Nashis (Pyrus pyrifolia), also referred to as Asian Rings are part of the Rosaceae family. It’s also known as a prapple, Since this fruit is sweet like a pear and crisp like an apple. Native to China and Japan, nashi pear trees are well suited to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. These growers, that have showy white blossoms in spring and can grow up to 30 feet tall, generally come on grafted rootstock.
Perform a test to ascertain the dirt pH. Nashis thrive in a soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. Amend the soil according to the test results. Incorporate lime to raise the pH, or add sulfur to lower it. Examine before planting, since it takes the amendments a long time to get absorbed into the ground and also to trigger a response.
Cultivate the soil in a sunny to partial region of the backyard, about one week before planting the tree, after the last spring frost. Remove rocks, grass and weeds, and pulverize any clumps. Add a layer of compost to the soil and work it in with a shovel.
Cut on damaged or broken roots from the tree and then discard them. Fill a bowl with water and then soak the nashi’s root system in it, to keep the roots from drying as you prepare the planting site. Scrub the roots.
Dig a hole that is wide enough to comfortably fit the origins of this tree and deep. Put the tree in the hole and backfill it. Tamp the ground with your toes. Soak the soil. Finish backfilling and tamp the ground surface. Plant the tree so the graft union is all about 2 inches above ground level. Avoid having a depression in the dirt around this tree’s bottom in winter months, accumulated water can freeze and damage the tree.
Feed the shrub that is nashi a mulch after planting. Watch the tree’s growth every year. Fertilize it each calendar year if the tree does not grow at least 8 inches.
Put a garden hose on the ground above the tree’s root system. Allow the hose to trickle water so it can be absorbed by that the soil. Water the tree deeply so you reach its root system. Adjust your watering frequency after rainfall and during warm weather.
Pound a 10-foot long stake 2 feet deep away from the trunk of the nashi, 4 inches into the floor. Secure the tree to the stake with tree sticks.
Distribute a layer of bark mulch over the ground around the shrub to suppress weeds, promote soil moisture retention and to add nutrients to the ground. Keep the mulch 4 inches away from the back and replenish it, as required, to maintain a consistent two – to 4-inch layer.
Prune weak branches and cut branches above the buds. Train the tree into a central leader. Lightly prune the tree every winter also to stimulate growth and to maintain its shape.