Has anyone grown Asian pears before? Will they cross pollinate with trees of the same species, or do I need 2 varieties to get good pollination? And will they cross pollinate with Eurpoean pears (I don't think so but thought I'd ask)? My kids really like 'em, and I have room to plant 1 or 2 next to the other pear trees, so I was just wondering...

-- Eric in TN (ems@nac.net), June 20, 2000

Answers

In my experience, they will cross pollenate. They are wonderful, and a semi-dwarf, which I have, will produce lots of those $1 fruits! If you have any other pear, I think you will do well! GL! If you want more of my limited experience, let me know.

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), June 20, 2000.

Eric, I have no clue to your answer--but someone in our area raises them, as I buy from them at "farmers market". The last two years they have been there. It was the first time I had eaten them--& we really enjoyed them --best wishes to you! Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), June 20, 2000.

I have Asian Pears (no, don't ask me tell you what variety as I don't think I could spell it even if I could remember it!) I also have American pears....Orcas variety. Seems to me that the Asian Pears are pollinated by any American variety and pretty easy to grow. Last year I had to prop up the limbs as there were so many pears. This year I think I will thin better and go for larger fruit.

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), June 20, 2000.

Those things have really come down in price, but are still expensive. When we were in Korea, each individual asian pear was enclosed in a tiny paper bag while on the tree, to keep it from being invaded by insects, and from getting scarred up by branches, etc. Talk about labor intensive! They are yummy, though. Jan

-- Jan in Colorado (Janice12@aol.com), June 20, 2000.

What are asian pears? I have four pear trees here. Two that are really big and two not so big. The smaller ones make big pears with really sweet taste that are yellow when ready and the bigger ones are what folks call rusty pears.Not real pretty and generally smaller but they make great preserves and pear honey. And the dear love them. I have taped as many as 6 bucks at one time playing around them. Two does with twins each.And two coyotes ( they were hard to catch on film)

-- Bonnie (josabo1@juno.com), June 21, 2000.

What are asian pears? I have four pear trees here. Two that are really big and two not so big. The smaller ones make big pears with really sweet taste that are yellow when ready and the bigger ones are what folks call rusty pears.Not real pretty and generally smaller but they make great preserves and pear honey. And the dear love them. I have taped as many as 6 bucks at one time playing around them. Two does with twins each.And two coyotes ( they were hard to catch on film) Bonnie

-- Bonnie (josabo1@juno.com), June 21, 2000.

Bonnie, Asian Pears are round and hard like apples. They taste like a cross between apples and pears...

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), June 21, 2000.

Thanks for the answers!! Guess I'll go ahead and plan on planting one or two!

-- Eric in TN (ems@nac.net), June 21, 2000.

Several years ago I planted two Asian pear trees. The fruit catalog said they were hardy to zone 6. Well... I'm sort of borderline zone 6/zone 5 so I thought I'd give them a try. They lasted three years and then, kaput, they died. Unfortunately, during my 12 year tenure here, I've had several fruit trees come and go, and, my gardening records being what they are... (stuffed into the recesses of my pea- brain, nothing on paper)... I have replanted several things and then promptly forgotten what I planted. I finally took to labeling things with those fancy aluminum labels so that I could remember what I had. Well, I had most of the trees narrowed down as to whether it was a plum, pear, cherry, etc. but there was one tree that I couldn't for the life of me remember what it was. Since it hadn't born fruit in five years, all I could do was guess, badly. This spring, it bloomed,and then set fruit. Anxiously I watched the infant fruit form and swell. Daily, I tried to guess what the tree was. Finally, the fruit is large enough for positive identification. It's an Asian pear. It's survived my Indiana winters for the past five years unscathed (unlike the other two). And it must have been pollinated by its European pear neighbors. Another mystery solved.

-- Sandy (tripletreefarm@hotmail.com), June 24, 2000.

Hi Eric. When we moved to this farm 3 1/2 yrs. ago, I bought apple and pear trees from Ames Nursery in Fayetteville AR (sadly, now out of business) and they recommended using an Asian pear and European pears for cross pollination. My Asian is a Shikoku and the European is a Maxine. Both are supposedly very hardy, resistant to disease and good to produce every year. They still haven't flowered yet as they were only 1-2 yr. old trees when we got them. They are really pretty trees and have survived drought and heat but not extremely cold weather since we planted them. I just keep them mulched, fed with a thin layer of worm castings starting about 6" from the trunk and extending to about 6" past the drip line which with these trees isn't very far. Enjoy them!

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), June 25, 2000.