North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["fuwa fuwa usagi" <fuwafuwausagi@muchomail.com>]

It was queried:

I have 3 pear trees all planted about 3 years ago.  One, a Comice is 
growing well...lots of leaves and new shoots every year and it has 
flowered twice.  15 feet away (same soil and conditions) ia a Ure pear 
that begrudgingly leafs out every year but does not seem to send out 
much in the way of shoots.  Third is a Warren pear (in a triangle 15 
feet away)--same slow growth.  All are on Pyrus communis rootstock.
   
  Because fireblight is a big problem in this area, I have resisted 
fertilizing these trees.  They get plenty of water, have an open, sunny 
location.  I have not mulched around them as they are planted in lawn.
   
  Any suggestions on bringing on some better growth without promoting 
fireblight?
   
My reply:

I would stay with the slow growth, but about 4 inches of bark mulch and  a 
soaker hose that promotes even moisture might put on growth.  I have pears on 
333 and the mulched one run circles around those in lawn, and the clear grown 
ones in rich soil are fairly vigorous, but I will say the mulch grown ones 
are the best in terms of vigor.

However...(drum roll please) I note you list the following:

Comice
Warren
Ure

To the best of my knowledge Ure has an early bloom time, Comice very late, 
and Warren a mid-season bloomer.  The problem is, normally Warren will not 
pollinate much of anything.  So basically you will be trying to pollinate the 
early Ure with the late Comice.  As a result I would consider grafting on 
pollinators.  

Just passin' through (for you L'amour fans)

P.S. hi ozzie...





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