Troubleshooting
Comice pear problems — and how to fix them
Comice pear (Pyrus communis 'Comice') is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Poor ripening
Comice requires warmth to ripen properly; fruits harvested too late become mealy. Pick while still firm in mid-autumn and ripen indoors at room temperature for 1–2 weeks. In cool summers, wall training significantly improves results.
Pear scab (Venturia pirina)
Black-green scabby patches on fruit and foliage; worse in wet springs. Prune for airflow; collect fallen leaves; apply protective copper or myclobutanil fungicide from bud-burst onward in bad years.
Fireblight (Erwinia amylovora)
Bacterial shoot blight; symptoms include wilting, blackening and a scorched appearance. Cut well below infection with sterilised tools. No curative treatment; avoid lush, nitrogen-rich growth that is most vulnerable.
Prevent comice pear problems before they start
Most comice pear issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Comice pear problems — FAQ
Why is my comice pear poor ripening?
Comice requires warmth to ripen properly; fruits harvested too late become mealy. Pick while still firm in mid-autumn and ripen indoors at room temperature for 1–2 weeks. In cool summers, wall training significantly improves results.
Why is my comice pear pear scab (venturia pirina)?
Black-green scabby patches on fruit and foliage; worse in wet springs. Prune for airflow; collect fallen leaves; apply protective copper or myclobutanil fungicide from bud-burst onward in bad years.
Why is my comice pear fireblight (erwinia amylovora)?
Bacterial shoot blight; symptoms include wilting, blackening and a scorched appearance. Cut well below infection with sterilised tools. No curative treatment; avoid lush, nitrogen-rich growth that is most vulnerable.