The Pear Tree
As I’ve mentioned in other garden/farm related posts, I’ve always wanted to grow fruit trees. This interest stems back to my childhood when I’d spend part of my summer visiting my grandparents farm in Iowa. When Andy and I bought our first house in Denver in 1999, the first tree I bought for the backyard garden was a pear tree. At the time, I had no clue what I was doing, no idea what a pear tree needed to survive let along produce fruit, nor did I know how to take care of it other than what was noted on the Home Depot tag that came with it.! Before we sold that house and moved onto the next, I remember harvesting at least one pear from the tree. To this day, I can’t remember the variety. In a nutshell, I was a true novice!
Fast forward 24 years and although I’m still not an experienced fruit tree grower, I do now know the importance of doing my research, so I know what varieties grow best in our zone 7, which pears need pollinators etc… I’m sure I will still make my fair share of mistakes, but perhaps armed with a bit more knowledge we will enjoy a lot more growing success. So, without further ado, here is what I learned about the Pear tree.
Information by:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com
Jackie Rhoades
Amy Grant
Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist
Mary H. Dyer, Credentialed Garden Writer
Pear Tree Overview
Prior to planting pears in the home garden or mini orchard, one should consider the size of the pear tree first. A full-size tree can grow to 40 feet. Depending on the size of your lot, you may want to consider a dwarf or semi-dwarf variety. While Bartlett is probably the most common home-grown pear, there are several varieties available. Check with a trusted nursery in your area to discover which variety grows best.
Tips for Planting and Growing your Pear Tree
Once you’ve chosen your tree, the next step is planting. Pears require full sun. Be sure to choose a spot that will ensure at least six to eight hours of sun, not only for your sapling but for your full-grown pear. Tree care will be easier if you plan ahead. Dig your hole wide and deep, mixing plenty of compost into the soil. Remove the tree from its container, including the burlap if there is any, and set it in the hole to the same depth it was in its container. Gently spread the roots and refill the hole with the amended soil. Water well and continue to water regularly — once or twice a week — until the roots are well established. Knowing how to plant a pear tree isn’t quite enough. An important part of pear tree care is pruning, and the first pruning should occur as soon as your tree is planted. Leave a central leader and choose three to five branches with outward rather than upward growth and prune out the rest. Trim off the ends of the remaining branches to encourage growth. Pruning is something I need to work on as I think I might be a timid pruner! There are many books and articles written about pruning. For the home gardener, pruning care of pear trees can be limited to removing crossed branches and fast sprouting upward growth. Your pear tree will bear fruit in three to five years.
Compared to other fruits, care of pear trees is simple and straightforward. They don’t suffer from as many diseases or insect problems, thus are easier on the grower. Care of pear trees begins right after planting. Pears should be staked with a sturdy post driven into the ground to help the tree grow straight and withstand wind damage. Mulch at a depth of 2-3 inches in a three-foot circle around your tree to prevent weed competition for nutrients and water.
Unless your soil is extremely poor, fertilizing once a year should be enough for your pear tree. Care, in fact, must be taken to avoid over fertilization which produces a lovely tree, but no fruit. For the home garden with only one or two trees, fruit tree fertilizer spikes are perfect for the job. They’re easy to use and provide a slow release of fertilizer that will be enough for the year. As stated earlier, pears have fewer insect problems than other fruits. One of the reasons for this is their flower nectar, which isn’t as attractive to insects as other fruits; and as bees are the main pollinators of your pear tree, care should be taken not to drive them away or, worse, kill them.
The following list of Pear trees grow well in zone 7
Gourmet (sterile – will not pollinate other pear trees/not a good candidate)
Luscious
Parker
Patten
Summer Crisp – This could be a fall-back candidate for orchard
D’Anjou (Bosc pear pollinates D’Anjou) – This is a good candidate for orchard
Bosc (D’Anjou pear pollinates Bosc) – This is a good candidate for orchard
After creating this list, I decided that before I commit to specific varieties, I should do some taste testing first. I tried the Bartlett even though it wasn’t on the list, then moved onto the D’Anjou (its listed in the grocery store as Anjou) and the Bosc. I wasn’t able to find the Summer Crisp so the verdict is still out on that one. I enjoyed the D’Anjou the most, they really are sweet and buttery… pairs well with Brie cheese! The Anjou also comes in green and red. The Bosc was next, it was also buttery but had a bit more texture to them than the Anjou. I wasn’t all that keen on the Bartlett, which is a good thing because it isn’t on the list! I’m thinking that in the orchard we will plant the Anjou and the Bosc. Then perhaps as an experiment, I might try to grow the Summer Crisp as an Espalier, perhaps as a border to a walking path or between other growing areas.
D’Anjou Pears Overview
The Anjou is one of the best pears on the market. D’Anjou was introduced in 1842. These pear trees are semi-dwarf trees that grow up to around 18 feet in height, which makes them easy to harvest. They are not only cold hardy (USDA zones 5-8) but also drought tolerant.
Simply called Anjou, or D’Anjou, the full name for these luscious pears is Beurre d’Anjou from the French ‘beurre,’ meaning butter – in reference to the fruit’s rich, buttery taste. They are thought to have originated in Belgium and are named after the Anjou region of France.
The tree is both a prodigious producer, and highly ornamental. It blooms in the spring with aromatic creamy white flowers that attract pollinators followed by the large, green fruit. D’Anjou pears are extremely juicy and ideal for canning, baking, fresh eating, and juicing.
Growing D’Anjou Pears
D’Anjou pears require a pollinator to set fruit such as Bartlett, Bosc, Seckel or Delicious. These pear trees can be grown in a mini orchard grouping or in large containers. Plan to plant D’Anjou pear trees in the spring when the tree is still dormant. Select a site that is in full sun, at least 6 hours per day, with well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0.
After the first year, prune the pear tree. Remove any suckers, dead or damaged branches, and those that cross over each other. Also, prune out any downward growing branches and trim the main central (leader) branches in the middle of the tree to limit the height and encourage side branching.
Thereafter, water the tree with an inch of water per week when it is dry and fertilize annually with a standard or low nitrogen fertilizer.
Harvesting D’Anjou Pears
D’Anjou pears begin to fruit when they are 4-8 years old. The fruit is harvested in late September when they are a brilliant green in color and still very firm. While you could eat them at this time, the key to the sweetest, juiciest pears is to place them in storage at room temperature to allow them to sweeten and continue to ripen. As they ripen, the flesh begins to flush yellow, and the fruit becomes even more aromatic. This pear has an incredibly long storage life, up to 7 months, which is why it is often given or featured prominently on menus and at the grocers during the winter months.
Bosc Pear Overview
The Bosc pear sweetens early so you can enjoy the fruit almost from picking. A Bosc pear tree will produce later into the season than other types. This variety is an abundant producer. Usually, harvesting Bosc pears starts in early to mid-fall, and the fruit will last well into winter with proper storage.
Bosc pears were introduced in the early 1800s. This means they have been part of our diet for some time and are firmly entrenched as one of the tastiest of pears. It is unclear if the variety is Belgium or French in origin, but it is a late-season producer, often called a winter pear. Cooler regions of the country are perfect for Bosc tree growing.
Boscs develop a sweeter flavor while on the tree and do not need as much cold storage time for a wonderful flavor. If the fruit is harvested very early, it will reach peak flavor in 14 days. The skin on Bosc pears is a wonderful rust tone with mottling, while the interior flesh is creamy white, sweet, and buttery. In fact, in some areas, the variety is called Buerre Bosc. Other names include European pear, Kaiser Alexander, and Calabasse Bosc. The trees were first commercially grown in the eastern United States but are now primarily commercially grown in the Pacific Northwest.
Growing Bosc Pears
You will need a full sun location with well-draining soil and end-of-summer cooling for the best Bosc tree growing. A Bosc pear tree is easy to cultivate once established. Use a stake when the tree is young to train it straight and prune the pear tree annually to promote a strong scaffold form. Prune each branch by a third in spring to help the plant achieve a nice open vase shape. As the tree begins to produce fruit, some may have to be removed early if clusters are too thick. This will allow other fruits to mature fully.
Fertilize the plant in spring by spreading well-rotted manure around the root zone. Watch for pest and disease issues and combat them immediately.
Harvesting Bosc Pears
You may want to wait to see if your Bosc pears turn a prettier color or become soft to the touch, but don’t. The leathery skin and cinnamon brownish cast are a natural part of this variety. The greenish undertones will become subtly more yellow when the fruit is ripe, and the base of the stem may wrinkle a bit. The best way to determine when to harvest is by checking the neck. Exert gentle pressure at the neck to detect if it is softening. The fruit can be eaten right off the tree and will be sweet-tart, crisp, and refreshing. You can finish ripening early pears by leaving them at room temperature. Only refrigerate pears once they are ripe.
Summer Crisp Pear Overview
If you don’t like the soft, grainy texture of most pear varieties, Summer Crisp may be a perfect choice for you. Disclaimer here, I’ve not actually tasted a Summer Crisp so this is what pear experts from the internet say! While the Summer Crisp pears taste like pears, the texture is more akin to a crispy apple. As I’ve not yet taste tested a Summer Crisp myself, the verdict is still out on this researched bit of information.
While the Summer Crisp is grown primarily for their fruit, the ornamental value is considerable, with attractive green foliage and clouds of white blooms in spring. The pears, which show up in one to two years, are summery green with a bright blush of red.
Growing Summer Crisp Pears
Summer crisp pear trees are fast growers, reaching heights of 18 to 25 feet at maturity. Their size alone is another reason why these might be a good candidate for the Espalier growing method! Plant at least one pollinator nearby. Good candidates include:
Bartlett
Kieffer
Bosc
Luscious
Comice
D’Anjou
Plant Summer Crisp pear trees in nearly any type of well-drained soil, except for highly alkaline soil. Like all pear trees, Summer Crisp performs best in full sunlight.
Summer Crisp trees are relatively drought tolerant. Water weekly when the tree is young and during extended dry periods. Otherwise, normal rainfall is generally sufficient. Be careful not to overwater. Provide 2 or 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm.) of mulch every spring. It isn’t usually necessary to prune Summer Crisp pear trees. However, you can prune overcrowded or winter-damaged branches in late winter.
Harvesting Summer Crisp Pears
Summer Crisp pears are harvested in August, as soon as the pears turn from green to yellow. The fruit is firm and crisp straight off the tree and requires no ripening. The pears retain their quality in cold storage (or your refrigerator) up to two months.
Where to buy Pear Trees:
https://www.willisorchards.com/product/beurre-d%27anjou-pear#.Y8m63S1h0zU – sells both D’Anjou and Bosc Pears
https://www.naturehills.com/pear-tree-d-anjou - sells both D’Anjou and Bosc Pears
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Online-Orchards-Dwarf-D-Anjou-Pear-Tree-Bare-Root-FTPR005/307738989 - sells both D’Anjou and Bosc Pears
https://www.starkbros.com/products/fruit-trees/pear-trees/anjou-pear
So that is my take on pears and what varieties we will most likely plant in our mini orchard. Next up… Apples!