P...it is pretty unusual for Oct! I would let it be. Our strange Santa Ana/dry/hot conditions really confuse the trees. Next years fruit set may be sparse...but let nature take it's course. You do not want to risk damaging the long-term fruit spurs, as well.

I would not worry about it, the flowers will drop off by themself. Next years flowers will probably be light, but nothing you can do about it. The chilling requirement for Santa Rosa is between 300 and 500 hours depending on which variety of Santa Rosa you have. Is your chilling hours on the edge for this tree? Al

fireduck,

The weather we had recently was also a possibility until I called a few nurseries and none of their Santa Rosa Plums were blooming.

calistoga,

I don't believe the chill hours are even close, one bad thing about living in Orange County.

I will let it grow and see if fruit sets, if it does, I must have done something right and thanks for the feedback.

Preston

Earlier this month I picked up a new 5g nectarine from a large nursery in Ventura Co (inland not coastal) It had a couple of blooms on it. No idea why it would decide it was spring, we had had little cooler weather. Only a few on my tree and it is new so I was not worried about fruit set.

But it is odd.

I have had it happen on some of my first year trees in the past. The trees get drought stressed and go dormant. Then bounce back in the fall when it starts to cool off. As a result they bloom and leaf out in the fall instead of going dormant.

econ0003,

Interesting analogy.

The tree is 5 years old and in a container. It has never been a good producer if any fruit at all. I think even if the fruit does set, I doubt they would very good due to lack of sun this time of year. I picked a few large blueberries from the Southmoon and they had very little flavor.

Has anyone experienced off season fruit that has very good flavors?

Preston