Pear Tree Fire Blight

[Wolfriver]

Does anyone know what this is on my Golden Spice pear? It’s getting worse by the day. It is planted in an orchard with crabs, apples, plums and another healthily Ure pear. Thanks

 

[homerj]

Does anyone know what this is on my Golden Spice pear? It’s getting worse by the day. It is planted in an orchard with crabs, apples, plums and another healthily Ure pear. Thanks

Check the trunk for borers?

 

[Wolfriver]

Check the trunk for borers?

We found what looked like some cracking at the base of the trunk and some black bark.

 

[H20fwler]

Collar rot?
Have you had a lot of rain?

Dig dirt away some at the base and spray with a good fungicide.

 

[Wolfriver]

Collar rot?
Have you had a lot of rain?

I could see that. We have had a good amount of water. The mulch isn’t up against the trunk or any thing

 

[H20fwler]

I could see that. We have had a good amount of water. The mulch isn’t up against the trunk or any thing

I think you still have time to save the tree, but I wouldn't wait too long to treat it.
I've had the same before with younger apples.

 

[buckdeer1]

I think FB is worse this year in my area with all the rain.But I will replace the worse affected ones

 

[Charles Clear]

I lost my Johanthorp to fireblight this year. Trimmed all my other pears and they seem ok. Time will tell.

 

[Wolfriver]

I think FB is worse this year in my area with all the rain.But I will replace the worse affected ones

The Ure pear looks to be going down the same road as the Golden spice pear Will some Neem oil max work or Copper?

I have only seen fireblight on apples & crabs in my life. Last fireblight strike was in 2024 on a Dolgo planted before Covid times. I had no clue Dolgo could even get FB but it’s ok now. Pears are new to me. Guessing FB looks the same in apples as it does in pears??

 

[Catscratch]

I think FB is worse this year in my area with all the rain.But I will replace the worse affected ones

Pretty sure im seeing the same thing. The rain has been great though!

 

[blueKYstream]

I planted about 30 pears in 2019, mostly from The Wildlife Group (and a few other places too). Late frosts have taken out all pears in a couple years and squirrels have cleared pear trees that did fruit. I may have gotten 1 or 2 pears to make it to August. I lost a Moonglow to what appeared to be fireblight the year I planted it and I lost an Arkansas Black apple tree to being girdled this year. Knock on wood, though, I haven't lost any to fireblight other than the one I mentioned in 2019. I'm bummed to hear that about Becton, because that's been my fastest grower and was the first to fruit (I have 4).

 

[Native Hunter]

Over the last few days, I'm estimating that I have knocked in excess of 2,000 pears off of my trees to keep limbs from breaking. I was too late on some of them. Last year was also a limb breaking nightmare. I can't explain what has changed to cause this. I don't remember limb breaking being such a problem before last year.

One thing I have learned is that European Pear varieties are the worst for breaking limbs. My Asian pears are also loaded, but I haven't had a single limb to break on any of them.

Another observation that you might be interested in - when I walk back to the trees in a few days after unloading the green pears, every single one of them will be gone.

PS - I have had some FB this year too. The European varieties seem worse for that too - except for Ayers and Moonglow. I also noticed that on one of my Olympic Giants that I have some leaves yellowing near the top of the tree - kind of reminds me of scab on apple leaves. However, it is loaded with big pears and the few yellowing leaves don't seem to be causing any problems.

The pic below taken about 13 days ago is an example of the sagging limbs. I got to this tree in time. Some others were not so lucky.