El pear tree The pear tree is one of the most common fruit trees in the Mediterranean area, because it is easy to care for and adapts very well to temperate climates.
If you have a specimen in your orchard or garden at home and you want it to bear more fruit, pay attention to the care tips we are going to tell you.
What is the ideal habitat for a pear tree?
Although most fruit trees are relatively adaptable to different climatic conditions, they are all more productive when they are in an environment that fits perfectly with their natural habitat.
In the case of pear trees, the ideal climate for them is one that is characterized by:
- Cold weather with well-marked seasons, in which the winters are cold and the summers moderately warm.
- Depending on the variety, you may need to winter temperatures are below 7º C for a while so that it can flower better in the spring.
- If summers are too hot or dry this can affect the size of the fruit and leaves, as well as the quality of the pears.
- Although it is a tree that withstands the cold well, the late frosts can affect it harmfully if it has already flowered.
As for its habitat, this tree prefers:
- Deep, loose, well-drained soils where it can extend its roots.
- The soil pH should be between 6 and 7,5.
- Receive a good amount of hours of light to produce good fruit.
- Be protected from drafts so that neither its branches nor its flowers are damaged.
How can we increase pear tree production?
If you want your tree to produce more fruit and for it to be of the highest quality, take note of what you should do:
Choose a good location
Plant the tree in an area where it receives direct sunlight a minimum of six hours each day. Because, as with all fruit trees, it is sunlight that promotes flowering and the subsequent development of the fruit.
Take care of the quality of the soil
It doesn't matter if you plant the pear tree in a pot or directly in the ground, the important thing is that you use quality soil.
Make sure there is enough depth for the roots to spread out well. Also, make sure that the soil has good drainage capacity and has the necessary nutrients. nutrients necessary so that the tree does not lack food.
You can enrich the soil with a little organic compost or well-cured manure.
Pruning correctly
Pruning not only influences the development of the tree, but also its ability to bear fruit.
In this case you must work on both training pruning (while the tree is young) and maintenance pruning.
Make sure to remove dead branches, those that are sick and also those that grow crossed with each other. The goal is to heal and promote the entry of light and air inside the tree.
Controlling excessive growth ensures that the tree develops more fruiting buds that will produce more fruit.
Control irrigation
If your area gets regular rainfall, you won't have to worry much about watering your pear tree. Otherwise, make sure to water regularly, especially in the flowering period and fruit development.
A good way to ensure that your tree doesn't lack water is to install a drip irrigation system. This provides constant moisture to the roots, but doesn't flood them.
Promotes pollination
For there to be fruit, the flowers must be pollinated. In most pear trees, a pollination is necessary. Cross pollination, that is, there must be another compatible pear tree nearby.
In order to facilitate pollination, it tries to attract insects such as beesYou can do this by planting plants that attract them, such as lavender or marigolds, near the pear tree. Also, try not to use too many pesticides during the flowering period.
Make smart fertilization
With fertilization, both excess and deficiency can become a problem for fruit trees. In this case, the most appropriate thing to do is to apply a balanced fertilizer at the beginning of spring. It is a product with homogeneous amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Once the fruit is forming, move on to a fertilizer that has less nitrogen and more potassiumThis way you can ensure larger, higher quality pears.
Control pests and diseases
Fruit trees are sensitive to the action of insects such as aphids and codling moths, and diseases such as fire blight.
The best defense is good prevention, so apply Preventive treatments as ecological as possible and be sure to check the tree frequently to detect any type of infection or infestation before they become serious.
Be patient
You are probably looking forward to enjoying pears grown in your own orchard or garden, but in this case, there is no need to rush.
Fruit trees take a few years to stabilize and produce good-sized, quality fruit. During the first few years, Three or five years the tree concentrates all its energy on growing and developing., so its fruits are nothing out of the ordinary.
It is from the fifth year onwards that you will notice a great change both in the quantity of fruit obtained and in its quality. If, in addition, you follow the care advice that we have seen, we are sure that you will end up enjoying spectacular pears.
The pear tree is very grateful and, with a little care, will give you a few kilos of fruit each year. Take good care of it and you will have a beautiful, vigorous and very fruitful specimen. Have you already tried your luck with a pear tree at home? We would like to hear about your experience through the comments.