Pear tree - Ask Extension
Hello ,
I am concerned about the appearance of 2 pear trees on property where I live . Also last year they did not produce much fruit and the few p...
Knowledgebase
Pear tree #820297
Asked February 13, 2023, 2:40 PM EST
Hello ,
I am concerned about the appearance of 2 pear trees on property where I live . Also last year they did not produce much fruit and the few pears that they did have were small and became mushy and brown before they could even be picked ? I know approaching pruning time but feel like the trees look unhealthy and struggling so wondering if should avoid any pruning this year to not stress them out more ?
Houston County Minnesota
Expert Response
Your brown mushy pears may have ripened on the tree. Pears should be picked when firm but allowed to ripen off the tree. Pears allowed to ripen on the tree are likely to ripen from the core outwards; this results in fruit with mushy centers. Leaving them on the tree too long may be the cause of your problem, but some other pest or disease may be the culprit. The attached article provides excellent background information on pear trees and may help you determine if your mushy pears are the result of some other issue.
March is a good time to prune pear trees; pruning this spring should not exacerbate the problems you are experiencing. Determining the exact cause of the mushy brown fruit should allow you to remedy them.
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-pears
March is a good time to prune pear trees; pruning this spring should not exacerbate the problems you are experiencing. Determining the exact cause of the mushy brown fruit should allow you to remedy them.
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-pears
