Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
My “nanners” look good this year.
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Native Hunter 2023 Apples
- Thread starter Native Hunter
- Start date
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
I’m currently getting a gallon of blackberries a day, have 6 gallons in the freezer and have given away and/or eaten 2.5 more gallons.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
These Rusty Coat apples I discussed earlier still have my attention. From a distance they resemble Asian Pears. Crossing my finger they will be November dropping like they are for David.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Over the last few days, I'm estimating that I have knocked in excess of 2,000 pears off of my trees to keep limbs from breaking. I was too late on some of them. Last year was also a limb breaking nightmare. I can't explain what has changed to cause this. I don't remember limb breaking being such a problem before last year.
One thing I have learned is that European Pear varieties are the worst for breaking limbs. My Asian pears are also loaded, but I haven't had a single limb to break on any of them.
Another observation that you might be interested in - when I walk back to the trees in a few days after unloading the green pears, every single one of them will be gone.
PS - I have had some FB this year too. The European varieties seem worse for that too - except for Ayers and Moonglow. I also noticed that on one of my Olympic Giants that I have some leaves yellowing near the top of the tree - kind of reminds me of scab on apple leaves. However, it is loaded with big pears and the few yellowing leaves don't seem to be causing any problems.
The pic below taken about 13 days ago is an example of the sagging limbs. I got to this tree in time. Some others were not so lucky.
One thing I have learned is that European Pear varieties are the worst for breaking limbs. My Asian pears are also loaded, but I haven't had a single limb to break on any of them.
Another observation that you might be interested in - when I walk back to the trees in a few days after unloading the green pears, every single one of them will be gone.
PS - I have had some FB this year too. The European varieties seem worse for that too - except for Ayers and Moonglow. I also noticed that on one of my Olympic Giants that I have some leaves yellowing near the top of the tree - kind of reminds me of scab on apple leaves. However, it is loaded with big pears and the few yellowing leaves don't seem to be causing any problems.
The pic below taken about 13 days ago is an example of the sagging limbs. I got to this tree in time. Some others were not so lucky.
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
Heavy loads is what give pear trees their arched appearance, and like you mentioned, can also do some natural trimming of pear (and apple) trees. But that natural trimming can help spread FB.
Wet years are worse for fire blight because water moves bacteria around on the tree. Some people say not to trim trees in the spring when it's wet, rather do it in the winter when it's freezing cold. And dip the cutter on the pruning shears in solution regularly to kill bacteria on the cutting edge. Hail or any other injury to the tree bark can also spread FB.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Here is where I thinned the load on a Kieffer in my yard today. Tomorrow morning all these will be gone.
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
It's very obvious that your deer are addicted to pears. I would not have guessed that they will eat them green like that.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
I think it's because there aren't any falling naturally yet. Once all of the trees start dropping, they don't (or maybe are not able to) clean them up so fast.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Caney Fork Limbertwig with a big crop this year. This tree does get some CAR on the leaves but still produces well.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
My first Advent Pears.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Picked a few Olympic Giants because hornets were starting on them. I like them better picked a little early. They aren’t mushy that way, but still sweet.
KSQ2
Well-Known Member
What kind of hornets?
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Both the European hornet and the bald-faced hornet
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
I’ve picked probably 30 gallons of Kieffers this year - giving away to friends and family. Hornets are really bad this year.
PS - I was unloading an overloaded tree the other day and threw 50 pears in front of a trail cam. The next day there ere 5 pears left. Upon checking the card, I found that one doe had come in and cleaned them up.
PS - I was unloading an overloaded tree the other day and threw 50 pears in front of a trail cam. The next day there ere 5 pears left. Upon checking the card, I found that one doe had come in and cleaned them up.
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
I also had to unload a few kieffer trees, the pears were breaking them down, I usually throw them on a pile to make it handy for wildlife to clean up. It's a real gold mine for the lucky deer that finds that pile.
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
Blackberries? For a minute I thought you had fenced the blackberries to keep them from deer! I've got hundreds of acres of blackberries in old logging areas, we like eating a few raw, and with cereal or icecream, but ultimately they are a "weed" around here, we mow them chop them, spray them, and just ignore them, becasue they are an ESH stage plant the comes and goes.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Mine are slow too. Those are from a rootstock that survived after the grafted part died. It’s a big tree now and in a good sunny location.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
I have wild ones too, and those you see are inside a fenced area. They are tame berries.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
First chestnuts of 2025 falling today. This should continue into early November and deer will eat every one that hits the ground.
