I'd say your tree has a root problem or something is plugging up the phloem. It's not getting enough water to the leaves. Could it have a bacterial infection?

Just my guess.

The Fruitnut

Gerry, I see your plum tree has put on some nice growth this season. Set some Green Gage plums. Ymmm. The browning leaves are some reaction from spraying and smog, Memorial day barbecue overload. Looks like a one time thing. Proceed as normal.

only problem is i was away for memorial day, and i didnt spray the tree with anything. it does appear to be one time damage however as the there has not been any additional deterioration in the last few days.

http://www.zipcodezoo.com/hp350/Xanthomonas_campestris_11.jpg

I think it could be xanthomonas campestris

I saw on your pics some of the soft tender new shoots that had curled up and gone black.

If your trees are wet like that they are at risk.

A low rate of a fixed copper spray will help clear that up.

You cant use high rates as they may cause leaf burn in warmer weather.

Take that yellow strap off, or it will girdle.

Lychee:

To me it looks like high levels of rainfall, coupled with less than ideal drainage which has caused some root dieback. Also, a tree planted next to a hard-surface walkway is not in the best situation. But I think the tree will recover as rainfall patterns return to normal and the ground dries out a little.

I don't see much in the way of plums on the tree. I also have a Green Gage, purchased years ago from Miller's, that has never produced an edible plum. The tree occasionally has some sparse blossoms, and sets a few plums that never grow up. I keep the tree as a pet, but it is certainly not a fruit producer. Looks like yours is in the same situation.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Many of us have gotten false green gages from Miller's. None of us that I know of, have recieved an authentic one. Adams claims to have the real McCoy after also selling incorrectly named trees. Theirs were a mediocre Japanese plum called Japanese Green Gage which Adams failed to mention in catalogue at the time.

I have some real GG's, I believe, from Cummins. This is one elusive variety!

Thanks for all the responses.

Jellyman- the "greengage" tree is in a concrete planter that is about 18 inches wide, 10 feet long, and 4 feet deep. far from ideal but the only place I have.

I got the tree from forestfarm. the tree has a tag saying self fertile but green gages r not self fertile. when i emailed forest farm about this,he basically said um shucks i have no idea.
its been in the "ground" for 4 years now. each year i get more and more blossoms. this year, i got about 200 blossoms. but only one fruit is still growing at this stage and even that one i think has quit growing. however, next year, my other european plums trees will be old enough to produce blossoms to pollinate the "green gage" tree. so i have higher hopes for next year. its prob not a legitimate green gage tree but who knows.

Lychee:

Thanks for clearing up the planting situation. I couldn't figure that out from the photos, and never would have guessed that a concrete planter of those dimensions even existed. Your little planter must weight about 500 lbs., and that is empty. Must have been poured on-site.

The question now is: Has the soil in the planter been waterlogged by recent rains? I don't know what the weather has been doing in Brooklyn, but down here in Northern Virginia we nearly set a record for rain in May, and it has continued up to today when it finally stopped. Some of these have been steady, night and day rains that have my orchard and garden areas completely soaked. Not good for anything growing in a low area or where drainage is poor.

Good luck with your Green Gage. Hope springs eternal.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Being in a planter might explain this, ..perhaps too much water?

I always thought this plum is self fertile, but it produces better with another pollinizer.
Mine are flowering a little right now, surprisingly...after a low temperature of - 49F. 45C. in Winter.

Konrad