Modern pears descend from two different parents: a European parent (the most common and recognizable fruit) and an Asian parent (a different species entirely) that originated in China and Japan that we know as an Asian pear. They actually look more like an apple than a traditional pear. Pears are easier to grow than most other fruit producing trees (unless they are susceptible to Fire Blight) and can live for up to 100 years or more. Pear trees transform into amazing orange, red, and purple fall colors. They bloom early with large clusters of brilliant white flowers, make great shade trees in the summer with attractive glossy and green leaves, and have the added benefit of producing bushels of desirable fruit.
Pears need many hundreds of hours of cold temperatures (below 40 degrees) to set fruit properly. In colder climates, their early bloom makes them somewhat susceptible to late frosts, so many gardeners plant them on south facing slopes or in other protected areas. Most pear trees are not self-fertile, so it is generally
recommended that two or more varieties are planted in the same general vicinity. Standard varieties of pears can grow up to 25-35 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide. Dwarf varieties mature at much smaller dimensions, and the size is regulated by the type of rootstock used for the tree. Due to the popularity of pears, dwarf pear rootstock is more difficult to find than many other dwarf trees.
Asian pears are a different species of pear, generally more round in shape, with a very crisp and gritty texture. The flavors can be more subtle than European pears as well. Asian pears have a lower chill requirement, so they are more adaptable to warmer climates and many varieties are more resistant to Fire Blight than their European counterparts. Grow Asian pears as you would the European, but keep in mind that they bloom later, and will not make good pollinators for each other.
When selecting varieties, we always recommend that you do some research at the grocery store, find the flavors and textures that you like, and most of the varieties found there will produce well in northern climates (especially in Cache Valley). Do some research and choose wisely, especially if your space for growing is limited.
Location
Open site in full sun, with good air circulation. Pears do best in landscape or garden locations and can even perform well in a lawn situation. Since they produce early blossoms, they perform best if given some protection from cold later winter and early spring winds. That same protection will help with early fruit set as well.
Soil
Deep garden, loamy soil works best - well drained, not soggy. Avoid heavy clay or overly sandy soils if possible. Pears are relatively forgiving with soil conditions, and even in a heavy clay soil, they can still produce excellent crops, but watch for iron chlorosis in alkaline soils.
Planting
See bare root and container planting guide. Space pear trees between 10-20 feet apart depending on their ultimate mature height.
Water
To ensure steady fruit development from bloom to harvest, make sure to provide regular water throughout the growing season - usually a deep watering every 5-10 days depending on heat and sun exposure. Consistent watering is essential as the fruit begins to ripen and harvest season approaches. Be sure to not over water, but maintain a consistent soil moisture content below the surface. Mulches can be quite helpful to keep the soil evenly moist in hot summer temperatures.
Fertilizer
Use a balanced fertilizer in early spring with micronutrients to maintain consistent growth and fruit production. We recommend Anderson’s Best: That’s All It Takes, Fertilome Fruit, Nut and Pecan food, or Natural Guard Organic Fruit and Citrus Fertilizer. A good rule of thumb is to use 1/2 to 1 pound of fertilizer per inch of trunk diameter (2 cups generally equals 1 pound). Spread fertilizer evenly around the drip line of the tree.
Pruning
Once the trees have matured and have been trained into either a modified leader or open vase shape (open vase can help prevent fire blight spread and increase survivability), they require some pruning each season. Each year remove any damaged or diseased branches. This can be done any time after
bloom or during dormant season. Each spring, take out water sprouts (any unproductive growth shooting straight up). Also, remove branches growing into the center of the tree and trim back terminal buds to encourage new wood development in open areas and create more fruit bearing scaffolding branches. When pruning keep in mind that pears need consistent pruning each year, but too much pruning can significantly decrease the tree’s productivity. Also, see our pruning guide for more pruning instructions for pome fruits.
When fruit production is heavy, make sure to thin pears to 1 fruit every 6 inches. This prevents breakage from weight and ensures large, high quality fruit. Improper thinning not only causes damage, but will encourage the tree to move into an every-other-year production cycle.
Harvest and Yield
Harvest season for pears is August to October. Since the fruit does not ripen properly on the tree, pick fruit when they are still green and firm, yet full sized. Mature fruit should snap free of the tree when the fruit is lifted to a horizontal position relative to the branch. Handle the pears with care, as too much jostling can bruise them easily. Place the fruit in a cool, dark place such as a shed or garage for up to a month to ripen. For the varieties ‘Anjou’, ‘Bosc’, and ‘Comice’ place them shortly after picking into cold storage at 32-40 degrees for at least a month. They must then be brought into a warmer location where they will ripen in 2-3 days. Each tree will usually produce 75-200+ pounds of fruit depending on size of the tree, location, fertilizer, variety and rootstock.
Pests
Coddling moth do more damage to pears than any other insect, and must be prevented and controlled on a yearly basis if you want to harvest undamaged fruits each fall. Coddling moth lay eggs on the fruit that hatch and burrow into the skin of the fruit, eventually reaching the core. Commonly, they enter the fruit from the blossom end, and where the fruit touch each other in clusters. Timing is critical when preventing Coddling moth. We recommend following the local Extension directions for spraying each year, as it varies from year to year. There are many safe and reliable insecticides to help stop Coddling moth larvae, including multiple organic options, like Fertilome Fruit Tree Spray, Spinosad or Spinosad Soap, Sevin, and Fertilome Triple Action. The key is to spray at the right time, and be consistent. Generally the first wave of larvae hatch around
early June, the second wave in July, and the third wave in August, so successive applications are required.
More specific yearly information on spray timing and frequency can be found on our website and social media platforms, as well as in store.
Aphids and blister mites are more common insects that attack pear trees each summer. To best control the aphids and mites, use a dormant spray/fungicide combo during the late dormant season or even just as the buds start to swell in early spring. For aphid control during the growing season (even right up until harvest), apply a general-purpose insecticide as needed. Fertilome Fruit Tree Spray (organic), Sevin, or Malathion are all excellent insecticides for the job. Lady Bugs will also do a great job at controlling aphid outbreaks. Blister mites can quickly transfer from the leaves to the fruit during the summer, so we recommend mixing a summer oil in with the coddling moth sprays to help prevent the mites from russeting the fruit in late summer. For best control of blister mites, make sure to use a dormant oil sometime in October, at about 25% leaf drop and cover all the branches and twigs thoroughly top and bottom. Not only will this prevent the mites from transferring from the infected leaves to the buds forming for next season, but it will help defoliate the rest of the tree for
easy cleanup.
Mildew and pears scab are some of the most common diseases that affect apples. Prevent disease by starting the season with a dormant spray/fungicide combination. Next, if mildew-spreading conditions exist (cool nights, warm days, high humidity), apply a general-purpose fungicide like Copper Soap, F-Stop by Fertilome, or Complete Disease Control from Monterey as needed.
Fireblight is a consistent problem for Pear trees, and we recommend you plant resistant varieties and familiarize yourself with best control practices. Please consult our Fireblight guide for more information on how to protect
your valuable trees from this deadly disease.
Varieties
D'anjou
D’anjou pears are the second-most recognizable pear variety in the United States. They can be used in salads and eaten raw by themselves or paired with cheese. Sweet juicy Anjous are perfect for baking into desserts like tarts. The flesh is white with abundant juice and a sweet brisk flavor. It is a naturally sweet pear, light green in color with a yellow tinge when ripe. Anjou pears have
exceptional keeping qualities. The tree is very hardy and highly productive.
Mature Height: 12’-18’
Mature Spread: 10’-18’
Sun Exposure: Full/Partial
Flavor: Sweet, rich
Cooking/Storage: Good for both. Stores up to 2 months.
Bloom Period: Mid-April
Pollinator Required: Yes
Harvest Period: Mid-August
Zones: 4-9
Bartlett
Bartlett is one of the most widely known pears on the market. It is a large, yellow pear with smooth, juicy, white flesh. Along with its very sweet and juicy flavor for eating it is widely used for canning and cooking. The Bartlett Pear trees are self-pollinating; however a pollinator will help the tree bear better fruit. They tend to bear fruit for up to 50 to 75 years on a good site.
Mature Height: 12’-18’
Mature Spread: 10’-18’
Sun Exposure: Full
Flavor: Sweet/juicy
Cooking/Storage: Both.
Bloom Period: April
Pollinator Required: No
Harvest Period: August
Zones: 5-8
Bosc
Bosc pears have long necks that taper down to fat bottoms. It has a golden-brown russeted skin and white, juicy flesh with rich, slightly acidic flavor that gives it a sweet-spicy taste. Perfect for eating fresh, baking or drying. Their leathery, mottled skin often turns most people away from trying them – especially kids – but these appealing fruits hold a distinct flavor masked by their
blemished packaging.
Mature Height:
Mature Spread:
Sun Exposure:
Flavor: Sweet with a little spice.
Cooking/Storage: Good for both.
Bloom Period: Early
Pollinator Required: Yes
Harvest Period: September - October
Zones: 5-8
Flemish Beauty
The large, rounded fruits have creamy-yellow skin blushed red along with firm, creamy-white flesh that becomes meltingly tender, sweet and aromatic. Hardy and highly productive. Exceptional for eating out of hand, desserts, and drying. Probably one of the hardiest pears available. Flemish Beauty is susceptible to scale and fire blight.
Mature Height: 12’-18’
Mature Spread: 10’-18’
Sun Exposure: Full
Flavor: Sweet , musky flavor
Cooking/Storage: Good for both, but best for fresh/cooking.
Bloom Period: Mid-season; April
Pollinator Required: Yes, excellent pollinator for other pears.
Harvest Period: September
Zones: 4-8
Harrow Delight
Harrow pear has light-green to yellow-green skin with light red blush. The sweet, juicy flesh is smooth and especially flavorful. This early-ripening pear offers superior fire blight resistance. It is a heavy bearing tree.
Mature Height: 12’-15’
Mature Spread: 12’-15’
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Flavor: Sweet
Cooking/Storage: Good for cooking and storage.
Bloom Period: Mid-Season
Pollinator Required: Yes
Harvest Period: August - September
Zones: 5-7
Hosui
This apple-like pear (often called apple-pears) has juicy, sweet, flavorful, crisp flesh. Hosui’s fruit is round to medium is shape with a nice golden brown colored skin. Hosui is blight resistant and heat-tolerant. It is also self-pollinating, but produces even more with other Asian pears nearby. It has a vigorous, willowy growth habit.
Mature Height: 12’-20’
Mature Spread: 10’-18’
Sun Exposure: Full
Flavor: Sweet
Cooking/Storage: Good for both.
Bloom Period: April
Pollinator Required: No
Harvest Period: Early September
Zones: 5-9
Seckel
These bite-sized pears have smooth, thin, olive green skin and are covered in a glossy red blush that slightly darkens and becomes matte when ripe. The creamy, white to ivory flesh is dense, moist, and coarser than other pears. They are crisp, juicy, and possess the sweetest flavor profile of all the pear varieties. Seckel pears are favored for their very sweet flavor and are versatile in the
kitchen being used in fresh, cooked, and canned applications. Tree is disease-resistant to fireblight.
Mature Height: 12’-15’
Mature Spread: 12’-15’
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Flavor: Sweet
Cooking/Storage: Good cooking
Bloom Period: Mid-season
Pollinator Required: Yes
Harvest Period: Late-August
Zones: 5-8
Sensation Red Bartlett
Just as Yellow Bartletts change color while ripening, so do Red Bartletts; changing from a dark red often with light vertical striping to become a beautiful bright red. As they ripen, Red Bartletts offer differing flavors and textures, starting crunchy and tart when under ripe and finishing super sweet and juicy when fully ripened.
Mature Height: 12’-18’
Mature Spread: 10’-18’
Sun Exposure: Full
Flavor: Sweet, juicy. Just like Bartlett
Cooking/Storage: Great for both.
Bloom Period: April
Pollinator Required: Yes
Harvest Period: Late-August
Zones: 5-9
Shinko
This is the most fire blight resistant of the Asian pears. Like other Asian pears it has a brownish skin with crisp, sweet, juicy flesh. The fruit are medium-large and round in shape like an apple with russeted skin.
Mature Height: 12’-20’
Mature Spread: 10’-18’
Sun Exposure: Full
Flavor: Sweet
Cooking/Storage: Good for both.
Bloom Period: April
Pollinator Required: Yes
Harvest Period: August-September
Zones: 5a-9
Shinseiki
Also known as pear-apples, salad pears, and crystal pears Asian pears are easy to grow and keep well on the tree and in storage. Like other Asian pears it is a heavy producer and produces when very young. The fruit is medium in size with smooth creamy white flesh and a sweet, mild taste. Shinseiki is one of the earliest ripening Asian pears. Not as susceptible to fire blight as other pears.
Mature Height: 12’-18’
Mature Spread: 10’-18’
Sun Exposure: Full
Flavor: Sweet, crisp, juicy
Cooking/Storage: Great for storage and fresh; good for cooking.
Bloom Period: Early April
Pollinator Required: No
Harvest Period: Late-July
Zones: 5-9
Twentieth Century
Twentieth Century produces medium to large, round, yellow fruit that is smooth, crisp, and sweet; think apples mixed with pears. This pear is great fresh, stores well, and is great for processing. It produces on its own, but will produce much more heavily with another Asian pear nearby for pollination.
Mature Height: 12’-18’
Mature Spread: 10’-18’
Sun Exposure: Full
Flavor: Sweet
Cooking/Storage: Good for both.
Bloom Period: April
Pollinator Required: No; semi self-fertile, production will be better with a pollinator.
Harvest Period: Late-July to Mid-August
Zones: 5-9