Festooning fruit trees
By Papillon
United Kingdom 
I have a dwarf victoria plum tree which was planted two years ago. It has not yet fruited, and I was advised to 'festoon' the branches to encourage fruiting. I did so for a while, but despite a little blossom, there is still no fruit. Would you advise me when to festoon the branches, and when to remove the ties so that fruiting is encouraged, please?
Many thanks
17 Jul, 2017
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Not something I have come across up to now; seems to be used by professional fruit growers. When you say dwarf plum tree, do you mean a patio tree or conventional tree on dwarfing rootstock. It's not a bad thing for an immature tree not to fruit until a few years' old. As you say that it did have some blossom, then might be late frosts or lack of pollination that is the problem. I would try and feed with a high potash feed, (tomato or sulphate of potash) in late summer.
17 Jul, 2017