Pear orchards will have to be high density

Pears will have to be grown in high-density systems in the future in order to produce high yields of target fruit, a group of pear growers said during the Washington State Horticultural Association’s annual convention. “Going to these higher density systems is going to be absolutely crucial,” said Don Weippert of Sunnyside, Washington. Weippert has Bartlett pears planted on a 4- by 12-foot spacing. The trees are on Old Home x Farmingdale 97 rootstocks and are supported by a three-wire V trellis at 75 degrees from horizontal. The trees have three vertical leaders tied to the wires. The top wire […]