Why Are My Pears On My Pear Tree Only The Size Of A Grape

Question

Hi I bought a 3 different pear bare root fruit cocktail tree 10 years ago. It has started to grow pears over the last 3 years. They only reach the size of a grape, so last winter I took off 5 ft off the top and thinned out all the branches. Well most of the branches grew all out still the same small grape size fruit. I used 16 16 16 fertilizer before spring since I live in northern Mississippi and 10 10 10 during the growing season. What am I not doing right.

Answer 1

It could be that the top graft has died, and the rootstock has taken over. Many times, the callery pear root is used. This wild pear rarely exceeds the size of a grape.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/ornamental-pear/callery-pear-information.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/what-is-a-graft-collar.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/can-grafted-trees-revert-to-their-root-stock.htm

Unfortunately, a reverted specimen cannot be brought back without doing some grafting of your own.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/grafting-trees-what-is-tree-grafting.htm