Orchard

This is a pear tree we had when we move it to the house.. how long would it take to establish additional trees to start producing fruit. And what size trees would we get?

I would go with Semi-dwarf trees. Not as big a yield as standard trees, but easier to maintain, and start producing in 3-4 years if properly cared for.

5 to 6 years standard

If... if you buy the right pollinators trees together

If you Dont buy from Gurneys

You may need a tall step ladder if you go with full size varieties.

Three to five years for most. Pollination is key. We have apple trees that are 4 years old, and we have 6 apples on 4 of them. If you want good harvests, they take a fair bit of care. Thinning, spraying, watering and fertilizing.

Ours are all grafted onto dwarf stock, so they stay shorter, easier to pick.

Ok, sorry for the picture turned sideways.. yeah this tree is way over my head but I don't exactly mind it for wildlife like deer. I just don't know a thing about establishing them but would love to get say another 6 in the ground and produce like this tree. This tree is just full.

Now pollinators how do I know what I have when I'm picking them out or is there a website u know that would explain all this?

What is special about gurneys, or they provide the two trees you need together? Appreciate the input.

If a tree is allowed to produce fully in one year, there is a good chance it will only produce every other year. Most apple trees need the fruits thinned in late June or so.

Look up apple tree varieties. They should tell you when they need pollination. Some sites will suggest types that go well together, or other alternatives for pollination.

I'm no expert on pears but know there are many newer varieties on dwarf type stock versus the traditional stock the pears historically grew on. You'll want to do some research if youre looking for pear trees to produce in a shorter period of time. The old saying regarding pears was "plant pears for your heirs" as they took a lifetime to reach maturity. There is a research station not far from where i grew up that was grant funded with the original intent of studying pears in part of the acreage. I think they still publish pear related stuff that might be helpful

https://www.canr.msu.edu/tnrc/

Thanks!

,.,.

Pears are different to grow than a lot of other tree fruit. Pruning on a pear tree needs to be done carefully, or it will shoot up a bunch of suckers. I know of quite a few around old homesteads, and they seem to do better when you leave them alone. I planted one pear tree when I landed here, about 15 years ago. I pruned on it a bit, thought I was good, after reading up on them, and it grew suckers like crazy. Not at all like apple, peach, plum or apricot trees. One thing they are always good for is catching coyotes around in the fall though! lol

They sell and I made a picking basket with fingers on a telescoping pole to reach the higher fruit.

I made a picker also from the snow rake that you use to clean snow off of your roof.......jk

We started with bareroot 9 footers. Had fruit in 3 years, nw Wisconsin

You can buy 5' to 7' tall, end of season fruit trees at Walmart, Rural King and TSC for very little money, that may have fruit on them now and will have fruit next year. I paid $1.67 a tree at Rural King a few years ago. I've bought a lot of trees from Walmart for $4.96 to $7.96. I was given trees and grapevines at TSC 1 year, when I bought a few others. I put in 40 some trees from those 3 stores and only had 2 die.

Keith