Easy on-tree pear catcher from repurposed items

[Zjho]

Been a bit of thin year this time around for pears over here, about 6 pears compared to normal 30ish on dwarf tree and wondered what was best way to try and prevent fall to ground bruising over concrete ? Last year used an enourmous polythene bag with empty pop bottles inside which worked okay but does anyone use nets, old tights or suchlike for small crops where not too windy ?

[ameno]

If they're falling off they are ready to pick, so you may be better off just picking them all and putting them into storage (either a cool shed or garage, or in the fridge).
Leave them on the tree too long after they are ready to pick and their quality degrades and they start to develop brown hearts.

[Zjho]

If they're falling off they are ready to pick, so you may be better off just picking them all and putting them into storage (either a cool shed or garage, or in the fridge).
Leave them on the tree too long after they are ready to pick and their quality degrades and they start to develop brown hearts.

I have tried picking all after a few fall off but they don't ripen evenly and sweetness seems less that way. Think will try finding some plastic netting as knitting old fishing line up is probably asking too much of my dexterity !

[Snoop Puss]

I don't have a huge amount of experience with pears (the dogs, boar and birds get them before I do), but what I have found is that they're much better picked slightly firm and then left to ripen fully indoors.

[Zjho]

I don't have a huge amount of experience with pears (the dogs, boar and birds get them before I do), but what I have found is that they're much better picked slightly firm and then left to ripen fully indoors.

Thanks, i will remember that for any that get pulled down by gales in a slightly firm state while other softer fruit have already fallen. Perhaps the variety has a lot to do with it too.

[Zjho]

Been a thin year on this little pear tree, on closer inspection only has three fruits and have secured a poly bag around each, hitched onto a higher stem, it worked through the last gale.

[Nicos]

I don't have a huge amount of experience with pears (the dogs, boar and birds get them before I do), but what I have found is that they're much better picked slightly firm and then left to ripen fully indoors.

That’s what I have done in recent years. Keeps the wasps away too!

[Zjho]

Poly bag method didn't work for my preferences of softness because one fruit still got shaken in gales too much to stay on long enough. It may have fallen prematurely anyway as was most exposed but suspect bag acted like a sail. Another suffered from woodlice attack possibly aided by a bunch of autumnal falling leaves that got into bag to make a snug nest for them. Netting it must be. Many thanks for all comments.

[Zelenina]

I have two very large pear trees in my garden, and I've found out that Snoop Puss is right. Pears don't ripen very well on the tree. It's better to pick them before they're fully ripe and store them for a while to get a good texture. But if you harvest them too soon they don't ripen at all. It's quite tricky telling when is the right time, but here's an article that should help. https://www.starkbros.com/growing-gu...ady-to-harvest

[Snoop Puss]

How lovely to see you back, Zelenina. I really missed you.

[Nicos]

Nice link there Zelenina - thanks for sharing.
And yup…agreeing with Snoop - lovely to see you again!

[Jungle Jane]

When my pears are ready for harvest they start showing a bit of brown in the green skins,showing they’re turning,still very firm,I pick them but never eat straight away,they need a couple of days at room temp in a fruit bowl then they soften up. Put some in the fridge to delay ripening because it’s too many to eat at once