Use only recommended varieties obtained from a reliable source. Pears bloom early and blossoms are subject to spring freeze damage which occurs most often on pears planted in low areas like valleys and along streams. Morning sunshine is particularly important for the early drying of dew, thereby reducing the incidence of disease.
Fire blight pear tree full#
Choose an area of the yard in full sun or nearly full sun. Plentiful sunlight is a key factor for maximum fruit production. There is no effective treatment to eliminate this soil problem. Cotton root rot, if present in the soil, may kill trees. Iron chlorosis can be treated with soil applications of iron chelate. Iron deficiency and chlorosis and cotton root rot can be serious problems on highly alkaline soils. Sandy soils are best, but garden trees can be grown in clay or heavy clay loam soils in most parts of Texas. Good moisture drainage is an important soil requirement although pears are more tolerant of poorly drained soil than most fruit trees. Zone 2 Warren, Ayres, Magness, Orient, Asian Pear Varieties Zone 1 Warren, Ayres, Magness, Maxine, Moonglow, Garber, LeConte, Monterrrey, Orient, Asian Pear Varieties More humid eastern portions of the state have severe problems with fire blight and growers there should only plant varieties with high blight tolerance. Pears are not recommended further south because of insufficient winter chill although two low chill Florida varieties-Hood and Flordahome-merit testing by pear enthusiasts in extreme South Texas. Site and Soil RequirementsĬlimatically, pears are adapted to all areas of Texas north of a line from Corpus Christi to Laredo as illustrated in Figure 1. Asian pears are relatively new to Texas and their adaptation is still undetermined.