Tree-Hugger Post: 2020 Pear Mystery

On this roasting hot Labor Day I am hunkered down with time to ponder the most recent tree phenomenon. After all, we can't do serious politics and policy all the time.  Recall last year's bountiful pear crop here and here.  As I mentioned last year, my pears can be hit or miss depending on the year while the Gravenstein apples are reliable like fine clockwork.  This year was a pear bust.  There were a few small ones at the beginning of the season, but none ever matured.

Now for the mystery.  My next door neighbor also has a pear tree and hers did very well!  The two trees are only 100 feet apart.  One gets nothing and the other has an above average yield.  Any experts care to weigh in on why this might happen?  Here's one of the neighbor's pears that was delicious.

Comments

[Peter Garrison]

Same w my pear tree. I even followed a neighbor’s housekeeper’s advice to give the tree a whack with a broomstick in February to no avail.

[HMB]

Some apple and pear trees/varieties are more likely to be biennial bearers. I have a pear like that. When my mom lived in Michigan she had an apple tree that was a biennial bearer.

[Paloma Ave]

I was told to beat my lime tree. The next year there many limes. Apparently stressing them helps.

[[email protected]]

I was told that Swatting Flies is good for Cholesterol... If you need it, you get it.
If you have too much, you give it.
Hillside has all kinds of "Old Timey" Medical Advice.
HAPPY LABOR DAY.

[Joe]

@HMB, thank you. I have never heard the term "biennial bearer". Webster says: the production of a heavy crop one year followed by a light or no crop the next (as in certain varieties of apple trees); called also alternate bearing.

Another site notes: Without a crop to support in any one year, trees use their resources to produce flower buds leading to tremendous blossom the following year. The resulting heavy crop reduces the tree’s resources so that little blossom is made the following year.

This is a common disorder with apples and pears but can occur with a range of tree fruits. Once a tree is into a pattern of biennial bearing it can be difficult to correct. Try the following:

Thinning fruit buds
Firstly, identify your fruit buds. Then, in early spring before an expected heavy crop year, rub off half to three-quarters of the fruit buds, leaving just one or two per spur. Simply rub them off the branch with your thumb and forefinger.
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mystery solved!!!!!