Holly's Homestead — Stone Fruit Tree
Pear
Pyrus communis · Rose family
DIFFICULTY Moderate
TYPE Deciduous perennial tree
MATURITY 3–4 years to first fruit
TYPE Deciduous perennial tree
MATURITY 3–4 years to first fruit
Sun
Full sun
Water
Regular, deep
Soil pH
6.0–6.8
Spacing
4–6m
Depth
graft union above soil
01Chill hours & pollination
Like apples, most pears need both a winter chill period and a compatible pollinator variety nearby — check both before choosing which varieties to plant.
02Planting
Method
Plant bare-rooted while dormant.
Soil
Well-drained, moderately fertile.
Timing
Plant in winter while dormant.
03Growing care
- Choose a variety suited to your region's chill hours.
- Plant a compatible pollinator nearby.
- Prune in winter to an open, airy shape.
- Pick slightly under-ripe — most pears ripen better off the tree.
04Problems
- Fireblight — blackened, scorched-looking shoots; prune out well below the affected area, sterilising tools between cuts.
- Codling moth — larvae tunnel fruit; use pheromone traps and bagging.
- Pear and cherry slug — skeletonised leaves; hose off or dust with wood ash.
- Poor fruit set — insufficient chill or no pollinator.
05Harvest & storage
Signs
Fruit reaches full size but is still firm — most pears are picked slightly early.
Method
Lift and twist gently; ripe fruit separates easily.
Curing
Ripen at room temperature for several days to a week.
Storage
Cool storage keeps unripe fruit for months; ripen small batches as needed.
06Companions & rotation
Plant nearby
ComfreyDaffodilAvoid nearby
Walnut (allelopathic)Rotation note
Not applicable — long-lived perennial tree.