Q. I used to have two plum trees in my backyard, but both were struck by lightning and died. I would like to replace one of them, but I heard you have to have a male and female tree to bear fruit. Is this true, and if it is, how do you tell them apart when you buy them? – Deborah S. Wallace, Greensburg, Ind.
A. Plums have perfect flowers with both male and female parts, but those parts are not able to pollinate one another because of incompatible timing. All plums except ‘Damson,’ ‘Green Gage,’ and ‘Stanley’ need a second cultivar for pollination. There are two types of plums, European and Japanese, and they will not pollinate each other.
Q. I would like to know where to find the plant or seed for bay leaves. – Mildred Jones, Speedway, Ind.
A. Bay is not hardy in Indiana, but it can be grown indoors. Seeds are available from J.L. Hudson, Seedsman, P.O. Box 1058, Redwood City, CA 94064.