Pears are one of the most popular orchard trees worth having on any sizeable plot, both for the delicious fruit they produce and the attractive blossom. May is a good time to make sure that pollination has been successful. If your fruit has not set this season the cold weather could be blamed, frost not helping and pollinating insects are not as active during colder tempertures.
If it is a regular problem it is probably because there is not a suitable pollinating partner in the vacinaty. With the exception of “Conference” which can pollinate itself, all pears need another tree from the same pollination group nearby. This means it will be in flower at the same time and the bees can transfer pollen from one to the other with just a short flight in between. This will cause the fruit to set once it has give the fruit trees roots a generous liquid feed of a high potash fertilser, like tomato feed with added seaweed.continue reading Tend to Pears
If you want the best organic fruit you have to start with the best practice.
Choosing your Tree
selecting varieties with a higher level of disease resistance is the fist step to starting an organic orchard.Growing organically means you have fewer options to fall back on if things go wrong.
Bear in mind the weather conditions of the area where you live when choosing which variety of fruit tree you purchase.Areas with average rain fall of more than 1 metre (3 ft) a year, are prone to plant diseases due to wet conditions.
In very windy areas consider making a windbreak to stop airbourne spores and pests from reaching your fruit crop, alder or holy make excellent hedges and harbour few diseases.
Most fruit trees must cross pollinate to bear fruit, plant them in pairs two different varieties which bloom at the same time.
Positioning
Most organic grown trees will tolerate a wide range of soils provided they are well drained and ideally have a PH range of 6.5 -6.7 although this is not essential.Always choose the sunniest position possible as warmth is required to promote the ripening of the wood, which is vital for bud development.Avoid hollows or slopes which may form fost pockets which will effect your fruit trees crop.
Winter moths are a common problem for most fruit trees particularly apples,pears,plums and cherries.
The adults emerge from the soil between late autumn and midwinter and the wingless females crawl up the trunk to lay their eggs on the branches.The green caterpillars can be easily identified in the early spring, due to the dark stripe along their backs and the way they arch their bodies when they move.
The catterpillars feed on the leaves and flowers not only can this reduce the amount of fruit produced or leave it deformed.It can weaken the tree and make it more open to diseases and other pest attacks.
The most sensible preventive measure is to make a barrier so that adult winter moths (which can not fly) can not reach the branches.Try appying a sticky band of glue or grease around the trunks of the fruit trees and their stakes, to trap some of the female moths.
Place the bands 45cm (1ft 6inches) above soil level before the moths emerge latter this month.Although moth activity slows down after January some species are active until April, so you may need to reapply grease from time to time.Placing the sticky band is also useful for protecting your fruit trees against ants and vine weevil as well.
There is something wounderful about bitting into a freshly picked pear that is so ripe it sends juice running down your chin.But how can you be sure that your pears are ready for picking.
When should I pick my pear
when the pear is ready to pick the fruit should still be quite firm,although not rock hard.With most varieties of pear the skin colour becomes a slightly paler shade of green.
If you are uncertain
Carefully cup the pear in your hand and gently but firmly give it a slight twist.If the pear is ripe,the fruit stalk should break from the spur and you will be left holding a delicious pear. More on Pick Pears in their Prime
The adults emerge from the soil between late autumn and midwinter and the wingless females crawl up the trunk to lay their eggs on the branches.The green caterpillars can be easily identified in the early spring, due to the dark stripe along their backs and the way they arch their bodies when they move.
The most sensible preventive measure is to make a barrier so that adult winter moths (which can not fly) can not reach the branches.Try appying a sticky band of glue or grease around the trunks of the fruit trees and their stakes, to trap some of the female moths.
picking.
Bloomin' Gardens
