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Pear tree blooming twice #653956

Asked June 21, 2020, 12:08 PM EDT

This has happened one other time, if I remember correctly, and is happening again right now. Our Red Clapps pear tree has pears on it, and is blooming some again. Is this at all normal, or something that happens on occasion or is it very unfortunately because of global warming / climate change? I could not find anything about it other than this one link, which didn't answer the question at all, but does show it has been happening a lot in multiple locations. https://sustainablescientist.net/2013/07/16/twice-blooming-fruit-trees/ And - regardless the cause - is it harmful to the tree or existing fruit. In other words, should we trim it off or just leave it? Thank you. Gloria

Josephine County Oregon

Expert Response

This late bloom on your pear tree is probably caused by weather conditions. The tree goes through dormancy and as the soil warms in spring the tree pushes out the new flower buds followed by the vegetative buds. The tree grows normally for about two months and in late May the tree focuses energy on making new flower buds. Then after the new flower buds form something like a series of cool damp mornings followed by nice warm days will induce a false break of dormancy way too early. These buds are meant to flower next year but push early because of the odd sequence of weather events. This tends to happen more with specific species or varieties. It seems to be driven by certain species and weather interaction.  
An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 22, 2020, 5:17 PM EDT
Thank you Steve.

So this is not completely abnormal then?

One thing you did not address though, should I leave them alone, or should I trim them off?

And given your explanation; another question; will this effect next years growth, or will it just go again ok?

Thank you.
The Question Asker Replied June 22, 2020, 5:36 PM EDT
No this is not that abnormal, this happens on occasion with several types of fruit trees. You should trim them off. Typically they will not ripen well or in time before fall freezes. This doesn't effect next years growth much since most fruit trees make and set way too many fruit anyway. I usually thin off the majority of the fruit that was set getting down to single fruit not clusters, and I try to separate the fruit by about 6 inches on a given branch. It can happen again but it normally doesn't.
An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 22, 2020, 6:25 PM EDT
Thank you again; appreciate it. Also glad to hear it isn't completely abnormal.

We don't have that much fruit yet, or this time, and don't have any clusters, so we don't have any excess fruit to remove. And of course there isn't any fruit (yet) where the second bloom is happening, and I will prune those off tomorrow.

Thank you.
The Question Asker Replied June 22, 2020, 6:36 PM EDT

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