Asian Pears and I are parting ways, and Pluots too :(

14 years ago

Well, I have concluded after eating some of my Asian Pears that I have developed a food allergy to them, and they need to find new homes. Even two bites make my digestion system feel like I have the flu, and just looking at them now makes my tummy hurt. Fortunately, all my trees are in pots, so I put them up for sale on Craigslist.

I also put my multi-graft Pluot tree on there, because after 4 years of trying, frankly my dear, I don't like Pluots (GASP, sacrilege!) I know, I know, everyone LOVES them, but to me all my plums taste SO much better (Emerald Drop, Coe's Golden, Sugar prune and Elephant Heart), and I'd rather spend the time and effort on another plum tree.

Carla in Sac

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Comments (13)

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
14 years ago
Carla: Sorry to hear of your allergy. I have an allergy to thinning Asian pears and they mainly aren't that good.

Which pluots don't you like? Mine have been well worth the effort.

The Fruitnut
denninmi
14 years ago
Basically none of the pluots out there now will grow in my region, and the one or two that MIGHT be marginally hardy I've heard still are too tempermental and really don't produce much.

The ones I've tried from the stores are nothing special. But, we all know that that is NOT a reliable indicator of the true nature of fruit. I bet the real thing from the tree would be a lot better.
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Organicgrower, I'm not Jorel. I have a friend whose name is Jorel and is not online in this forum. But since no one answered, I would assume that it would be me, JoeReal. You will have to prune your tree different ways from now on. Prune during the late summer. First thin out the overcrowding or cross over branches. Then cut back half the length of most vigorous end twigs or limbs at each of the remaining major branches, for the non-vigorous limbs, pinch off 3 inches from the tip. This is to encourage spurs on the branches which hopefully become flower buds the next season. If you know how to do bark inversion, do it on your major trunk in the late summer, and make sure to cover the inverted bark properly with sealant. Bark inversion encourages bigger fruits, and you won't need to prune your tree for about 4 years yet it will bloom more and have bigger fruits. If you are not into organics, I would have recommended application of fertilizers high in K. If you are doing the organic way, one way you can do this is to apply wood ashes (sparingly, else they will turn your soil basic) and compost.
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If you are going to get the Shinko, a good pollinator is Shinseiki. They bloom at the same time in my yard and my son-in-law's yard (both Houston). The shinko is good as long as you don't get too much rain near ripening. They will be bland with the rain.....dry periods good. Shinseiki is better in my opinion, but it needs a pollinator. Shinko fruits without a pollinator, but much more fruit with a pollinator. Shinko does get blight....I lost mine after about 8 years due to blight....it was bad that year. I replaced my shinko with Tennosui. First time fruiting last year. Was not impressed with fruit. Mine were not crisp and low flavor. Tree may still be too young. I prefer crisp pears and my favorite is Southern Queen, sweet, flavorful and crisp. I may replace my Tennosui with it's sister, Southern King if the fruit don't improve. The Akers (acres) Home pear is very good. It is excellent flavor and sweetness after a week or two off the tree. No problems with blight, but it does have rot problems. You may have to spray.....don't know about San Antone. I think the rot problem may be why it is not pushed much anymore here, but it is excellent. I pulled mine due to rot and it is a melting pear and I like crisp.
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Thanks for the response guys. I've cut open several pears and found that yep, I've got tunnels. Haven't seen any of the worms yet though. I've been hunting down all the fruit that show the frass. Hopefully that will control the population well enough. Regarding the splitting, that sounds about right. It was brutal hot for a while, then we deep soaked the trees. Anyone on the the shriveled fruit?
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Seldom important to the tree's health. If a few on a reasonable sized tree, you can squish or drown in soapy water.
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lifespeed
14 years ago
I am not too keen on most pluots (and plums) either. Flavor Supreme, howver, is delicious. It is actually very similar to the elephant heart plum.

Asian pears aren't that great either, IMHO. I had a double grafted one for years. One green with freckles, one large and red. Apples are better.
scaper_austin
14 years ago
My experience has been diffrent. My Hosui asian pears are consistently among the best fruit I produce each year. Very unusual flavor. I have heard that they need lots o heat to develop top flavor so this may be one fruit that is better in our ridiculous heat. 20th century is good too. Others may lack flavor though. I only wish I could get some pluots to decide if I like them or not!

Scape
fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
14 years ago
Scape:I've been really disappointed with the quality of Hosui in Alpine. Not that sweet and not much flavor. It's not hot enough here to grow figs either. Maybe that is the problem. I think you'd like pluots. Not as good to me as nectarines but better than any of my plums.

The Fruitnut
scaper_austin
14 years ago
Isnt it amazing how something can taste so good in one area and awful in another? I think the russet finnish of the asians helps protect them from the sun here and the sun/heat seams to sweeten them up. I think I will like the pluots also and I'm working on some set ups that will allow me to grow them.

Scape
alan haigh
14 years ago
I used to love APs but at some point their lack of fragrance and charactor became an issue with my palate. My Korean Giant creates giant sugar-sweet fruit, juicy with a unique crunch. Even they hold only a short interest and I gravitate to the much more interesting (to my tastes) apples that I will have in storage at the same time.

They're still worth growing to provide party gifts as many people absolutely adore them and here in NY they can cost you $2 for a singe far inferior piece of fruit.
scaper_austin
14 years ago
Hosui is by far the best variety I have grown. 20th century is good too. I used to have Shinseiki and liked it but a racoon destroyed it years ago before I learned how to deal with them. A little west of here people rave about Chojuro and Shinko. I have not tried them yet but plan to. I also want to try KG this year also. I dont think I know anyone around here who has tried that one yet and I wonder what its chill hour requirement is. Does anyone know that?

Scape
swvirginiadave
14 years ago
"here in NY they can cost you $2 for a singe far inferior piece of fruit." Same here in Virginia. And most people really like the ones I've given them. I haven't run into anyone yet who's gotten a belly ache after eating them.

I've also never heard of a red one; what variety was that, lifespeed?

My Hosui are just beginning to ripen as are 20th century and Chojuro. Have you tried Chojuro, harvestman? Mine have more flavor and fragrance than Hosui or KG.
scaper_austin
14 years ago
swvirginiadave,
There used to be a red asian called Tarusa Crimson. I beleive it was mostly grown in the southern hemisphere. I have been told is was mostly a novelty as the taste wasnt that good. I never have heard of anyone growing them in the states but I'm sure someone does. It is interesting to know your chojuro is very good. That is definatley what they say a little west of were I am in the Texas Hill Country. I plan on adding some this fall.

Scape
maryhawkins99
14 years ago
just picked the 1 korean giant growing on my 3 year old tree. tastes, good, about like the ones we buy from the korean grocery. tree doesn't look as healthy as the others pears, not sure why.

i should be able to pick a couple 20'th century in a couple weeks, they'll also be a first harvest
alan haigh
14 years ago
Bhawk, if your KG ripened before 20th C. I'm confident that it is not what it's supposed to be. In southeastern NY KG ripens at least a month later than 20th.
maryhawkins99
14 years ago
harvestman, you could be right, it didnt have the very round appearance a kg has in stores. its the 3rd leaf for the kg, second for 20'th century. guess i'll have a better idea next year.

Asian Pears and I are parting ways, and Pluots too :(

Comments (13)

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX

denninmi

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