South Taiwanese tropical pears
The task of cultivating tropical pears has been accomplished by Lin Chun-Yu. Succesfully growing pears in the area has taken him 6 years. He uses the seeds of sand pears, better suited to withstand the hot weather than some varieties.
The main difference with tropical pears is that mature early - a result of the warmth - and can make it into market before the conventionally grown fruit has chance to appear.
Lin attribute his success with growing pears to carefully mowing the grass around the trees and keeps herbicides out of the picture. The grass, he says, must not be mowed too close to the ground as a gap needs to be left for the soil to retain its moisture and also, to ensure that the temperature changes will not vary too much.
In addition to all of this, correct organic fertilizers must be used for the pears to grow smoothly.
The pears grown in northern Taiwan are frequently subject to climate changes such as typhoons or torrential rain, thus causing the roads to be cut off and this in turn interrupts farmers' delivery of their pears, leading to an overpopulation of pears in the mountains.
Lin does not mind sharing his methods with other farmers in the south and said he has taught many of his friends already and they have been successful in their ventures too.
Source: focustaiwan.tw
