Troubleshooting
Concorde pear problems — and how to fix them
Concorde pear (Pyrus communis 'Concorde') 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.
Fireblight (Erwinia amylovora)
Concorde's main weakness; particularly problematic in warmer parts of the UK. Shoots blacken and collapse. Prune 30–60 cm below visible infection with sterilised tools and burn the material. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds that produce susceptible soft growth.
Pear canker (Neonectria ditissima)
Concorde shows good resistance to canker, but infections can still occur, especially in wet soils. Sunken, cracked bark with concentric rings of dead wood. Cut out and destroy affected wood; avoid waterlogged conditions.
Premature fruit drop
Heavy crops may cause June drop; natural thinning typically follows. If excessive, thin fruitlets to one per cluster in early summer to improve remaining fruit size and reduce stress on the tree.
Prevent concorde pear problems before they start
Most concorde pear issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Concorde pear problems — FAQ
Why is my concorde pear fireblight (erwinia amylovora)?
Concorde's main weakness; particularly problematic in warmer parts of the UK. Shoots blacken and collapse. Prune 30–60 cm below visible infection with sterilised tools and burn the material. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds that produce susceptible soft growth.
Why is my concorde pear pear canker (neonectria ditissima)?
Concorde shows good resistance to canker, but infections can still occur, especially in wet soils. Sunken, cracked bark with concentric rings of dead wood. Cut out and destroy affected wood; avoid waterlogged conditions.
Why is my concorde pear premature fruit drop?
Heavy crops may cause June drop; natural thinning typically follows. If excessive, thin fruitlets to one per cluster in early summer to improve remaining fruit size and reduce stress on the tree.