How to grow Pear

Pyrus communis · European pear, common pear

The European pear is a deciduous fruit tree grown for juicy fruit that ripens from late summer into autumn. Standard trees reach 7.5–9 m, trees on dwarfing rootstocks 2.5–3 m. It is hardy in USDA zones 4–8, but its early blossom is easily damaged by spring frost.

Quick facts

Type	Fruit tree
Family	Rosaceae
Light	Full sun
Soil pH	6–6.5
Frost	tolerates light frost
Sowing to harvest	1460 days
Where it grows	Open ground

When to plant

Planted as a young plant from a nursery while it is dormant — in early spring before the buds open, or in autumn after leaf fall.

Harvest from August to October (northern hemisphere).

Frost dates · When to plant

Care

Open ground

Stage	Watering	Temperature	Feeding
Growth	every 7 days	—	organic, at the start of the stage
Flowering	every 7 days	—	—
Fruiting	every 7 days	—	—
Harvest	every 7 days	—	—
Winter rest	—	—	—

Growing notes

Light

Full sun in a warm, sheltered spot away from frost pockets.

Soil

Well-drained, humus-rich loam, ideally pH 6.0–6.5; copes with heavy clay better than most fruit trees.

Care

Plant while dormant, from autumn to spring. Water young trees once a week in dry spells for the first summers and mulch each spring with compost or manure, keeping it off the trunk. Avoid extra nitrogen on vigorous trees, as soft growth invites fire blight. Prune free-standing trees in winter, thin crowded fruit to two per cluster in summer, and pick pears just before they ripen to finish indoors.

How to tell it is ripe

The fruit is full-sized, firm and swollen, with a subtle change in skin colour.
The ground colour lightens from dark green to pale green or yellowish-green.
The small spots on the skin (lenticels) turn from white or green to brown.
Lift the pear to horizontal and twist it gently upwards: a mature one comes away easily at the stalk.
For early varieties, taste one for sweetness.
Pick European pears while still firm, then ripen them indoors at 16–18 °C for one to three weeks until the flesh near the stalk gives slightly.

Pests and diseases of Pear

Sources

Figures checked against these sources.