First Fruits

[356]

We planted ten apples, two pears and two plum trees when we moved to the farm in 2017. That first year we had to replace two apples and both plums due to deer and drought. This year we had our first three pears (delicious) and first bushel of apples.

I wish I had known of this forum back then, as we simply went to the farm store and bought trees. I didn't know the impact the cedars on our neighbors property 30' from the trees would have, nor did I understand what to look for in a good tree. That said, I've learned a lot from this forum and I am enjoying some great apples and pears this year.

 

[SwampCat]

Did the coons not get in your apple trees - or do you have something preventing them from doing it?

 

[356]

I've not had as much coon or deer issues as expected....that, or I am oblivious to the fruit carnage they cause. After a recent wind storm, several apples were on the ground. The next morning they were gone. The trees are in our "front yard" by the road, so the location may help a little. In year three we had a few apples that were eaten by deer (on camera).

 

[SwampCat]

My deer dont eat apples or pears on the ground. A herd of deer is around these low hanging apples everyday. Pears on the ground and they dont eat them

 

[Turkey Creek]

You must have a lot of food available to them. I have never seen pears last on the ground if there are deer around. I would not suspect that they would be that heavy into the apples yet. They haven't started carb loading for Winter.

 

[SwampCat]

You must have a lot of food available to them. I have never seen pears last on the ground if there are deer around. I would not suspect that they would be that heavy into the apples yet. They haven't started carb loading for Winter.

I dont know if our deer carb load for the winter. It is always said in the south, late summer, hot and dry is the stress period. We are mid 50’s high and mid 30’s low on average in mid winter. Probably perfect temps for deer. A lot of these deer have never seen an apple or a pear. Never have got to taste one off my 50 trees.

 

[Turkey Creek]

I would still guess they switch from high protein food sources to carb based food sources as Summer ends. Granted it isnt necessarily a requirement as it is for northern deer, but I would guess it is a hard wired trait.

 

[H20fwler]

I’ve had the same experience as Turkey Creek here with pears, deer really eat them up.
I see deer bedding under my pear trees waiting for the wind to knock something down.
Most of mine drop through October into early November.
Everything here eats pears.

 

[356]

I’ve had the same experience as Turkey Creek here with pears, deer really eat them up.
I see deer bedding under my pear trees waiting for the wind to knock something down.
Most of mine drop through October into early November.
Everything here eats pears.

The deer definitely do that with our persimmon thee. It’s still another month before the fruit ripens, and they are congregating under the tree regularly. I think the fact the pears and apples are near the house might impact that behavior. It was sure nice to enjoy the pears before the critters got them.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

I’ve had the same experience as Turkey Creek here with pears, deer really eat them up.
I see deer bedding under my pear trees waiting for the wind to knock something down.
Most of mine drop through October into early November.
Everything here eats pears.

Same here. A member brought a load of pears he raked from his yard to camp ...... gone in 1 night. Same with our pear tree drops at camp - deer or bears.

356 - Happy you got some fruit. It's a good feeling to grow your own stuff. It'll only increase for you.

 

[H20fwler]

I’ve had the same experience as Turkey Creek here with pears, deer really eat them up.
I see deer bedding under my pear trees waiting for the wind to knock something down.
Most of mine drop through October into early November.
Everything here eats pears.

Couple picks I just took tonight of deer beds under the pear trees.

A couple just have single huge beds


And then here is a string of beds in a row large and small. Figure two does with fawns.


As soon as pears start dropping the deer start bedding in the orchard. No pears left on the ground.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Couple picks I just took tonight of deer beds under the pear trees.

A couple just have single huge beds
View attachment 82098

And then here is a string of beds in a row large and small. Figure two does with fawns.
View attachment 82099

As soon as pears start dropping the deer start bedding in the orchard. No pears left on the ground.

Sleeping in the candy store / cafeteria!

 

[bigboreblr]

Careful........ One of my apple trees at my old house got a 450 marlin to the trunk. Sometimes superior firepower isnt the best option.........

 

[Mortenson]

I need to stop forgetting a bucket this time of year when working around the deer orchards. Finally starting to make a literal ton of fruit. Droppings under most all the trees.

 

[KY wild]

I need to stop forgetting a bucket this time of year when working around the deer orchards. Finally starting to make a literal ton of fruit. Droppings under most all the trees.

View attachment 82214View attachment 82215

Ha, I agree, I put pears on top of my catfish food bucket yesterday. Magness is very tasty

 

[crappieman2380]

My trees are still young and I don't think the extremely wet spring / early summer did them any favors. That said I did get to try a few apples this year. Left about 6 chestnut crabs on that were delicious. Have a few liberty to try as well, but I don't think they're ready yet. Tonight I have a couple Kerrs for a small treat after dinner. They're not big, but tried one the other day and it was pretty good. Some Niagara grapes to go with them as well.

Agreed on this forum being a wealth of information for those starting in to the fruit tree growing habit. I don't know much so I don't post much, but read the forum everyday and try to glean as much information as I can. Kudos to all of you guys that have been doing this for years and can help out all of us beginners. I really can't wait until I have as much fruit dropping as some of you. My deer can't either.

 

[H20fwler]

We made some baked pears last night, little butter, some brown sugar and cinnamon, fifteen minutes in a hot stove...game on!

 

[Barndog56]

Too many fruit, combined with a couple of high wind thunderstorms, pruned a few of my trees for me. I propped up the broken peach limb to keep them off the ground and they're still ripening. Eating 3 or 4 a day and the wife is freezing a bunch. Nothing beats a freshly picked ripe peach.

Deer are cleaning up the broken pear branches.

 

[KY wild]

We made some baked pears last night, little butter, some brown sugar and cinnamon, fifteen minutes in a hot stove...game on!

Quick question H2O, do you just peel the pears and cut into quarters and put them on baking tray raw and then add the above ingredients and then bake for 15 minutes?

 

[H20fwler]

Quick question H2O, do you just peel the pears and cut into quarters and put them on baking tray raw and then add the above ingredients and then bake for 15 minutes?

We don't peel ours, last night I used Seckel pears. I halved them and scooped out the cores/seeds then put them in a small deep baking tray like we use for bread, sliced side up. Then put a little butter, brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and microwaved those fifteen or twenty seconds until melted. stirred it up then drizzled it over the pears. Place pears in a preheated oven for 15 minutes or so and they are ready.

You can use any type of pears, pick them just before full on ripe they are better if a little stiff before cooking, bigger pears we slice, you can peel them if you like... we don't, the skin softens up nicely. You can also drizzle a little syrup or honey over them too.

Super easy and fast to put together and is a very good dessert or snack...old school like our grandparents used to do it.