In spring the pear tree is covered in flowers. But the harvest in autumn fails because little or no fruit forms from the flowers. What are the reasons why pears don't grow on pear trees?
Why doesn't the pear tree bear fruit?
If a pear tree does not bear fruit, the reason is usually a lack of fertilization. Pear trees require a second pear tree with a suitable pollinator variety nearby or the grafting of a pollinator variety onto the existing tree.
Flowers are not fertilized
The most common cause of fruit failure is a lack of fertilization. Either there is no second pear tree nearby or there was a frost during the flowering period that prevented the bees from swarming.
Pear trees, like apple trees, are not self-pollinating. The flowers are so-called hermaphrodite flowers that contain male and female organs. For fertilization they need pollen from another plant of the same species.
How can you remedy this?
There are several ways to care for pollinator plants nearby:
- Planting a second pear tree
- Refining with a second type of pear
- Grafting a branch of a different variety
Choose the right pollinator variety
If you want to plant a second pear tree, you need to make sure you choose the right pollinator variety.
The best pollinator varieties that are suitable for many other pear tree varieties include Trévoux Early, Club Dechants Pear, Conférence and Madame Verté.
Not every pollinator variety suits every pear tree. Check with the nursery to see which variety you should plant. It is also important that both trees bloom at approximately the same time.
Refine or graft a pear tree
If there is little space in the garden, we recommend grafting the pear tree or grafting another variety.
To do this, scions of a suitable pollinator variety are placed on branches of the pear tree. Both scions are cut or notched in spring, grafted or stuck together and wrapped with raffia.
Success will be evident next spring when new shoots have grown where you grafted or grafted the pear tree.
Tips & Tricks
If your pear tree does not produce a rich harvest every year, but only every other year, it is not a lack of fertilization that is responsible. Some pear trees are subject to so-called alternation, a natural phenomenon that also occurs in apple trees. Sometimes it helps to thin the tree in June by cutting out some of the inflorescences.
