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plum tree

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From: hannelore vollrath City: philadelphia, PA
we have a wonderful plum tree. After many years of growing it is full of fruit. But most of them have fallen off. We where told the tree has a desease and it can not be saved. Can we grow a new thee from a pit? Someone gave as the tree and that person has passed on and we would like to keep it "growing"
	Extension Message From: James Schuster Horticulturist and Plant Pathologist (Retired) schuster@illinois.edu
Plums are very prone to a disease called black knot. It tends to be fatal. Control is to destroy/prune off all infected branches/trunk during the winter when temperatures are below 20 degrees. Burn or bury the infected wood. If the fruit has ripened adequately before it falls off, it can be planted. You will need to protect the seed from squerrils and the new seedling from rabbits.
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