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My pear fruit are turning black and fell off

laly

By Laly

Devon, United Kingdom Gb

My 7 year old pear tree fruit are turning black and fell off. That’s happened two consecutive years now. Before I had beautiful juicy fruit. The fruit are very small, between 1 and 2 cm. At the end of the new branches the leaves are curved and seems to had larvae or insects eggs also I saw a lot of small black ants, the tree appears otherwise to be healthy.
I wonder if anyone can help me with that problem, please.


On plant Conference pear tree

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Answers

 

My hundred year old pear tree, in the last 4 or 5 years has begun to stop providing many pears. Most of them dry up and fall from the tree when no larger than the size of grapes. Some fall at this size then dry up while others dry up on the tree, and then fall. They then turn black. It used to be covered with hundreds of some of the sweetest small pears but not any more. Any suggestion? Like I said it is over one hundred years old and to my knowledge, nothing has changed to negatively affect it. Thanks, oletimer

5 Jun, 2018

 

Oletimer, I see you have posted a separate question on your problem now, which was the right thing to do.

Laly: your fruits are affected by Pear Midge, see rhs link below (copy and paste in your browser)

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=662

As for the leaf curl and aphids, it could just be ordinary aphids or it might be Pear Bedstraw Aphid. If its ordinary aphids (yours look like blackfly) then spraying with an insecticide product suitable for edible plants should deal with them, but repeated spraying may be necessary. If you have seen ants (and not mistaken blackfly for ants) don't worry about those - they're just a symptom that the tree is infested with something that produces honeydew which ants like very much, and which all aphids produce. Get rid of the aphids and the ants go away... If its Pear Bedstraw, the aphids are not black, and treatment is somewhat different, see info in link here

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=881

5 Jun, 2018

 

also at this time of year many fruit trees undergo June drop. this is where the tree jettisons too much fruit that it cant support. its a hormonal thing and is natural. it means any remaining fruit will grow to a decent size.

6 Jun, 2018

 

Yep, June drop does occur - but the fruitlets don't have a black eye and don't turn black before they drop, they're just small and green.

6 Jun, 2018

 

Thanks Bamboo for your help, I had sprayed the pear tree few times, I am waiting for The next spring time and see the results. Also thanks to seaburngirl.

5 Jan, 2019

How do I say thanks?

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