Kitchen Garden Forum

One of my pear trees got what a neighbour at lottie said was pear scab. I tried to nurse it through with TLC and treatments but no improvement and the other one is showing signs of some local damage although only tip of the odd branch and not in the bark like the other one. In an attempt to save the other I have disposed of the infected one (neighbours bonfire).

I researched this and it says the soil is infected also so question:
a) How do I prevent any of this infected soil washing onto the other pear?
b) What other fruit tree can I plant in the gap left that won't get infected?

Thanks Westi

Hi Westi, I believe it spreads via the autumn leaf drop, so its important to gather up the leaves. Infection starts quite early in spring I think the organic sprays are sulphur based, and there are probably non organic ones too. It can affect apples crab apples etc too. Some trees are resistent to scab, so choose one with resistence for a replacement. Also I suggest when planting your new tree add in some rootgrow ( RHS recommended ) to help your tree establish well, with extra symbiotic support, you can assist the other tree that way too by underplanting with smaller plants with rootgrow in the holes within the established trees rootzone.

Cheers NB

Root grow it is - don't want to loose the other one as it is a beauty -
always prolific and sweet pears. Would it harm the other trees (apple,
cherry & plum) to give them a little treat as well or is it only for treatment?

Westi

What it does is attach beneficial fungi to the plants or trees roots, the fungi collect nutrients and water from a wider deeper area for the trees, in return the tree supplies the fungi with glucose, its not harmful, just beneficial for both OK for all your trees Westi. It's one of the few products recommended by the RHS.

http://www.eastofedenplants.co.uk/rootgrow.htm

Hello Westi
I think that if you are growing apples and pears, scab is just something that you have to get used to living with. The scab on the fruit is only superficial although it may cause some distortion but doesn't seem to affect the taste of the fruit. I've found that gathering up the fallen leaves and most of the fallen fruit that this keeps things under control.

John

Hi John

I think I need to be harsher with collecting the fallen fruit - I used to leave it for the wasps and other critters so probably made a bad situation worse.

Westi

Hello Westi
Something else you might want to think about Westi is that if and when you get any new trees you could grow them as cordons, fans or espaliers. With restricted growing methods like this, it is much, much easier to keep things clean and tidy and you'll also get some first class fruit.

John