Pictures 23 August 2010

Click on the picture to enlarge

   This is Concorde on Quince C.  The two first year spurs are about 20cm, but second year growth has been 5cm.  You will see that the lower spur is cankered and must be removed in any event.

  This is Doyenne de Comice on Quince C.  First year growth was about 25cm, but second year growth has been 60cm, which is satisfactory.  Although this pear had a slow start, I have no complaint if it carries on like this.

  This is the Beth on Quince C.  First year growth was negligible.  2nd year growth has been 15cm.  The increase in the second year is encouraging, but as you will see this is weak, spindly growth and not what I would expect from a good root stock.

  For comparison, this is cherry Stella (on Gisela 5)

  and this is Opal Plum (on Pixy).  All the plums, cherries and apples that I have had from you have done very well under the same conditions.

I would like to see whether the Doyenne de Comice and the Beth pick up - I know pears can be slow starters.  But I think the Beth must be considered a failure and I would like to ask you to replace it please.  Can you help me out with a fan-trained two year old tree?  I would be happy to take a pot grown tree, if a bare root tree is not available later in the year.  If however you advise that Quince C is too dwarfing for my needs (fan trained, 7.5 sq m available growing area) then it might be better to replace all three pears with two year old fan-trained trees on Quince A.