Fruits and Nuts: Pruning espalier plum tree, 1 by andycdn

andycdn wrote:
Andrew in Ottawa (Canada) here... I have an 8-year old Italian Prune Plum (dwarf) which I planted and have been pruning as an espalier. This mid-August photo shows the new growth following mid-summer pruning a few weeks ago.

I had numerous blossoms last year, which all failed to produce fruit; and no blooms this year. I have high hopes for 2006, but isn't that the way of all gardeners?

Any hints on final pre-winter pruning, feeding, etc. to promote fruiting spurs and plums for next year? We get frost here by November 1, snow in early December, sub-zero winter until March, leaf-out in early May, blooms in June, fruit in August. I'm in Zone 5 in Canada, located about 100 miles North of Lake Ontario. I have friends who grow these easily in the area.