Pear Masterclass 2021 – Goulburn Valley Pear-spectives

19 October 2021 | Nic Finger with Matthew Lenne, Calimna Orchard / Lenne’s Orchard | Future Orchards® Pear Masterclass

Nic Finger speaks with Matthew Lenne at Calimna Orchard in the Goulburn Valley about managing vigour and producing high-quality pears. The orchard-based format shows how pear-management principles are applied in a commercial block rather than discussed only in theory.

Vigour management is central because excessive vegetative growth can reduce light distribution, complicate pruning and make it harder to maintain productive fruiting wood. The conversation links tree growth with canopy structure, crop load and the practical need to keep the orchard accessible for routine work.

The session is part of the 2021 Pear Masterclass Pear-spectives series, which compares production experience across South Australia, the Goulburn Valley and South Africa. This regional comparison helps growers identify which principles are broadly consistent and where different climates, soils or market systems require a different response.

For Australian pear growers, the video is a useful discussion starter for reviewing tree vigour, canopy density and the balance between vegetative growth and cropping. The emphasis is on observation and adjustment: management needs to respond to how the trees are actually behaving in the block.