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Bloomington, IN

So I have this asian pear tree adjacent to my pumpkin patch that hasn't produced a single fruit for the last 4 years due to it being diseased. Well this year out of the blue the tree started growing what seems like hundreds of pears, but by the time I realized it my pumpkin plants were already in the ground and sprawling underneath its branches, which are high enough above the ground to allow sunlight below. I know these pears to reach baseball size before they ripen and start falling off. So now I'm faced with the problem of baseball sized pears bashing the hell out of some of my pumpkin plants later in the season. Any ideas on what to do about it, or am I screwed?

7/9/2008 11:09:01 AM

Western PA

Put up a net beneath the tree shaped like a funnel to catch the pears and funnel them to one location where they would roll into a bucket with drain holes. Easy harvesting.

7/9/2008 11:21:04 AM

Bloomington, IN

Thanks for the reply, sounds like a good idea but I'm thinkin what I could do instead to protect the vines might just be to suspend some chicken wire above the highest risk areas.

7/9/2008 11:53:56 AM

Long Island,New York

um....pick the pears before they fall off?

7/9/2008 4:54:20 PM

Springfield, VT

Had the same problem with asian pear trees, since cut them down to expand the patch. The pears did little or no damage to the leaves, just sort of bent them a little. The varieties I had ripened in September so there was little issue.

7/9/2008 5:08:28 PM

Bloomington, IN

In response to LIpumpkin, I wish it was that easy, but the majority of the pears are out of arms reach and can't be harvested until they fall on there own.

7/9/2008 8:24:33 PM

Oz

You need an apple,,,thingy,, it looks like a ten finger
pitchfork that is bent around to hook and catch the fruit.
It comes with a long handle.

7/10/2008 10:31:36 AM