How to Grow Pear
Pear At a Glance
Difficulty
Moderate
Category
Tree Fruit
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Hardy
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -29°C
Plant Family
Rosaceae
Growing Season
Cool Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Plant a young grafted tree while it is still dormant (no leaves yet), about 4 weeks before your last spring frost. Most pears need a second, different pear variety nearby to make fruit, so plant two unless a neighbour has one. Choose a dwarf tree for a small space, give it 3 to 4 m of room in full sun, and tie it to a stake for its first couple of years.
Pears do not grow true from seed, so a grafted tree is the way to get the fruit you want, and the rootstock sets how big it grows. Expect your first pears in about 4 years. Unlike apples, pears are picked while still hard and ripened indoors.
When To Start
Pear likes cool weather. Sow it in early spring, as soon as the ground can be worked.
We do not have exact sowing dates for this one yet.
When should you plant Pear?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Pear Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your Pear Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Plant your bare-root pear tree while it is dormant
30 days before your last frost
Prune your pear tree before the buds open
60 days before your last frost· every year
Pick pears while firm and ripen them indoors
130 days after your last frost· every year
Water your new pear plants well while they settle in. Deep and slow is best.
About 1 days after you plant it
Your pear tree is off to a good start! Water deeply once a week so the roots grow down into the soil.
About 30 days after you plant it
Checking in on your pear tree. A ring of mulch around the base, kept off the trunk, helps hold moisture in.
About 90 days after you plant it
The Journey Ahead
Pear's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 1
Prepare Your Space
350 cm
Plant Spacing
450 cm
Row Spacing
Vertical Growing
Yes: Espalier.
Succession Planting
No.
Good Companions
Bad Companions
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Growing Tips
- 1Plant pears in full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours a day, in a spot sheltered from wind, since they flower early.
- 2Give them soil that drains well, with compost mixed in at planting.
- 3Water deeply once a week for the first 2 to 3 years, then only in long dry spells.
- 4Spread a layer of compost around the tree each spring, keeping it a hand's width away from the trunk.
- 5Prune in late winter to an open shape, cutting out dead, crossed and crowded branches.
- 6If shoot tips turn black and bend over like a shepherd's crook, that is fire blight: cut the branch off about 30 cm below the damage, clean your pruners between cuts, and choose resistant varieties.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
450 cm
Mature Height
350 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
Harvest Window
21 days
When to Pick
Pick mature-but-firm (it lifts with a gentle tilt) and ripen indoors
How to Harvest
- 1Pick pears when they reach full size but are still firm.
- 2Cup a pear in your hand and tilt it up: if the stem snaps off easily, it is ready.
- 3Do not wait for pears to soften on the tree, or they turn gritty and brown inside.
- 4Ripen them at room temperature for a few days to a week, until the flesh near the stem gives to a gentle press.
- 5Store firm pears in the fridge for weeks, and bring a few out to ripen as you need them.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
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