The right plum tree

[blackcavebees]

Our local BKA is setting up a teaching apiary in an old apple orchard. There was a plum tree but with the gales over the winter its gone now.

Q is which type of plum tree to plant. Looking for extrafloral nectaries as well as pollen from flowers. Any suggestions guys?

 

[enrico]

Good old Victoria!
E

 

[lorrick]

I have a very old Victoria in the garden and the bees love it, good cover as well, and of course you have the benefit of the fruit as well.

 

[BigAshW]

My old Granny God rest her, planted a victoria plum in he front of Mums garden and it is covered in bees during flowering.

 

[chrismcd]

Plums are vulnerable to replant disease.

Bear in mind that you should not put the same species back in the same spot - otherwise you will get "specific replant disease" where all the bugs that were living on the old plum attack the new one

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specific_replant_disease

 

[JohnRoss]

We have 5 different varieties of plum in the garden and the bees seem to cover them all, weather permitting. Seem to avoid them in cooler weather.