$80.00
Shinko Asian Pear Tree produces large, rounded pears with attractive bronze to golden-brown russeted skin. The creamy-white flesh is crisp, juicy, sweet, and refreshing, giving it the satisfying crunch that makes Asian pears so popular for fresh eating.
Shinko develops especially good flavor in areas with hot summers. Unlike European pears, Asian pears are allowed to ripen on the tree and are ready to enjoy soon after harvest. Shinko is also valued for its heavy production and stronger fire-blight resistance compared with many other Asian pear varieties.
PLANT DETAILS
• Botanical name: Pyrus pyrifolia ‘Shinko’
• Common name: Shinko Asian Pear
• Pear type: Asian or Japanese pear
• Fruit size: Medium to large
• Fruit shape: Round to slightly flattened
• Fruit color: Bronze, golden brown, or brownish green with russeted skin
• Flesh: Creamy white, crisp, and juicy
• Flavor: Rich, sweet, mild, and refreshing
• Harvest season: Generally late summer to early fall, depending on the climate
• Mature size: Approximately 12–20 feet tall and wide, depending on rootstock and pruning
• Sun requirements: Full sun
• Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil
• Chill requirement: Approximately 800 or more chill hours for best performance
• Pollination: Plant with another compatible Asian pear for dependable production
• Disease resistance: Strong fire-blight resistance compared with many Asian pears
• Best uses: Fresh eating, fruit trays, salads, desserts, preserves, and edible landscapes
Shinko may set a limited crop by itself under some conditions, but Extension guidance recommends planting at least two compatible Asian pear varieties to ensure good cross-pollination and full production.
POLLINATION
For dependable fruit production, plant Shinko with another Asian pear that blooms at approximately the same time.
Best Pollinator Partner
• Hosui Asian Pear
Hosui and Shinko are compatible pollination partners and are reported to work especially well together.
Other possible partners include:
• Chojuro Asian Pear
• Shinseiki Asian Pear, when bloom periods overlap
Plant the trees within approximately 50 feet of one another when possible. Bees and other pollinating insects are still necessary to transfer pollen between the flowers. Seasonal weather and winter temperatures can affect bloom overlap.
FRUIT THINNING
Shinko can produce heavy crops. When too many young pears remain on the branches, the fruit may stay smaller and the weight can strain young limbs.
After the danger of a late freeze has passed, thin the developing pears to approximately one fruit per cluster or one fruit every 4–6 inches along the branch. This encourages larger fruit and helps protect the tree from limb damage.
NORTH FLORIDA GROWING NOTE
Shinko is not considered one of the most dependable Asian pears for North Florida or the Florida Panhandle because of its relatively high winter-chill requirement.
Auburn University Extension reports that Shinko requires at least approximately 800 chill hours for best performance. Winters near DeFuniak Springs may not provide enough chilling every year, which can result in delayed or uneven leafing, weak flowering, reduced pollination, or little fruit production.
UF/IFAS recommends several other Asian pears for North Florida—including Shinseiki, Ya Li, and 20th Century—but does not include Shinko on its Florida variety list. For this reason, Shinko should be considered a higher-chill or trial variety rather than a reliably adapted North Florida pear.
Shinko may perform better in colder inland locations that consistently receive sufficient winter chilling. Customers should understand that fruit production can vary considerably from one winter to the next.
FIRE-BLIGHT NOTE
Shinko is recognized as one of the more fire-blight-resistant Asian pears, which is a valuable quality in the warm and humid Southeast. However, resistant does not mean immune.
Plant the tree in full sun with good air circulation, avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer, and promptly remove any blighted shoots that develop.
LOCAL PICKUP, LIMITED SHIPPING AND WHOLESALE
Most pear trees are available for local pickup at our nursery in DeFuniak Springs, Florida.
Limited shipping may be available for select smaller plants or trees. Please contact us before ordering if shipping is needed. Shipping charges are calculated separately.
Wholesale availability may be offered to landscapers, farms, garden centers, and other qualified buyers. Availability and minimum quantities may vary.
Advanced Nursery Growers
1911 McLeod Road
DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
Phone: (850) 391-2228
Email: info@advancednurserygrowers.com
