do we need a trees forum?

[Direct Sunlight]

Originally Posted by Garlicluvr

Most all pears require a pollinator so you need another tree of a different variety for cross pollination. Moonglow is a european variety so you would need another european pear variety for pollination, Bartlett, Bosch, Seckel, Kieffer and almost any other european pear will work.

Also pears do take some time to start bearing five years is not uncommon, some may start in as little as three years.


Many of my apple varieties took three years or more to start bearing. So dont give up hope but if you dont already have it you will have to plant another pear for a pollinator.

Jeff

The kieffer pear we had bloomed a couple of weeks before the moonglow. It started growing pears. It's supposed to need a pollinator. Then the moonglow, that is supposed to be a pollinator, bloomed and the blossoms just fell to the ground. Either the trees have it backwards or I do.

[Garlicluvr]

Originally Posted by Direct Sunlight

The kieffer pear we had bloomed a couple of weeks before the moonglow. It started growing pears. It's supposed to need a pollinator. Then the moonglow, that is supposed to be a pollinator, bloomed and the blossoms just fell to the ground. Either the trees have it backwards or I do.

It is supposed to work both ways the two varieties cross pollinate each other. I would give it another year. Did you have a late freeze etc that may have nipped the blossoms?

Jeff

[Direct Sunlight]

Originally Posted by Garlicluvr

It is supposed to work both ways the two varieties cross pollinate each other. I would give it another year. Did you have a late freeze etc that may have nipped the blossoms?

Jeff

Well, the opposite, no freeze at all in early spring, from about March 1 onward. No cross-pollination occurred this year, as the blooming was too far apart, unless they were pollinated from someone else's tree.

[Prairie Princess]

Planted a mix of 200 trees and bushes yesterday for shelterbelt and habitat.

[Direct Sunlight]

Just got back from church this morning, helping a group in cutting down tree branches and one large tree that have died as a result of last year's drought. The almost-dead tree was about 30 feet tall. For those that aren't familiar, here's some context.

http://www.accuweather.com/en/weathe...reds-o-1/59442

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20...-millions?lite

These articles are from winter but it appears all around tree sections or trees are still dying. I wonder if there are specific things you can do to help trees when there is a severe drought, for the year or two that follows it. Besides watering, of course.

[butterbean]

Originally Posted by Prairie Princess

Planted a mix of 200 trees and bushes yesterday for shelterbelt and habitat.

Awesome! You go girl.

[Direct Sunlight]

The peach tree's fruit is ripening. It's earlier than the fruit from two years ago, by about 3 weeks. Last year, no fruit that made it through the year. Some of the fruit, right when it's about to start ripening, has gotton some small black spots on it. I sprayed with orange oil and neem; some of the spots went away but others stayed.

I started with an estimated 100 peaches this spring, and it looks like about 60 will make it to harvest. The others have fallen off at various times, none more than right now. Does anyone know why the fruit fall off, before it is ripe? I didn't thin the peaches because I remembered this happening last time.

I've got 8 Kieffer pears, of decent size, growing on a tree planted this spring. It says a lot for well-grown nursery trees. They could (not necessarily) cost a little more but it appears they are worth it!

I could've started a new thread, but thought, what's the point, if we'll use the thread that's already here.

[rockpilefarmer]

Direct, I am glad to see you posting on peaches. I have two trees myself. This is all a learning process for me. I did have some nasty thing on the leaves...red, bubbly stuff, and I sprayed it with a nasty chemical over the winter. It looks much better and I am loaded up with peaches. However, I too have some black spots. My gosh! I need to learn more about fruit trees~!

[TastyofHasty]

I think when the tree drops fruit, that's natural and healthy for the tree; not all fruit trees do that, but it's actually a good thing, better than YOU having to go out there and thin the fruit by hand! I think it's just called "fruit drop." You can google "fruit drop," and count your blessings.

http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortn...995/fdrop.html

[Direct Sunlight]

Originally Posted by TastyofHasty

I think when the tree drops fruit, that's natural and healthy for the tree; not all fruit trees do that, but it's actually a good thing, better than YOU having to go out there and thin the fruit by hand! I think it's just called "fruit drop." You can google "fruit drop," and count your blessings.

http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortn...995/fdrop.html

In this case the tree carried the fruit for at least 3 months, only to drop it a week or two before harvest. If it were a different fruit I'd try bringing it inside and ripening, but I know for peaches that won 't happen. Once the tree gets taller I will be glad to not have to thin them out by hand!