skip to main content

Fruit & Orchards

What's eating my Asian Pear bud grafts???

15 years ago

I've been chip-budding Asian Pear buds to domestic Bartletts, with some success. But every time I get a successful bud graft with a nice green shoot sprouting, something eats up the tip of the emerging leaf, and seriously stunts the graft.

Examination with a magnifier shows no kind of insect on the damaged leaf, or any indicaton of what is causing the damage.

I've tried Wilsons bug spray and a couple of others, and also coated the rootstock with grease in case it was earwigs. But so far nothing had proved sucessful in eliminating the damage from some kind of chewing insect. Anyboy have similar experience, and suggested cure.

buyali in Ontario

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

flora2b
15 years ago
Can you post a pic? Is it possibly deer?
jellyman
15 years ago
Buyali:

In the absence of a photo, you could give us a better description of just how high you are placing the grafts on the rootstocks. If they are close to the ground, your problem could as well be rabbits as deer. If you suspect animals of some type, the rootstock may have to be protected with a circle of wire.

You describe the damage as on the "tip of the emerging leaf", which would tend to suggest insects, but many types of insects eat and move on, and would no longer be on the leaves when you look at them with your magnifier.

I don't know what active ingredient is contained in Wilson's Bug Spray (the label should say), but it may not be effective against what you are targeting. Try malathion or permethrin. I don't think I would put grease on my rootstocks. If it is petroleum-based grease, it could damage the tissue.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA
Related Discussions
Asian pear grafted onto seckel?
Q
Comments (2)
I've got a Seckel with Housi and Olympic both Asians plus Bosc and Comice both Europeans grafted onto it. That works well. I like all but Housi. Be aware that Asians tend to set way too much fruit. I find them very tedious to thin. There is a mass of crowded leaves and fruit everywhere. If you learn to thin out the fruiting spurs and flower buds before fruit set it's not so bad. You probably don't need a pollinator for most Asians. If you get an Olympic I think you will be satisfied with one Asian. It has bigger, firmer fruit than most Asians. It sets well but not the excess like many. It is firmer and not as juicy as most Asians. Also often sweeter. My 20th Century and Housi Asians split in a rainy period this year and it's not the first time. Olympic didn't split. Also Bosc and Comice Europeans didn't split. They are very nice pears but didn't set until 7th leaf. Olympic sets very young like most Asians.
...See More
Grasshoppers eating my Asian Pear tree leaves
Q
Comments (0)
So far they haven't touched my nectarine, kumquat, or apricot tree leaves. What spray is recommended? There are small pears on the tree so I don't want to use anything that would make the fruit poisonous.
...See More
What is this brown streaking on my Asian Pears and Yellow Delicio
Q
Comments (4)
Russeting can also improve the flavor because the fruit loses some water and the flavor is more concentrated. Some russeting on apples also has a delightful nutty taste -- Margil and Ashmeads Kernel are two russets where the skin flavor is the whole reason why the apple is great. Peeling those before eating is like skinning fried chicken before eating. I am growing a russet version of Bartlett (Nye Russet Bartlett) and Golden Delicious (Razor Russet) because I prefer russeting. Scott
...See More
Grafting asian pear onto medlar or quince
Q
Comments (4)
I know they graft European pears onto quince, because that is what my Bosc is clearly grafted on. Definitely quince foliage from the persistent suckers that emerge at or near ground level. I would think Asian pear would work as well on quince. I was never very successful getting a decent crop of quinces until last year and especially this year when I found out about the Triazicide Once and Done from this forum. I grew nearly perfect, worm free quinces this year. A couple of coddling moths in a handful of the cores, but just a few, but, I slacked off spraying after about late July. Had I done just one early-mid-August spray, they probably would have been pristine. Not complaining, I got way too many as it was.
...See More
Axel
15 years ago
most likely culprits are slugs and snails.
buyali
Original Author
15 years ago
Definitely not animals. None araound. These shoots are barely emerging, only about an inch long, with leaves just starting to form. Its got to be some kind of nocturnal insect. But what? and how to treat?

The buds are usually about a foot above the rootstock, up to three feet high. I am budding them in 8 gallon pots in my home garden before transplanting out in the orchard.
The damage looks like something is eating holes out of the leaf, sometimes leaving a blackening around the edge. I'll try to figure out how to attach a photo.

Related Stories

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow Your Own European and Asian Pears

By Marianne Lipanovich

Try these trees for their good looks, delicious fruit and wide range of sizes — plus you can espalier them

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow Your Own Peaches and Nectarines

By Marianne Lipanovich

Make gardening a little sweeter with these juicy fruits, which you can eat after plucking or preserve for later

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow 10 Favorite Fruit Trees at Home

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant a mini orchard in fall, winter or early spring to enjoy fresh-off-the-tree fruit the following year

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Add an Apple Tree to Your Edible Garden

By Marianne Lipanovich

Readily available, beautiful and fragrant, apple trees offer four-season interest along with crisp, juicy fruit

FARM YOUR YARD If You Have Room for Only One Fruit Tree ...

Juice up a small garden with one of these easier-care or worth-the-effort fruit trees for a mild climate

FARM YOUR YARD If You Have Room for Only One Summer Crop ...

Get an edible that’s long on flavor even if you’re short on space, with a long-time gardener’s favorite picks

GARDENING GUIDES Spring Citrus Care Reaps Months of Sweet Rewards

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Learn how to tend citrus trees in spring and ways to preserve their delicious fruit

GARDENING GUIDES Vegetables and Flowers Mix in Beautiful Edible Gardens

By Margie Grace - Grace Design Associates

Ornamentals, meet your edible garden mates. We know you'll get along just beautifully

Sponsored

More Discussions

Is there any treatment for this?

3

what is wrong with my indoor mango????

13

Peach trees need help!

1

Whats wrong with my apple tree?

18

beginning fruit or new leaves

6