Q. I have had a pear tree in my backyard for many years, and I have an older walnut tree. The pears were so sweet, even when they were tiny, but for a few years, the pear fruit have cross-pollinated with the walnut tree, which is about 25 feet away, and the hybrid fruits are useless to eat and have a furry skin.
What can I do to stop the cross-pollination and why would it happen? I would like to have my normal, sweet pears back.
Please advise me. I would be grateful.
Dushyant, San Jose
A. I don’t think you have a cross-pollination problem; I think you have a rootstock issue.
Trees only pollinate with trees of the same species, so a pear tree can be pollinated by another pear tree — something that is recommended for a better, more bountiful crop — but it can’t be pollinated by any other fruit or nut tree.
What I think has happened is that your pear was grafted onto the rootstock of a quince, and the quince has now taken over the tree. Grafting is common in fruit trees, roses and other plants. Growers chose a rootstock that is hardy, disease-resistant and most likely to thrive in all conditions. They then graft a new tree onto the rootstock.
Quince is a common rootstock for pears, but under some conditions, it can overtake the graft and become the dominant species. This happens if the graft becomes weakened, is accidentally pruned off or if suckers growing from the rootstock below the graft are pruned away.
Whenever you buy a tree, you should locate the graft — it will usually appear as a lump or rising on the tree — and mark it, so you’ll know where it is as the tree grows.
Quince fruit has a pear-like shape, but it’s covered in a fine, fuzzy skin. Quince are tasty, but very tart, so eating them raw is not to everyone’s liking. They are much better when cooked and made into jellies, compotes and cobblers.
Like pears, quince are harvested in the fall when they have turned a golden yellow or orange and have a fruity aroma.
Depending on when the takeover starts, you might have both pears and quince on the tree, but eventually, you’ll only have the quince. It’s unlikely you can reclaim the pear tree, so if you have the space, plant two pear trees (so they can pollinate each other) and then be mindful in your pruning.
You don’t need to have the same variety of pear for cross-pollination, but be sure to check with the nursery to find the best pairing, as some pears are more compatible for pollination.
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