I’ve tended this thing for something like seven(?) years and long since gave up on it as anything but a yard decoration. It’s supposed to be self-pollinating but the truth is nobody around here has ever had any luck with fruit trees so I wasn’t surprised when year after year it stayed barren.
I just came back to the cabin from some chores, happened to glance at the tree, and…
JOEL: might could be that your hummers had a hand in pollinating your tree, they do a damn good job up here in the cariboo, worth keeping them around for chores like that
I’m sure the cattle will love those pears when they show up. Unless, of course, you’re able to train Tobie…
Keep it watered and pray. 😉 Aside from cattle, don’t think you have birds that like pears in that part of the country.
My apple tree bears fruit every year but I never get any, birds, deer and squirrels take care of it before anything even ripens.
Out of general curiosity, do you have any Pinyon pine in your area? Also, how cold does it get most winters?
No piñon around here that I know of. I’ve heard it’s common north of here.
Winters hit the low teens commonly, occasionally dipping below zero. My personal worst was -21o. I’m told that was a 30-year low.
Rat traps, rat traps and oh yeah rat traps. Or wrap with netting.
But this is great news. You should be able to get a few anyway.
Water and cover the fruit with women’s nylon footies (Dollar Store) tied shut so the birds can’t peck at them and ruin the fruit. If the cattle don’t get them the birds will. A little fertilizer (composted manure 2-3 inches deep) around the base of the tree now, this fall and in the spring, 3-4 inches away from the trunk and out to the drip line. The tree may not fruit again for a while so enjoy. Fruit production takes a lot of tree energy.