Thinning Pear Fruit: Preventing Limb Breakage and Improving Harvest Quality

Q: This is the 2nd spring with my Keiffer pear tree; it had 8 pears last year. This year I've spot-counted 125. What's the rule for removing some so I get a good crop without breaking limbs?

Pear trees commonly overproduce. It's good practice to remove small pears for a better leaf-to-fruit ratio.

My father didn't thin pears; he used branches and 2x4s to hold overloaded limbs. Sometimes limbs cracked off, losing entire branches. Even 15 years after his death, those trees have a droopy appearance from bent branches!

For a young tree like yours, thin fruit to 8-10 inches between each. Don't allow clusters.

As the tree doubles in size, go to 6-8 inches between fruit.