Pear tree fruit going black and falling off...

Sezzler

Hey all,

As the title suggest, some of the fruit on my pear tree (sorry i dont know the variety) is going black and falling off. Initially I though that perhpas some of the birds in the garden (blue tits) had caused the damage as there were some puncture marks on some of the blackened fruit.

The leaves on the tree seem ok, no marks or blackening but im just curious what could be causing it, and what I could do to stop more fruit from going black.

Any help much appreciated:cool:

Lotus-eater

How big are they? Either frost or no pollination springs to mind, does either of that sound like it to you?

Sezzler

Thanks for the reply.

The fruit was about the size of a small marble when it started falling off. What confuses me is that on a particular section out of 5 pears growing, for instance, perhaps 2 -3 will turn black and fall off. The others are still developing nicely (i think) :eek:

Edit: I dont think its the frost as Ive not had a frost here since end of feb. The fruit developed, so no Im guessing the pollination wasn't a problem either : confusing!!

I would have though that any disease showing on the fruit would also be showing on the leaves ?

valk_scot

My pear tree does this. It's called the summer drop (apples get it too) and it's just natures way of self-thinning the crop. Few trees can carry all the fruit that gets started during pollination, but the tree goes for overkill and tries for as many young fruit as possible just in case of poor pollination or late frosts. afte the last frost date then the tree thins itself out to what it feels it can cope with. Two big healthy pears to a group are better than five skinny misshapen pears, both for the tree and us. So as long as your tree isn't dropping all five out of every group I don't think you've got anything to worry about. In fact if you still think it's carrying a lot of fruit thin them out to one per bunch in places and see the difference.

The birds will eat the windfalls so if you can bear to, leave them on the grass till you next mow. Or put a few on the bird table.

Sezzler

interesting to no thanks for the info. Ill be keeping a close eye on them to see if any more fall off.

Ive not been clearing them up as i did notice the birds were eating them up

brogusblue

My pear,plum,cherry & apple trees do this every year .. its call June Drop.. but everything is about 4 weeks early this year

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=611

Sezzler

thanks very much for the link and advice. so glad its all just part of the natural cycle

forgotmyname

I read about it was called June drop in the book, Its a few days early...

My apple tree has just started to drop some, Pear tree not dropped any yet.

Seems the tree knows how much fruit it can ripen and drops the excess off.
Or something like that.