How do you control "pear scab or scale"?

I have tried various sprays, Bonide Orchard Tree spray this last season, and still this years' harvest had a 50/50 scab to no scab ratio.

The spray cost was around $180.

We can our pears each year and wouuld like to have a better beautiful pear for next years' harvest.

What are we doing wrong??

Thank you,

Bill Finck
billfinck@frontier.com

Hello Bill,
Scab is a fungal disease that is worse in some years than in others.

I don't know where you live, but here in the PNW we had another record breaking year for too much rain.

Those are really bad conditions for scab.

Scab is more or less controllable depending on the conditions.

One thing that you want to do is to prune your tree so that it dries out quickly, thereby stopping the spread of scab.

People have different ideas about how to fight scab. Some use organic methods. Others use synthetic methods. Others use a combination of both.

There is controversy between the methods. Some have become hostile about it. I don't like to argue.

I use compost tea, which is an organic method.

John S
PDX OR

Thanks John for the Pear Tree Scab Information.

I too, live near the Portland area. I really live in Tigard, right next door to Portland.

Thanks again,

Bill Finck

a lot of pear scab was observed by me this year...

1. spraying is one option. You have tried that.

2. Rake up the leaves under the tree at this time of the year and get rid of them is another option. It may take a few years, but problem can be reduced.
http://organicgardeningpractices.com/pearscab.php

3. I have heard of people liming or putting manure over the leaves as an alternative....the idea is to decompose or eliminate the leaves that preserve the spores....the time to think about this is now....do it after the leaves have fallen in the Fall....and BEFORE winter.

4. What varieties of pears are most resistant to scab? I would like to hear.

5. I had a couple pears this morning that were afflicted with scab. They were simply delicious. Personally I have a psychological aversion to eating an apple or pear with a worm in it but i have next to ZERO aversion to eating an ugly apple or pear....and basically the scab problem is totally and completely only psychological and cosmetic....hey, I am not so good looking but I would hate for people to reject me just for that reason....but apparently I am a minority on that one and most people simply don't like scabby pears......other opinions welcome.