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My Pear tree's problems

bentleynevillebentleyneville Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hi there - I am new to this forum and apologies in advance for any breach of protocol. I have a pear tree (god knows what kind) about 5 years old, and every year it gets black-spot (similar to the rose black-spot). Every year it produces fruit (yeah) BUT the fruit never seems to get soft when its harvest time. I call it another wooden Pear year, they are solid, they seem to fill out on the tree but stay very hard. and they don't loose their fuzziness. Is it that they just stop growing or is this a know problem?

Posts

  • TackTack Posts: 1,367
    edited July 2021
    Hello. My Conference pear, which is the fuzzy-skinned type, has black-spot and pear tree rust but also usually fruits well. The pears are rock hard when I pick them but ripen beautifully off the tree. Deciding when to pick is an annual dilemma but it is essential not to wait until they are soft on the tree, by that point they are browning inside.
    If they are not getting very large you probably need to thin them out earlier in the season so you get fewer but larger fruit.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Pears need to be harvested BEFORE they are ready to eat.
    Hold the pear in your hand and lift it up - if it snaps from the stem it's ready to harvest.
    Then they have to be ripened.
    To delay ripening keep them in the fridge, but check frequently.
    To finish ripening leave them somewhere at room temp and out of direct sun.
    To check for ripeness, hold the pear in your hand and press the top of the pear with your thumb just below the stalk, if you can feel a little 'give' then it's ready to eat.
    Once they're ready they won't keep for much longer.

    The reason for all the faffing about is that Pears ripen from the inside to the outside.
    So by the time the outside of the pear feels ready, it may have started rotting in the middle all ready.

    Welcome to the forum too :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • bentleynevillebentleyneville Posts: 2
    To Tack & Pete.8.
    As you could tell I know nothing about fruit trees, but I love them nonetheless. So I pick them and then store them - cool. Many thanks for your quick reply.
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    One of our Wiliams pear looks awful but when you take off the scabby skin it is wonderful to eat.
    Our Beurre Hardy has to be picked before being ready otherwise it will rot on the tree. Another great pear.
    Our conference pear is also picked before it lands on the ground and does ripen indoors.
  • parkgatemanparkgateman Posts: 50
    Hello I have a problem with my pear tree too . mine has orange spots on nearly all the leaves and the fruit also . There is a juniper tree in next doors garden about 10 yards from my pear tree . I have seen on the internet that this fungus lives off both trees . My question is can I still eat the pears when they are ready ? . I am thinking of cutting the tree down. We have only had it about 4 years and not had any pears off it yet .
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited July 2021
    The pears are perfectly safe - Pear Rust only affects the leaves.
    I have 5 pears - they all have it, but doesn't seem to hold them back too much

    Do you know the variety? some need a pollinator close by to produce fruit

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • royhakanroyhakan Posts: 1
    Hi l bought a pear tree and was told it was maximum 5ft it is now 12ft l have a few flowers on one of the 3 types of pear.Do l prune it down to about 6ft if so when.
                          Thank You
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