune in mid-summer when spore pressure is low.
Plum moth
Caterpillars tunnel into fruit causing premature ripening and maggoty plums; hang pheromone traps from late May to disrupt mating.
Biennial bearing
Heavy crops one year then little the next; thin congested fruitlets in June to roughly one every 5-8 cm to even out yield.
Prevent marjorie's seedling plum problems before they start
Most marjorie's seedling plum issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Looking for marjorie's seedling plum in general rather than its problems? Read the full marjorie's seedling plum care guide — light, water, soil and feeding.
Marjorie's Seedling Plum problems — FAQ
Why is my marjorie's seedling plum brown rot?
Monilinia fungus rots ripening fruit and causes cankers; remove and bin mummified fruit, never compost, and prune in dry summer weather.
Why is my marjorie's seedling plum silver leaf?
Chondrostereum fungus enters pruning wounds, silvering leaves and killing branches; only prune in mid-summer when spore pressure is low.
Why is my marjorie's seedling plum plum moth?
Caterpillars tunnel into fruit causing premature ripening and maggoty plums; hang pheromone traps from late May to disrupt mating.
Why is my marjorie's seedling plum biennial bearing?
Heavy crops one year then little the next; thin congested fruitlets in June to roughly one every 5-8 cm to even out yield.