Pear Tree Rootstock and Varieties

Pears
Pears are so bland in the shops because they are all the same couple of varieties. Chosen so that they travel well, these are not the delicious pears you can grow in your garden. We explain how to plant, prune, care and harvest from your garden. We do it step by step in easy to understand language.

PEAR TREE
QUICK GUIDE

Latin Name
Pyrus communis

Type
Hardy deciduous tree

Site and Soil
They prefer full sun and in a protected position. Avoid very alkaline soils.

Plant to Harvest Time
A 2 year pear tree will produce fruit 3 years after planting

How Many?
Bush trees 25kg (60lb). Dwarf trees 7kg (15lb).

CHOOSING A PEAR TREE

Pear trees bear fruit for anywhere between 60 and 200 years so give some careful consideration to the variety of pear tree you choose to grow. The factors involved in choosing a pear tree are size (controlled by the rootstock), taste and size (the variety) and pollination. Each is discussed in detail below.

ROOTSTOCK

First decide how big you want your tree to grow. The eventual size of a pear tree depends on the rootstock. Pears are "grafted" onto rootstock. This means that the lower trunk of the tree is from a different tree to that of the top part of the tree. The reason this is done is because a pear tree grown on its own trunk and roots would be too large for most gardens. The fruit would certainly be out of reach without a ladder.

There are two commonly available rootstocks, Quince A and Quince C. There are minor differences between the two but nothing hugely significant.

QUINCE A is the most common and will enable you to grow a pear tree at maturity somewhere between 3m to 6m (9ft to 19ft). Regular pruning can keep the tree to size you want within that range. Very fertile soils will produce larger and quicker growing trees compared to less fertile soils. Fruit will appear after 5 years.

QUINCE C is less common but still readily available. At maturity the tree will be 3m to 5m (9ft to 16ft), not a great size difference compared to Quince A. Pear trees on Quince C are slightly quicker to produce fruit but the difference will only be one year. Much depends on the pear tree variety. In general, fruit will appear after 4 to 5 years.

VARIETY OF PEAR TREE

This is a matter of personal taste but here are a few pointers. Factors to be considered include the site where the pear tree is to be grown. Some varieties tolerate colder and windy conditions better than others. Disease resistance varies considerably between different varieties. Finally taste, some pears taste better than others or are juicier. All these factors need to be considered when growing a pear tree. Hopefully the table below will help you in that choice. Although the pollination group for each variety is shown below, going to the next page will show you an easy to understand table of compatible pollinators.

CLICK ANY VARIETY NAME BELOW FOR A PICTURE

VARIETY	NOTES
Conference	The most commonly grown pear because it withstands unfavourable conditions best. Good disease resistance but watch out for scab. Conference is partially self-fertile but will crop better if other pear trees are nearby. Pollination group 3. Blossom is produced in mid-season, the pears are ready for picking towards end September. Keep the fruit for one week at least before eating. They should last for 3 to 4 weeks in good storage conditions.
Doyenne Du Comice	Judged by many to have the best texture and taste of all the pear trees. The fruit is really juicy. This pear is a bit temperamental and appreciates a protected and warm position. Pollination group 4. Scab is a big problem with this variety. Blossom appears late in the season. Fruit is ready for picking in October and the fruit will keep for 2 weeks.
William's Bon Chretien	A well known pear variety that stands cold better than most other varieties. A regular cropper which flowers mid-season. Very prone to pear scab. Pollination group 3. The fruits are ready for harvest in mid September, they should be eaten immediately.
Beurre Hardy	We recommend this variety, along with Beth below, it was given the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1993. It tastes superb, the leaves turn red in autumn and it is has some resistance to scab. Needs other pears in pollination group 3. Pick the pears in end August, store for two to three weeks and they will ready for eating.
Beth	RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1993. This pear tree was released onto the market in 1974 so is a relative new-comer. This pear is juicy and tasty with lovely white flesh. It is in pollination group 3 and needs other trees nearby in the same group. We recommend it highly.
Concorde	This pear tree crops reliably each year and is tastes good. Grows slightly smaller than many trees so is ideal for small gardens or growing as a cordon. Pollination group 3 it can be picked in late October. This pear is self-fertile and can be planted on its own.
Improved Fertility	A great pear tree if there are no others nearby of the same pollination group (group 4) because it is self-fertile. Does even better if a pollinator is nearby. Good disease resistance, it grows well even if conditions are cool and gives a heavy crop. Pick in mid September. Leaves turn an attractive red in autumn.
Louise Bonne of Jersey	Another pear tree that withstands cold better than most. It's a regular cropper with stunning blossom. The fruit is juicy and tasty and can be picked in late September. Pollination group 2.
Packham's Triumph	A tip bearing pear tree which bears sweet and tasty pears in mid October. If you want to keep pears in storage for longer than normal then this is the one for you. Kept properly they will store for two months. Home grown pears in mid December are a possibility! Pollination group 2.

CLICK HERE FOR NEXT PEAR PAGE ON POLLINATION