Pear Tree

Juicy pears from your own backyard: how to choose and grow the right tree

A ripe pear picked from your own tree is a different fruit from anything you find in a shop. The European pear (Pyrus communis) is the classic choice for a home garden, and here it comes in containers that are easy to plant at almost any time of the growing season. If space is tight, a slim columnar pear tree fits a patio, a large pot or a small plot. Browse our pear trees for sale and find the form that suits your garden.

Pear tree varieties

When you compare pear tree varieties, start with the ripening season. Summer pears are light and refreshing, but they do not keep for long. Autumn pears are the all-rounders, with a rich flavour that suits fresh eating and cooking. Winter pears are firm when picked and develop their taste slowly in storage, so they extend the season well into the cold months.

The types of pear trees also differ in texture. Many dessert pears have soft, juicy and buttery flesh that melts in the mouth, while firmer fruit holds its shape in preserves and baking. Colour is another way to choose. A green pear tree gives classic fruit with a fresh, mild sweetness. Yellow fruit is often aromatic and sweet. Red pear trees bring a colourful blush to the skin and look striking in a fruit bowl.

If you like old regional flavours, look at heirloom pear trees. They are valued for their character and history, and they enrich any collection. A good European pear tree can serve many purposes, from fresh eating to canning and winter storage.

Columnar pear trees

A columnar pear tree grows upright with a narrow crown, so it takes very little room. It suits a patio, a balcony, a large pot or a small garden where a classic tree would not fit. These small pear trees are easy to reach for picking and often start to bear early. A pear tree in container needs a deep pot, quality soil, regular watering and feeding in spring.

Pollination

Good pollination is the key to a large crop. Most pears need a pollinator, so plant two varieties that flower at the same time. Some trees are partly self fertile, and self pollinating pear trees can set fruit alone, but they usually crop better with a partner nearby. Bees do the main work, so choose a spot where they can reach the blossom easily. A group of fruiting pear trees with matching bloom times gives the best result.

When to pick pears

European pears are picked while they are still firm, not when they are soft on the tree. If you wait for full softness, the flesh turns grainy inside. Lift a fruit gently and give it a slight twist. If it comes off easily, the time for the harvest has come. Then keep the pears in a cool room for several days, and they will ripen and become sweet and juicy.

Planting and care

Good pear tree care begins with a warm, sunny place where water does not stand after rain. When planting pear trees from containers, dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball. Keep the graft union above the soil, set a stake and tie the trunk loosely. Water the sapling regularly during its first year.

The final pear tree size depends on the rootstock and the form. Choose hardy pear trees if your winters are cold. Prune in winter, remove crossing branches and keep the crown open to light and air. When pruning pear trees, cut out any shoots that look blackened. This may be a sign of fire blight, a bacterial disease that needs quick action. In a small garden, train a tree as an espalier against a wall or fence to save space and make picking easy.

Buying and delivery

If you want to buy pear trees from a reliable fruit tree nursery, we ship plants from our warehouse in the Netherlands during the period that is best for planting. Delivery across Europe is by DPD, UPS or PostNL and takes 2 to 5 working days. Shipping costs a flat 5.95 €, and orders from 59 € ship free. You receive a tracking number once your parcel is sent. Every plant is checked for quality before dispatch. If a tree arrives damaged, we offer a replacement or a refund. You can also explore our pear fruit trees for sale in different sizes and sets.