Pears

[Monroe]

I want to try some pears this year. Any varieties I should look at? Places to get them?

I have been planting apples every year - would like to do something a little different - and I have heard some good things about pear trees...

Monroe

[Buckmaster]

Yes, the deer prefer our pears over apples. We own a couple acres of old orchard from the 70's. There's a few good trees left. I need to start replanting myself. I don't know much about variety but I would think late harvests are probably the best. I want them edible for myself too.

[shrivl]

Here are some links

For wild common pears
http://www.internationalpaper.com/Forest/Forest%20Products/SuperTree%20Seedlings/B_Hardwoods/Fruit%20and%20Nut/index.html

or

https://secure01.virginiainteractive.org/shoppingcart/cgi-bin/shopva.cgi?submit=category&store=506&catnum=439&refcatnum=138&sessionid=ia073220458344f8a01

and here is were I got some specific pears

https://s9792.gridserver.com/acn_pear.php

[Monroe]

I bought a bunch of apples from adams county nursery - pretty good stuff. Just looking for a variety of pear that might be better than others for deer (and me)... Virginia forestry has great trees also - but all of the apples/pears are 1-0. I would like to get some larger pear trees, I only have some many ruts left...

[shrivl]

Monroe,
I haven't gotten any pears from these guys but have bought several types of persimmon from them. They come highly recommended from a guy over on the QDM forums. They offer larger trees though you will pay more for them.

http://www.tytyga.com/product/Wildlife+Pear+Trees

[ohiosam]

I bought a bunch of apples from adams county nursery - pretty good stuff. Just looking for a variety of pear that might be better than others for deer (and me)... Virginia forestry has great trees also - but all of the apples/pears are 1-0. I would like to get some larger pear trees, I only have some many ruts left...

I take it you are planting these for deer and not for yourself and that you do little if any spraying? I'd talk to the people at ACN they will be able to tell you if certain varieties and root stocks are hardier and more disease resistant.

[Bawana]

I'm fortunate in that I have about 25-30, old pear trees on my property. The majority are Bartlett type pears which ripen in August and September. I have three trees which are what I call sugar pears, they have a slightly rounder form, and they are bland tasting until we get a frost, then they get real sweet. I don't know the official name for them, but the deer love them!! Another thing to remember....some pears need another type pear for pollination.

[Llewellin01]

Pears work very well. We have about 5 apple trees and one pear tree. Apples dont get touched til the pears are gone. Only the few times our big 16 pt. has been seen is in late Augest every year eating a the pear tree about noon. It happened 3 years in a row, about the last week of Aug. Only time i've seen him in the past two years was at tree. Very Wierd Deer... 2 years of trailcams got pics of every deer in the woods and even strager deer, not one of him. im not gonna give up though. But back tot he topic pears work very good.

[Milo]

I bought a bunch of apples from adams county nursery - pretty good stuff. Just looking for a variety of pear that might be better than others for deer (and me)... Virginia forestry has great trees also - but all of the apples/pears are 1-0. I would like to get some larger pear trees, I only have some many ruts left...
BIG LOTS in the spring has pear trees. pick up a few peach trees too..they like them too...

[fork horn]

I have planted 1000's of fruit trees over the years.. and they surely help keep the deer and turkeys around.. I plant apples & pears... But I have been planting Persimmon trees now for 4 years.. They are growing good for me up here in Michigan on my farms.. But my clients have been planting them all over the Midwest and have good results now for a while... give them a try. I think you would be happy.. It is something your neighbor probably does not have on his land.. and that is always a plus...
I have been getting them from Higgins Tree Farm in Illinois. They will ship them right to your door.. give them a try.. Oh yeah buy the tree shelter tubes he sells with them they keep the deer off and work like 5' tall green houses I planted 24" seedlings last year.. we had a drout up here and they where still poping out of the top of the tubes and about 5 1/2' tall this fall.. the tubes really help.. I only had three trees out of 50 die. Give Don a call and talk with him 217 - 752 - 6829-- or www.higginstrees.com (http://www.higginstrees.com)

I hope this helps a little;)

[Monroe]

Thanks - I wanted to try persimmons this year as well. Any varietys best on the pears fork horn?

[fork horn]

For pears I have been putting them in bunches of 6 - 8 trees I will plant 4 -6 of the Ussrian pears they are small pears only about an inchand a half in size deer and people love them.. I then plant two of the wild pear trees in with them for pollination.. I have been getting them from a nursery near my house. But you can order them from Morse Nursery as well.. just do a search with their name the site will pop up.. Higgins Tree Farm sells the tubes by them selves I would buy them to put on the pears they are worth it...

I hope this helps a little ;)