Menu Close
Avatar
Log In
Please consider registering
Guest
Forum Scope






Start typing a member's name above and it will auto-complete

Match



Forum Options



Min search length: 3 characters / Max search length: 84 characters
Register Lost password?
sp_TopicIcon
Pear stopped growing
Avatar
cobber
2 Posts
(Offline)
1
June 16, 2010 - 8:49 pm

Hello – I planted 3 pears and 2 apples on 7 Feb this year. Pears are Warren, Bartlett, Sirrine and apples are William’s Pride and Honey Crisp. All bare root and 1 year old except the Warren, which was 3 year old. The soil here seems to be glacial till, kind of orange/red hue. Lots of rocks and drains well. The apples seem to be growing very well. All the pears just put out about 3 inches of growth initially this spring and now I have noticed they have stopped growing. Is this normal? Anything I need to do?

Troy
Seattle, WA

Avatar
Oregon Woodsmoke
143 Posts
(Offline)
2
June 17, 2010 - 9:42 am

If the leaves look OK and the pears appear healthy, I don't think it is time to worry.

My pear trees, with the exception of my Bosc, are much slower growing than my apple trees. They aren't as full and they aren't nearly as tall. They don't put out nearly as much new growth every year, and they don't set nearly as much fruit.

Are your pears on a more dwarfing rootstock?

Both my Asian and the European pears are slower than the apple trees.

My Bosc is a huge gangly scrawny monster, twice the height of the apple trees the same age. Like a very spoiled child, I allow her to do as she wishes, because she provides me with a large number of huge, gorgeous, delicious pears. She started bearing very young, and I thin and thin, but still the weight of the pears have pulled her skinny branches into all sorts of weird shapes.

My favorite tree. As long as she can sing and tap dance like Shirley Temple, I indulge her every wish.

Avatar
cobber
2 Posts
(Offline)
3
June 17, 2010 - 7:07 pm

I think the root stock used is comparable between apples and pears, at least that's what Bob Hartman told me when got them from him. The Warren bloomed, but no pears formed. The other pears didn't bloom. Too young I guess. All the pear leaves do look OK. I mean they are mostly green, but a bit chewed on by bugs...etc. We had leaf rollers a few times but did Bt spray, seems OK now.

The pears put on about 4-6 in of stem growth early on then stopped putting out new leaves and apparently stopped growing, at least above ground. The apples are still putting out new leaves and have about 10 in of stem growth. Maybe the pears switched to putting on root growth? I just fear something may be wrong with the pear trees, or worse, something is wrong that I could have easily prevented.

Maybe only option is just wait and see how it turns out?

Avatar
John S
PDX OR
2952 Posts
(Offline)
4
June 17, 2010 - 10:06 pm

You know cobber,
We just have had the rainiest June ever in Portland, and we've only spent half the month. I bet you get more growth later with more sun or at least next year with more sun.
John S
PDX OR

Forum Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
All RSSShow Stats
Administrators:
Idyllwild
simplepress
Moderators:
jafar
Marsha H
Viron
John S
Top Posters:
Rooney: 833
DanielW: 519
PlumFun: 495
Reinettes: 429
jafarj: 422
davem: 381
Dubyadee: 244
sweepbjames: 242
jadeforrest: 237
gkowen: 218
Newest Members:
derekamills
ella102
fruitain
pacorrtesting1
Johnsondavid
KarleyHahn
Wintheiser
RethaWisozk
rsuspense
billmorgan
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 4
Topics: 2945
Posts: 17130

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 0
Members: 1537
Moderators: 4
Admins: 2
Most Users Ever Online: 355
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 44
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)