Post by kathrynh on May 20, 2014 23:19:40 GMT
We(my husband and I) are not experienced gardeners but we planted a pear tree some ten years ago. In the first few years the tree produced blossom in abundance but we were only able to harvest a handful of fruit. We assumed that this was due to it being a young tree. However in subsequent years we realised that this was due to pear midge. The fruit was developing to the size of a pea, turning black before falling off the tree. We noticed that if we caught the pear early and cut it open it would contain small white maggots which we believe to be Pear Mite.
Since realising this we have religiously sprayed the tree as the blossom is about to open and repeated this a week later, covered the surrounding ground with polythene and collected the fallen debris and cleared the soil from around the base of the tree.
This year we still have the same problem. We are now in desperation, contemplating deflowering the tree for the next couple of years, hoping to deny the midge of a host and thereby not allowing the midge to survive.
Does anyone know:
1. Does pear midge host on any other plant?
2. A sure way to get rid of Pear Midge?
3. Is the deflowering going to harm the tree?
We would value any advice.
Kathryn
