Pear tree seedlings – the most popular varieties

  • Konferencja (Conference) – the most popular, long fruit, partly self-fertile, reliable cropper.
  • Faworytka (Clapp’s Favourite) – early, juicy and sweet; needs pollinators.
  • Lukasówka (Alexander Lucas) – late, productive, stores very well.
  • Bonkreta Williamsa (Williams / Bartlett) – aromatic, dessert; a classic for eating and preserves.
  • Komisówka (Doyenné du Comice) – late, refined, dessert; likes a warmer site.
  • Bera Hardy’ego (Beurré Hardy) – large, buttery, tolerates heavier soils well.
  • Paryżanka – very late, keeps into winter.
  • Generał Leclerc (Général Leclerc) – large fruit, productive, great for home gardens.
  • Carola – productive, sweet, less prone to scab.

Important: most pears are cross-pollinating – for good fruiting plant at least two varieties with a similar flowering time. Conference is partly self-fertile but crops noticeably better with a pollinator.

Pear tree seedlings – rootstocks (vigour and incompatibilities)

  • Quince S1 / Quince A – semi-dwarfing, early and high yields, larger fruit; needs fertile soil and irrigation.
  • Quince C – weaker growth, very early fruiting, for intensive plantings and smaller gardens.
  • Caucasian pear seedling – vigorous growth, deep roots, tolerates poorer and drier soils; large, long-lived trees.

Note on incompatibility: some varieties (e.g. Williams, Beurré Hardy) graft poorly onto quince – in that case the nursery uses an interstem of a compatible variety. On poor, dry soils a pear rootstock performs better; on fertile, irrigated sites quince does (smaller tree, earlier crop).

Fertilising pear trees – what’s worth knowing?

  • In spring, a moderate dose of nitrogen (start of the season). Excess N encourages lush growth and susceptibility to fire blight.
  • From late spring through summer, increase the share of potassium and phosphorus – they support fruit set, flavour and colour.
  • In autumn, phosphorus-potassium fertilisation prepares the tree for winter.
  • Organic matter (compost, well-rotted manure) improves structure and water retention.
  • Soil pH: optimal pH 6.0–7.0. On alkaline soils pears on quince are prone to iron chlorosis – use iron chelates.
  • Regular irrigation, especially on quince rootstock (shallow root system).

Pruning pear trees – how and when?

Aims of pruning:

  • maintaining a slim, well-lit crown,
  • removing diseased and crossing shoots,
  • encouraging fruiting spurs,
  • regularity and quality of the crop.

Timing and practice:

  • Early spring (before growth starts) – formative and thinning pruning.
  • Summer – removing water sprouts and excess shoots, improving light access.
  • Pears train well as a spindle – easier harvesting and protection.
  • Avoid heavy pruning – it stimulates lush growth and raises the risk of fire blight; protect larger wounds and disinfect tools.

Pear diseases and pests – prevention and protection

Diseases:

  • Fire blight (Erwinia amylovora) – the most dangerous: dieback of blossoms, shoots and branches with a “scorched” look. Remove infected parts with a margin of healthy wood, disinfect tools, limit nitrogen; report suspected cases to the inspection service.
  • Pear scab – spots on leaves and fruit, cracking; protective treatments and removal of fallen leaves are important.
  • Pear rust (Gymnosporangium) – orange spots on leaves; junipers are the alternate host – avoid planting near savin juniper.
  • Brown rot (Monilinia) – rotting fruit; remove “mummies”, thin the crown.

Pests:

  • Pear psylla – sticky honeydew, sooty mould and weakening of the tree; support natural enemies, treat according to forecasts.
  • Pear sawfly and codling moth – maggoty fruit; traps and treatments according to forecasts.
  • Spider mites, aphids – regular monitoring, biological control or selective products.

The pear rewards you with sweet, buttery fruit for many years. Match the varieties to the site and pollination, choose the right rootstock, look after balanced fertilising, prune at the right time and prevent disease – especially fire blight – and the tree will give you abundant crops.

Pear tree – a care calendar

Early spring (March – April)

  • Formative and thinning pruning; tool disinfection.
  • Inspection for fire blight (wounds, oozing) and scab.
  • Starter, moderate nitrogen fertilisation.

Spring (April – May)

  • Monitor pear psylla, aphids and blossom diseases; treat according to forecasts.
  • Water young trees, especially on quince.
  • Top up phosphorus-potassium fertilisation.

Summer (June – August)

  • Summer pruning: remove water sprouts, thin the crown.
  • Monitor scab, fire blight and pests.
  • Regular irrigation – limits fruit drop and improves fruit size.

Autumn (September – October)

  • Harvest at the right time (some varieties ripen only in storage).
  • P-K fertilisation, orchard clean-up (leaves, “mummies”).
  • Protect trunks from rodents.

Winter (November – February)

  • Check for frost damage; remove fire-blight-infected shoots during frost (less risk of spread).
  • Plan pollinators and plantings for spring.

Are you choosing a variety for a specific soil, or looking for a good set of pollinators? Write to us – we’ll suggest the right rootstock, planting spacing and varieties for your garden or orchard.