Jackie, Japanese plums picked a bit early and left to sit out will be edible but will not taste as good as tree-ripened ones. If its that or nothing then that may be your only option. I never pick my plums early, I'd rather get a third of them as ripe plums than a full load of underripe ones.

You should look into netting or otherwise protecting your trees. I have a plum ripening now and there is a squirrel trap right next to it and nuts all around the base of the tree to redirect the squirrel from plums to my trap.

Scott

Thanks, Scott. That is exactly what I wanted to know. I hadn't thought about squirrels - we have loads of them. We also have a doe with a 2 week old fawn in tow who hangs out in that part of the garden.

I will try netting and see what happens - thanks again.

Jackie

Do elephant heart plum trees have thorns? Is Santa Rosa really a good pollinator? How vigorous are the trees?

I recommend against black monofiliment netting and suggest you try a woven product such as provided by American netting, which sells 30X30' sections of the stuff.

It is more expensive but much easier to use- install it a couple of weeks before first ripening and remove immediately after harvest and it should last for years. You need to completely close off the tree and hope squirrels aren't hungry enough to chew through it.