Yeah, Bradfords aren't supposed to be fruit-bearing.

Our Brad's just a skinny, skanky stick because it was within a copse
of fast-growing hybrid poplars depriving it of light. In 2005, we
removed the pops as they were beginning to succumb to wind storms.

The Brad's still just a 15-foot stick, but for some reason, either in
gratitude for taking down the poplars, or perhaps it had something to
do with the drought March-August 2006, ol' Brad produced about a dozen
large pears. Most fell to the ground hard and stayed hard.

However, two of them ripened nicely. They looked identical to large
Bartletts and were very juicy. Quite sweet too, but with a slight
tang.

(Jack) wrote in
:

Yeah, Bradfords aren't supposed to be fruit-bearing.

Our Brad's just a skinny, skanky stick because it was within a copse
of fast-growing hybrid poplars depriving it of light. In 2005, we
removed the pops as they were beginning to succumb to wind storms.

The Brad's still just a 15-foot stick, but for some reason, either in
gratitude for taking down the poplars, or perhaps it had something to
do with the drought March-August 2006, ol' Brad produced about a dozen
large pears. Most fell to the ground hard and stayed hard.

However, two of them ripened nicely. They looked identical to large
Bartletts and were very juicy. Quite sweet too, but with a slight
tang.

Bradford Pears actually do bear fruit. It's about the size of a small
acorn and inedible. I don't think what you have is a Bradford Pear.

["Followup-To:" header set to rec.gardens.]
On Thu, 21 Sep 2006 01:12:48 GMT, Jack wrote:
Yeah, Bradfords aren't supposed to be fruit-bearing.

Actually, they are, but very small... sort of cherry sized fruits.
See: http://tinyurl.com/h85ur or
http://rnrstreamer.lsu.edu/ecosystem...species/bradfo
rdpear/bradfordpear.htm

Fruits can be used to make "perry", q.v.


The Brad's still just a 15-foot stick, but for some reason, either in
gratitude for taking down the poplars, or perhaps it had something to
do with the drought March-August 2006, ol' Brad produced about a dozen
large pears. Most fell to the ground hard and stayed hard.

The good news is, you don't have a bradford pear. Overused street tree,
weak-wooded, winter-scalds, mostly looks pretty bad in a few years.
Since you had to take the poplars out because of wind damage, a bradford
pear would have been not much better in a few years.

Enjoy your pear crop!

(Jack) wrote:

Yeah, Bradfords aren't supposed to be fruit-bearing.

They produce very small cherry like fruit that is hard and stays on the
tree well after the leaves fall. After it freezes it is the preferred
food of squirrels. They will hang from their tails to get the last pear.

However, two of them ripened nicely. They looked identical to large
Bartletts and were very juicy. Quite sweet too, but with a slight
tang.

You may well have a Bartlett pear. You certainly don't have a Bradford.
Perhaps your Bradford was grafted on a Bartlet and the Bradford top died
leaving the Bartlet sucker. Just a guess.

--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA
http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman