Search...
Home Subscribe
Pie
Home Subscribe
Recent topics Flagged topics Hot topics Best topics
Search...
Search within pears Search permies
Advance search Google search
Register / Login
Free heat movie Online appropriate technology course video Sepp Holzer Desert or Paradise Documentary Low Tech Lab Movie 2 KS Paul Wheaton Tour of Wheaton Labs movie
  • Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
Better Wood Heat DIY Rocket Mass Heater DVD Free heat movie Low Tech Lab Movie 2 KS Full online Permaculture Design course and Appropriate Technology Course video solar dehydrator
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • r ranson
  • Anne Miller
  • paul wheaton
stewards:
  • Pearl Sutton
  • Nicole Alderman
  • Beau M. Davidson
master gardeners:
  • Carla Burke
  • John F Dean
  • Nancy Reading
  • Jay Angler
  • Christopher Weeks
gardeners:
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • Andrés Bernal
  • Cat Knight

Growing Pears Naturally

 
Steve Thorn
steward
Posts: 2832
Location: Zone 7b/8a Temperate Humid Subtropical, Eastern NC, US
1074
3
I like...
forest garden fish trees foraging earthworks food preservation cooking bee woodworking homestead ungarbage
posted 4 years ago
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I wanted to make this thread to help me keep track of and document growing my pear trees, with hopefully minimal work and maximum harvests!

They won't be irrigated, fertilized, or sprayed with anything, not even organic fertilizers or sprays, just naturally healthy soil, rain and sunshine!

They will be minimally pruned, if pruned at all. With minimal care, they can be truly enjoyed to the fullest! Bring on the yummy harvests!

Hopefully it can be helpful to others also!

If you'd like to stay up to date with the latest videos of what I'm growing and see monthly food forest tours, you can subscribe to my Youtube channel HERE by clicking the red subscribe button! I'd love to have you join me for this journey!

Striving to grow things as naturally, simply, and cheaply as possible!
My YouTube channel

 
Steve Thorn
steward
Posts: 2832
Location: Zone 7b/8a Temperate Humid Subtropical, Eastern NC, US
1074
3
I like...
forest garden fish trees foraging earthworks food preservation cooking bee woodworking homestead ungarbage
posted 4 years ago
  • Likes 5
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
The pear tree is blooming with nice clusters of flowers!

The whole tree is full of flowers, so we'll hopefully have lots of pears this year!

Pear blossoms have an interesting smell to me, somewhere between sweet and also somewhat smelly, it's hard to describe, but they look nice!

Are your pears blooming yet?

I'd love to see photos of your pear trees!
Cluster-of-pear-blossoms.jpg
Cluster of pear blossoms
Cluster of pear blossoms

Striving to grow things as naturally, simply, and cheaply as possible!
My YouTube channel

 
Judith Browning
Posts: 8253
Location: Ozarks zone 7 alluvial, clay/loam with few rocks 50" yearly rain
1933
4
posted 4 years ago
  • Likes 4
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Ours are done blooming now and hopefully have set fruit.  They are only three years old though.  
The first two photos are the Asian pear...I was curious at the blooms appearing right off of the trunk.  I don't think any pollinators were around when it was blooming.

The third and forth photos are of the Bartlett...

This is the first place we've lived where there has not been an old farm pear tree to pick from in the vicinity...we've always been able to forage them until now.
IMG_6067-(3).JPG
Asian pear
IMG_6068-(2).JPG
Asian pear flowers
IMG_6076-(2).JPG
Bartlett pear tree
IMG_6080-(2).JPG
Bartlett pear flowers

"We're all just walking each other home." -Ram Dass
"Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder."-Rumi

 
Steve Thorn
steward
Posts: 2832
Location: Zone 7b/8a Temperate Humid Subtropical, Eastern NC, US
1074
3
I like...
forest garden fish trees foraging earthworks food preservation cooking bee woodworking homestead ungarbage
posted 4 years ago
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Those are some beautiful and healthy looking pear trees, Judith!

Thanks for sharing those photos!

Yes, it's so nice to have a few established trees when moving to a new home. I had to start from scratch also, but I'm finally harvesting some fruit now thankfully!

I hope you have some tasty pears to harvest soon!

Striving to grow things as naturally, simply, and cheaply as possible!
My YouTube channel

 
Steve Thorn
steward
Posts: 2832
Location: Zone 7b/8a Temperate Humid Subtropical, Eastern NC, US
1074
3
I like...
forest garden fish trees foraging earthworks food preservation cooking bee woodworking homestead ungarbage
posted 4 years ago
  • Likes 4
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
The pears are coming along good this year and we'll hopefully have some pears later this year!
Green-pear.jpg
Green pear
Green pear

Striving to grow things as naturally, simply, and cheaply as possible!
My YouTube channel

 
Artie Scott
gardener
Posts: 874
Location: Piedmont 7a
322
6
I like...
hugelkultur trees woodworking
posted 4 years ago
  • Likes 4
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Growing up we had an ancient pear tree that grew the most delicious pears!  As a kid I never thought to ask (or figure out) what kind it was. The pears were on the smaller side, quite hard until very ripe, and more oval than pear shape. A fairly thick green skin. So good though. I need to plant some pear trees this fall.

“All good things are wild, and free.” Henry David Thoreau

 
Steve Thorn
steward
Posts: 2832
Location: Zone 7b/8a Temperate Humid Subtropical, Eastern NC, US
1074
3
I like...
forest garden fish trees foraging earthworks food preservation cooking bee woodworking homestead ungarbage
posted 4 years ago
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Yeah, I love a ripe, juicy, sweet pear, they're so nice and refreshing!

Striving to grow things as naturally, simply, and cheaply as possible!
My YouTube channel

 
Steve Thorn
steward
Posts: 2832
Location: Zone 7b/8a Temperate Humid Subtropical, Eastern NC, US
1074
3
I like...
forest garden fish trees foraging earthworks food preservation cooking bee woodworking homestead ungarbage
posted 3 years ago
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
This pear tree was planted in a very wet spot, and has been sad and not growing much.

This dormant season, I mounded up soil from in front of it, creating a mini pond, and put the soil all around the tree. I also cut off the bark in sections from the main variety part of the trunk and covered it in soil to encourage it to put out its own roots.

It leafed out at first this spring, with super green leaves but no new growth, and seemed to be storing up energy. The leaves had never been so green before, and previously looked sickly and always looked like they were about to fall off.

It has now started to put out vigorous growth from the top section of the tree and is growing really fast. The new growth looks extremely healthy, and it appears that this pear tree is loving its modified area, and is super healthy and growing vigorously as a result!
20200627_173815.jpg
Pear starting to grow strongly again
Pear starting to grow strongly again
20200627_173720.jpg
Vigorous pear shoots
Vigorous pear shoots
20200627_173748.jpg
The main shoot
The main shoot

Striving to grow things as naturally, simply, and cheaply as possible!
My YouTube channel

 
Steve Thorn
steward
Posts: 2832
Location: Zone 7b/8a Temperate Humid Subtropical, Eastern NC, US
1074
3
I like...
forest garden fish trees foraging earthworks food preservation cooking bee woodworking homestead ungarbage
posted 2 years ago
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I planted about 200 pear seeds about two weeks ago, sowing them directly in the ground. It would have been ideal to have done it at least a month earlier, probably more, but too much to do and too little time.

About 20 of them had already started to grow roots, so I tried to plant those gently with the root tip pointing down. These were harder to plant and took more time. It was much easier to plant the ones that hadn't sprouted yet.

I hope the germination rate will be good!
20210307_165454.jpg
Pear seeds!
Pear seeds!
20210306_164702.jpg
Pear seed with a root forming
Pear seed with a root forming
20210307_164019.jpg
Pear seeds with roots forming
Pear seeds with roots forming

Striving to grow things as naturally, simply, and cheaply as possible!
My YouTube channel

 
Steve Thorn
steward
Posts: 2832
Location: Zone 7b/8a Temperate Humid Subtropical, Eastern NC, US
1074
3
I like...
forest garden fish trees foraging earthworks food preservation cooking bee woodworking homestead ungarbage
posted 2 years ago
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
It's been almost three weeks since I planted the pear seeds, and some are starting to sprout!
20210325_072521.jpg
Pear seedling emerging
Pear seedling emerging
20210325_072541.jpg
Pear seedling with a small shoot forming
Pear seedling with a small shoot forming
20210325_072359.jpg
Pear seedling sprouting amongst a leaf and lots of stems
Pear seedling sprouting amongst a leaf and lots of stems
20210325_072641.jpg
Wow, I can really see how sandy the soil is close up
Wow, I can really see how sandy the soil is close up

Striving to grow things as naturally, simply, and cheaply as possible!
My YouTube channel

 
Sonja Draven
gardener
Posts: 1455
Location: PNW
879
3
I like...
trees books food preservation cooking writing homestead
posted 2 years ago
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Love your stuff, Steve. Very inspiring. How did you get the seeds to sprout?

The wishbone never could replace the backbone.

 
Steve Thorn
steward
Posts: 2832
Location: Zone 7b/8a Temperate Humid Subtropical, Eastern NC, US
1074
3
I like...
forest garden fish trees foraging earthworks food preservation cooking bee woodworking homestead ungarbage
posted 2 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Thanks Sonja!

I kept them in a bag as I was eating the pears throughout the winter. I rinsed off the seeds and put them in while they were still a little wet and stored the bags in the fridge.

Looking forward to seeing how many sprout!

Striving to grow things as naturally, simply, and cheaply as possible!
My YouTube channel

 
Sonja Draven
gardener
Posts: 1455
Location: PNW
879
3
I like...
trees books food preservation cooking writing homestead
posted 2 years ago
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Just a regular plastic bag? Paper towel or anything?

You mentioned that you should have planted them sooner. If I was going to try this, is it better to keep them until next spring?

The wishbone never could replace the backbone.

 
Steve Thorn
steward
Posts: 2832
Location: Zone 7b/8a Temperate Humid Subtropical, Eastern NC, US
1074
3
I like...
forest garden fish trees foraging earthworks food preservation cooking bee woodworking homestead ungarbage
posted 2 years ago
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I put them in a zip lock bag. I've found that paper towels seem to increase mold, and not using one seemed to work fine.

I noticed that they seem to sprout pretty early, but these germinated faster that I thought they would. I think you'd be fine to still plant them! Best of luck if you plant some soon!

Striving to grow things as naturally, simply, and cheaply as possible!
My YouTube channel

 
Sonja Draven
gardener
Posts: 1455
Location: PNW
879
3
I like...
trees books food preservation cooking writing homestead
posted 2 years ago
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I haven't collected any yet. If I collect them now, do they  need the fridge time? Or is that just to save them? Sorry for all the questions. (And if you have a video you did about this and I've missed it, I'm happy to watch that instead.)

Thanks, Steve.

The wishbone never could replace the backbone.

 
Steve Thorn
steward
Posts: 2832
Location: Zone 7b/8a Temperate Humid Subtropical, Eastern NC, US
1074
3
I like...
forest garden fish trees foraging earthworks food preservation cooking bee woodworking homestead ungarbage
posted 2 years ago
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
No problem at all!

I just kept them in the fridge to store them. If you buy them, they will have probably already have been stored in a fridge for a few months while waiting to be sold and should be ready to plant!

Striving to grow things as naturally, simply, and cheaply as possible!
My YouTube channel

 
Sonja Draven
gardener
Posts: 1455
Location: PNW
879
3
I like...
trees books food preservation cooking writing homestead
posted 2 years ago
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Ooh good points. Thank you!! I'll start some with my other seed starts. :)

The wishbone never could replace the backbone.

 
Steve Thorn
steward
Posts: 2832
Location: Zone 7b/8a Temperate Humid Subtropical, Eastern NC, US
1074
3
I like...
forest garden fish trees foraging earthworks food preservation cooking bee woodworking homestead ungarbage
posted 2 years ago
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
One of my young pear trees getting started this growing season and putting out lots of new side branches.
20210402_153526.jpg
Young pear tree
Young pear tree

Striving to grow things as naturally, simply, and cheaply as possible!
My YouTube channel

 
John Skaggs
Posts: 75
Location: Boondock, KY
16
posted 2 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
We have a Bartlett pear planted maybe 6 years ago that is now about 25' tall.  I do wish I'd pruned it when it was smaller.  The fruit it getting tough to reach even with a picker pole.  Most blossoms seem to have weathered the frosts this year and some fruit looks to be set.  A bumper crop the last 2 years.
 
Steve Thorn
steward
Posts: 2832
Location: Zone 7b/8a Temperate Humid Subtropical, Eastern NC, US
1074
3
I like...
forest garden fish trees foraging earthworks food preservation cooking bee woodworking homestead ungarbage
posted 2 years ago
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
    Send
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
This is the best pear seedling growing from the ones I planted this Spring.

It's about 6 inches tall, and despite growing in a very less than ideal area, with lots of competition from more vigorous wild nearby plants, it's still growing very well and seems to be very disease resistant and shade tolerant so far, and is starting to put on some good new growth!
20210619_095952.jpg
Healthy pear seedling
Healthy pear seedling

Striving to grow things as naturally, simply, and cheaply as possible!
My YouTube channel

 
Men call me Jim. Women look past me to this tiny ad:
Kickstarter is LIVE for the Low Tech Laboratry Movie 2
https://permies.com/w/kickstarter
reply
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
Boost this thread!
Similar Threads
More...