Pears

[H20fwler]

I’ve got close to 40 pear trees out, at least a dozen or more varieties. Planted them mostly for wildlife but do enjoy eating pears too. We had our first annual family fruit picking day this fall apples/pears and it went really well.
It was a boom year for pears the trees were absolutely loaded I actually had to thin some late summer.

Back to pears for deer, I walked one of the orchards this morning and couldn’t find one pear on the ground, just deer beds and deer poop.
It’s been a very windy fall with plenty of days 30mph or better normally straight out of west, so a lot of stuff that normally hangs well has blown off.
Still have a few Keiffers hanging on and surprisingly a couple Shanandoa…along with GC that are half still on due to wind.

Also a few apples still clinging and a lot of crabs.
Overall for me here I think deer might prefer pears and they seem easier for me to grow, way less fussy, maintenance free and I think grow faster.
I drive by this orchard twice a day morning and evening coming and going to work and have seen deer under the pear trees.

So that is my late fall pear report.

The pear part of orchard

 

[Native Hunter]

Good report.

The difference between drop times for us is about a month or more. My Kieffers will generally have finished dropping by early November. It’s a struggle to find fruit that drops well here in mid to later November.

If something hasn't dropped by early November, it is generally something that wants to hang all winter long.

 

[MW22392]

Pears look great! thanks for the report, can't wait for mine to mature like that. How long ago did you plant those?

 

[Hoytvectrix]

How much longer will you keep those cages on? We have a few trees that size and we have taken the cages off because we thought the bark would be tough enough for buck rubs. You are making me second guess that decision.

 

[H20fwler]

Pears look great! thanks for the report, can't wait for mine to mature like that. How long ago did you plant those?

Thanks
Most of those are 8-10 years. They were planted right into corn stubble, I didn’t start fertilizing until a few years ago. Now I give them a cup of triple 12 every spring around the drip line.

How much longer will you keep those cages on? We have a few trees that size and we have taken the cages off because we thought the bark would be tough enough for buck rubs. You are making me second guess that decision.

I don’t plan on ever taking them off, I don’t trust the deer at all to not rub them. And it keeps me at a distance if I mow. Better safe than sorry.

 

[Native Hunter]

How much longer will you keep those cages on? We have a few trees that size and we have taken the cages off because we thought the bark would be tough enough for buck rubs. You are making me second guess that decision.

I never remove cages. Deer will rub and kill a big fruit tree - especially those you mow around.

 

[gunfun13]

I'm just starting to see crops on my 2019 planted pears. Most had a lot of blossoms this spring but where hit with frost, yield ended up way lower they expected. They have not grown as well for me as crabapples, which is surprising to me based on the experience of others. I did fertilize for the first time this year, they responded very well, so hopefully good things in store for the future.

Also good to hear Shanadoah is still hanging, I have one planted 2021ish

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Thanks
Most of those are 8-10 years. They were planted right into corn stubble, I didn’t start fertilizing until a few years ago. Now I give them a cup of triple 12 every spring around the drip line.



I don’t plan on ever taking them off, I don’t trust the deer at all to not rub them. And it keeps me at a distance if I mow. Better safe than sorry.

I never remove cages. Deer will rub and kill a big fruit tree - especially those you mow around.

We don't take ours off either. For the same reasons as you guys, plus any bit of cage resistance to a nosey bear is a good thing at our place.

Thanks for the pear report & pics. That ROD in the right corner of the 1st pic?

 

[H20fwler]

We don't take ours off either. For the same reasons as you guys, plus any bit of cage resistance to a nosey bear is a good thing at our place.

Thanks for the pear report & pics. That ROD in the right corner of the 1st pic?

It sure is, that’s right where my shrub strips start, then they go on for 400 yards.

 

[Teeder]

Regarding a deer's preference for pears.

When we moved into this house in 2002, there was a monster of a pear tree ( Bartlett, I believe) along with a handful of old apples. When that pear was dropping, I swear every deer in the area was here and none of them were paying attention to the apples.
Unfortunately, we lost all those old trees to storms through the years.

 

[Peeps]

I have several pears from SLN I planted in 2015. None have produced any fruit yet. I’ll probably yank them this year and replace with apples.

 

[Mortenson]

I have several pears from SLN I planted in 2015. None have produced any fruit yet. I’ll probably yank them this year and replace with apples.

That's sad to read. How big did the trees get? Can't some pears take 10 years to produce?

 

[homerj]

I have several pears from SLN I planted in 2015. None have produced any fruit yet. I’ll probably yank them this year and replace with apples.

How tall are they now?

 

[bigboreblr]

Looking to add an asian pear or two. Got kieffer and bartlett from big box stores about 2 years ago. Was thinking olympic pear, sometthing for my wife to enjoy.

There's a site that has northrup mulberry and also sells a few asian pears. hosoi, shinko, and korean giant. Not sure how Pyrus betulifolia rootstock handles heavier clay with borderline ok drainage.

 

[Mortenson]

^^^ just get the Olympic (Korean). You won't be sorry.

 

[H20fwler]

Looking to add an asian pear or two. Got kieffer and bartlett from big box stores about 2 years ago. Was thinking olympic pear, sometthing for my wife to enjoy.

There's a site that has northrup mulberry and also sells a few asian pears. hosoi, shinko, and korean giant. Not sure how Pyrus betulifolia rootstock handles heavier clay with borderline ok drainage.

I've got all three of those Asian pears. My Hosoi and Shinko just started producing and are good eating,,,Korean Giant/Olympic is AWESOME! It’s our family’s favorite pear. I also have heavy clay OH97 is a good rootstock for heavier soil.

 

[bueller]

I have several pears from SLN I planted in 2015. None have produced any fruit yet. I’ll probably yank them this year and replace with apples.

Don't give up yet. I planted a few from SLN in 2012 and 2013 and this was the first year I've had pears, around 20 or so on a single tree. Was giving up on them but now can't wait to see them next year.

 

[Teeder]

I have several pears from SLN I planted in 2015. None have produced any fruit yet. I’ll probably yank them this year and replace with apples.

Any blossoms?

 

[homerj]

That's sad to read. How big did the trees get? Can't some pears take 10 years to produce?

"Plant pears for your heirs" is an old saying. Pears in northern areas can take many years to produce any fruit. Seems once they do reach maturity, they're pretty consistent producers.

 

[J B]

I have several pears from SLN I planted in 2015. None have produced any fruit yet. I’ll probably yank them this year and replace with apples.

I’m not sure I would give up on them after waiting this long already. You should be getting close to production and should already have a good sized tree. If you are nervous about them, plant apples between them and decide later.