How to grow Pear tree
Pyrus communis
Even tougher than apples — plant two.
Pears are even tougher and more forgiving than apples in most climates. Plant two varieties for pollination and choose fireblight-resistant types to skip the spraying.
Grow Pear tree with step-by-step help for your exact yard.
Start free in Seededly →Pear tree at a glance
| Sun | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 6.0–6.5 |
| Spacing | 15–20 ft |
| Harvest | September |
| Plant | Spring |
| Pollination | Need 2 varieties |
How to grow Pear tree, step by step
Plant two varieties
- Pears need a partner to pollinate — plant at least two that bloom together.
- Pick fireblight-resistant types and a dwarf/semi-dwarf rootstock to stay pickable.
Plant in spring
- Full sun, well-drained soil; keep the graft a couple inches above the soil.
- Stake young trees and water deeply the first summers.
Be patient & harvest
- Fruit comes in 3–5 years — prune to an open shape meanwhile.
- Pick pears firm and ripen them off the tree, or they go gritty.
Pear tree problems & fixes
Pear tree — Shoots blacken like they were burned: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Fireblight. Prune out affected wood well below the damage and plant resistant varieties.
Pear tree — No fruit: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Needs a second variety nearby, or it’s still young. Plant a partner and wait.
Pear tree — Gritty, hard fruit: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Left to ripen on the tree. Pick pears firm and ripen them in the bowl.
Recommended pear tree varieties
- Harrow Sweet — Top pick. Excellent fireblight resistance and sweet — the easy-care choice here.
- Bartlett — Classic. The familiar sweet pear; pollinates with Bosc or Harrow Sweet.
- Bosc — Keeper. Russeted skin, firm flesh, stores for months.
Pear tree month-by-month
| January | Dormant — order. |
|---|---|
| February | Prune on a dry day. |
| March | Plant new trees. |
| April | Bloom — late bloom dodges frost. |
| May | Thin young fruit. |
| June | Watch for fireblight. |
| July | Fruit sizing. |
| August | Early pears on some. |
| September | Main harvest — pick firm. |
| October | Ripen indoors; clean up. |
| November | Rake leaves to cut disease. |
| December | Dormant — plan. |