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Fruit & Orchards

Asian Pear - Deficiency

14 years ago

Hi All-

My 2nd leaf Korean Giant Asian pear is growing like a weed. I was able to get nice crotch angles last year, so I'm going for the Open Vase form this year. This tree has more growth on it than any of my new apple trees.

My one concern is on just one lower branch. To me it looks like possibly an iron or manganese deficiency. I did give the tree a little Miracle Grow 'Shake n Feed' at the beginning of the season, but that's about it. Do others agree? Is it worth worrying about? Perhaps just a result of growing so fast? Any recommendations?

Thanks,

-Glenn

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Comments (6)

marknmt
14 years ago
Yes, it doesn't look right- but I suspect the tree has decided to discard that branch as not being high enough on the branch hierarchy.

I don't know if that makes sense, but I see lower branches on my plum similarly "failing to thrive", and I like to imagine that in this case the tree has assessed the combination of need, light and nutrition and is allocating resources to the front runners.

Please don't ask me how the tree does that or why I believe it might be true. I have no idea.

Just thoughts and all FWIW!

:-)M
fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
14 years ago
It looks a little more like a herbicide issue than a deficiency to me. But either way if it's only on one branch, then nothing to worry about.
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jellyman
14 years ago
Glenn:

When I see something like that on a tree I prune it right off. Usually, that's the end of it. In the case of your tree, I would prune off several of those lower branches. I don't encourage my trees to branch that low, and a vigorous tree will never miss them.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA
glenn_russell
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks Guys-
Yeah, these are just temporary branches until the vase gets established anyway. I had considered pruning it, but then I figured it was probably still contributing a little, so maybe I should leave it on. Perhaps I'll prune it off today. Thanks again,
-Glenn
Scott F Smith
14 years ago
Glenn, I am pretty sure that is a pear disease. I forget the name now but I used to know it. I have it on one pear now and I've seen it on a few others in the past. Prune limbs off like that immediately and it seems to go away, at least that has been my experience. You can recognize this early because the leaves coming out are thin and strange-looking. I have one seedling that has it everywhere and I am going to pull it soon. It can kill pears.

Scott
glenn_russell
Original Author
14 years ago
Ok, guys, you convinced me. After looking closely, I also saw it on the 2nd lowest branch too. They've both been pruned off. Thanks again, -Glenn

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