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Pairing Up For Pear Pollination

Gardening Guide: Picture Perfect Pear Guide: All You Need to Know About Growing, Harvesting, Cooking, and Eating Delicious Pears

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Pairing Up For Pear Pollination

By Norann Oleson

Pear blossoms need pollination from other pear trees.

Pear blossoms need pollination from other pear trees.

Most pear varieties are not self-pollinating, so they need a pollination buddy. That means you should get your pear trees in pairs. Choose two varieties in the same blooming group: early, midseason, or late.

Plant (or place) your pollination buddies within 60 feet of each other to ensure cross-pollination. Most pear cultivars will be ready for harvest between late summer and late fall. Remember that European pears ripen after you pick them; they need to chill for anywhere between two days to six weeks. Bartlett pears need to chill for two or three days; Comice, Anjou and Bosc pears need to sit in cold storage between two and six weeks. After that you can ripen them at room temperature.

If harvested pears don’t get that crucial chilling period, they’ll just decompose rather than ripen. The same thing will happen if you leave them on the tree to ripen; they’ll start to fall apart from the inside out. If you find soft European pears on your tree, they’re past their prime.

Things are a little less complicated with Asian pears—they ripen on the tree. Yet another consideration as you decide which pears are a match for your garden.

What types of pears have you tried growing? Which cultivars do you think make the best pollination buddies? Please tell us about your experiences with cultivating pears.

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pears

Comments
  • Jill C. January 4, 2023

    We have a small commercial orchard with about 6 acres of Bartlett pears. They are interplanted with Asian pears for pollination (Shinseiki). This pairing would give a nice variety and time frame for harvest for a backyard orchardist.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Curator’s Corner
  • Introduction
  • Featured Articles

  • Types of Pear Trees
  • Ornamental Nuisances: Flowering Pear Trees
  • Picking the Right Size Pear Tree
  • Training and Pruning your Pear Trees
  • Pairing Up For Pear Pollination
  • Pear Trees by Size and Form
  • A Word About Planning Your Pear Use
  • Choosing to Grow Pears from Seeds or Seedlings
  • Growing Pears in Open Land, in Containers, or in Raised Beds
  • Starting with the Right Soil for Your Pear Trees
  • The Right Sunlight for Your Pears
  • Should You Fertilize Your Pear Trees?
  • How—and When—to Water Your Pear Trees
  • Picking the Perfect Pear
  • How to Spot, Treat, and Prevent Pear Diseases and Pest Infestations
  • Post-Harvest Pear Crop Infections
  • Pear Pests
  • Basic Preventive Measures to Avoid Pear Tree Diseases
  • Essential Tools and Equipment for Growing and Enjoying Pears
  • Plant Profiles

  • Shinseiki Pear: Pyrus pyrifolia “Shinseiki” (Asian Pear)
  • Nijisseiki Pear: Pyrus pyrifolia “Nijisseiki” (Asian Pear)
  • Hosui Pear: Pyrus pyrifolia “Hosui” (Asian Pear)
  • Chojuro Pear: Pyrus pyrifolia “Chojuro” (Asian Pear)
  • Red Sensation Pear: Pyrus communis “Red Sensation” (European Pear)
  • Red Clapp’s Favorite Pear: Pyrus communis “Red Clapp’s Favorite” (European Pear)
  • Orient Pear: Pyrus communis “Orient” (European Pear)
  • Moonglow Pear: Pyrus communis “Moonglow” (European Pear)
  • Kieffer Pear: Pyrus communis “Kieffer” (European Pear)
  • Harrow Sweet Pear: Pyrus communis “Harrow Sweet” (European Pear)
  • Comice Pear: Pyrus communis “Comice” (European Pear)
  • Bosc Pear: Pyrus communis “Bosc” (European Pear)
  • Bartlett Pear: Pyrus communis “Bartlett” (European Pear)
  • Anjou Pear: Pyrus communis “Anjou” (European Pear)
  • Recipes

  • Chocolate Pear Cake
  • Fruit Leather
  • Pear Jam
  • Vanilla Poached Pears with Chocolate Sauce
  • Spiced Poached Pears
  • Pear Crisp
  • Additional Articles

  • Nutrition Facts about Pears
  • Health Benefits of Pears
  • Resources about Pears
  • Pear Glossary
  • Related Articles

  • Picture Perfect Pear Guide—All You Need to Know About Growing, Harvesting, Cooking, and Eating Delicious Pears

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