The GARDENA gardening expert
Regarding your first question:
Fungal diseases such as your current problem are frequently observed, as it has frequently been damp and yet warm during the ripening phase of peaches and nectarines. I suggest that you spray the trees next year with an appropriate fungicide, such as Fruit Fungi-free Teldor (manufactured by Bayer). At the same time I would like to remind you to prune back the tree and the plants surrounding it. A well-ventilated tree and garden situation permits precipitation and high air humidities to evaporate more easily. Fungal diseases can’t cope well in a dry environment. In addition, I would advise you not to leave too many fruits hanging when the tree has produced such a rich harvest, as the densification of fruits increases the infestation rates through parasitic fungi. Thin out the fruit so that each fruit hangs at a distance of ten centimetres to the next one. This not only lowers infestation rates, but also improves the quality of the harvest.
As to your second question:
If the fruits are large, yellow and very juicy, this tree will be a greengage tree, in particular the variety “Oullins”. If the flesh of the fruit is not so juicy and tender, but rather more firm and with a slightly bitter taste around the stone, it will be an Ontario plum. Or, if the fruit is not round but rather elongated, this could in fact be a damson, as the varieties “Thacro” or “Tipala” are yellow in colour.
Foto: © Nitr - Fotolia.com