By Pugugly
Essex, United Kingdom
Dear All,
I have been given a Dwarf Pear Tree, is it best to grow in a pot or in the ground. Also, how often do I feed it.
Many thanks
Pugugly
- 16 May, 2013
Answers
Many thanks Pamg
16 May, 2013
You're welcome,
what variety is it as fruit trees often need another to pollinate them, if there are any locally its usually ok
16 May, 2013
My friend bought it at a nursery, they did not say you needed another to pollunate.
16 May, 2013
Does the label give the variety or any growing instructions?
I,ve just read on google that some small ones are self fertile
16 May, 2013
Self-fertile doesn't mean huge crops, unfortunately, and all technically self-fertile trees, despite the label, do much better when there are others similar nearby/next garden, flowering at about the same time, to aid pollination. Pears are notoriously shy, often having a good year, then a couple off to rest! Much better in the ground as the natural soil is a buffer against disease, the roots have a greater chance of sourcing nutrients and water, and the pressure's off you a bit, too.
17 May, 2013
The best fertiliser for nearly all fruit trees, especially apples, pears, plums and cherries is a sprinkling of Sulphate of potash every year about the end of January, followed by a similar sprinkling of Sulphate of ammonia about middle March. Every 3 years an equal amount of superphosphates should be sprinkled, on the ground round them of course and watered in, not over the tree. If you are an organic gardener then seaweed pellets with fish blood and bone is good. Whatever feeding program you decide on, Pamg is quite right about the time to feed and about most dwarf trees not requiring a pollinator but hard fruit trees are usually diploid (some apples triploid) and do better with another tree (or two) of a different variety of apple or, in your case, pear near.
17 May, 2013
Thank you all for your comments, really helpful.
Pugugly
17 May, 2013
Previous question
« How high should netting be to deter herons? We're about to fix netting over...
I personally think trees do better in the ground, but it depends on your garden.
Don't feed after july, you want it to harden up to survive the winter.
All my trees get a balanced feed (gromore) in the spring
16 May, 2013