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Plum Fruit Drop: Water, Pollination, or Fungus?

Symptoms

Large crop but many small, hard, red fruit dropping at touch.

Possible Causes

Action

Contact local Dept of Agriculture/Extension (best for regional pests).
Ensure consistent water from bloom to harvest.
Thin fruit next year (improves size/retention).

International query—local ag service knows your specific plum pests/diseases.

Plant Diseases: Blue Plum Fruit Rot: Brown Rot Disease; Plum Tree Brown Rot: Sanitation and Fungicide Timing; Plum Tree Decline: Bacterial Infection and a Systemic Cleanup Approach; Victoria Plum Maggots: Plum Moth, Preventive Spraying Required; Plum Tree Stress After Aphid/Ant Infestation: Water and Organic Sprays; Plum Pocket Disease: Remove Fruit, Fungicide Next Year; Preventing Plum Tree Fruiting with Growth Regulators; Plum Tree Dying Back: Likely Brown Rot Blossom Blight; Preventing Fruit on Ornamental Plum Trees; Plum Tree Leaf Spot and Fruit Drop in New Zealand

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Cause	Mechanism	Check
Irregular water	Drought → rain swings = fruit abscission	Weekly deep soak
Poor pollination	Few seeds = fruit drops	Bee activity at bloom?
Flower fungus	Blossom blight → poor set	Spring symptoms?
Cultivar tendency	Some plums drop heavily	Check variety info