Pears
Sweet, juicy, and elegant, pears are a rewarding addition to the UK garden. Best eaten when slightly under-ripe and allowed to ripen off the tree.
Pears (Dwarf tree)
£24.99 in the shop
Calendar
Sow
Typically propagated by grafting onto rootstock in late winter/early spring, or planting bare-root trees November–March.
Plant out
November–March for bare-root trees; container-grown trees can be planted year-round, avoiding waterlogged or frozen soil.
Harvest
August – October, depending on variety.
Conditions
Sun
Full sun, minimum 6 hours a day, ideally south-facing.
Water
Keep young trees well-watered. Established trees need extra water during dry periods, especially when fruit is swelling.
Soil
Deep, fertile, well-drained loam, pH 6.0–7.0. Avoid heavy clay or very sandy soils.
Spacing
Varies by rootstock: Quince C (dwarf) 2.5–3.5m, Quince A (semi-vigorous) 3.5–4.5m.
Containers
Dwarf rootstocks (Quince C) are suitable for large containers (min. 50cm diameter), with regular watering and feeding.
Indoors
Not suitable for indoor growing.
Care and harvest
Feeding
Apply a balanced general-purpose fertiliser in early spring; supplement with high potash feed for fruiting trees if growth is poor.
Pruning
Winter prune (Dec–Feb) to shape and remove dead/diseased wood; summer prune (Jul–Aug) to improve light and air circulation, and restrict growth.
Harvesting
Pick when fruit is still hard but has reached full size and colour. They ripen best off the tree. Gently lift and twist; if the stalk parts easily, it's ready.
Storage
Store picked, hard pears in a cool, dark, frost-free place (e.g., shed). Bring a few indoors to ripen at room temperature for eating.
Good companions: Comfrey, French marigold, Chives