Pear Tree Issue!

Frank99

Had a pear tree for 12 years and it has yielded me 2 pears in that time, every year the same thing excellent healthy blossoms then turn brown and fall off!

I have tried various things over the years but my other half told me to lop it and get rid as it is just not happening!

Fosterdog

Have you got any other pear trees nearby? Pears need another as a pollination partner, if you don't have one, get a second one and you should get more fruit.

Frank99

Fosterdog said:

Have you got any other pear trees nearby? Pears need another as a pollination partner, if you don't have one, get a second one and you should get more fruit.

Used to have another but it eventually died, i wonder if that is the issue or some kind of parasite.

twopenny

What do you have nearby that will pollinate the pear blossom?

Ornamental pears will also fertilise fruiting pear trees.

It sounds as though there is no pollinating partner nearby.

Another thing will be if you are growing violet/blue flowers nearby the bees will have a preference for these and ignore the white flowers.

Though from your words it sounds as though you really want rid for peace of mind and life. Remember though that it's not just a case of lopping but getting the roots out as well or that will set up fungus etc.

Farway

All the above, or just enjoy it for the blossom but as 2P says, seems you have your orders already

If you want frustration grow a cherry and watch the fruit swell & colour only to find just pips attached to the stalks one morning after the birds got up earlier than you did

ka7e

I  inherited an ancient pear tree when I moved and had the same problem. I cut out one of the central main branches and thinned a lot more and last year it was laden with fruit. Unfortunately the local jackdaws pecked at them all before they were even ripe and all the damaged pears rotted on the tree!

foxgloves

Things which have affected our pear tree blossom over the years are late air frosts (pear trees blossom quite early - our ancient tree is in full bloom right now) & sparrows shredding it with their beaks. I think your issue sounds more like lack of pollination as fruit trees are not often self-fertile. 
F

theoretica

Some people have two pear varieties grafted onto the same tree for pollination.  Something I would rather like to try...

Grandmama

Try fliting about the blossoms like a bee, with a feather duster. My patio pear tree is a self fertile conference, no others in Vicinity so tried this and it actually works. never got any pears until i tried this. I don't really care if the neighbours see me, but if embarrassing to you try creeping out at night!

Frank99

Grandmama said:

Try fliting about the blossoms like a bee, with a feather duster. My patio pear tree is a self fertile conference, no others in Vicinity so tried this and it actually works. never got any pears until i tried this. I don't really care if the neighbours see me, but if embarrassing to you try creeping out at night!

Thanks, i will give this a go!

RAS

Do you know anyone with a pear tree that flowers at the same time? Because if you're not getting fruit, it's probably not self-fertile, so you never get fruit to identify which partner it needs. I know it's a circular argument

Once you find another tree get a small paint bush (hobby style). Wait until lunch-time-ish, check the pollen grains have burst and collect the orange/yellow pollen on the brush. Wrap gently in paper, take it home and pretend to be a bee. it'll keep an hour or two. You can even do this by just dabbing your finger on the flowers to pick up some pollen but you need to walk straight back and not touch anything.