How to grow Pears

How to grow pears in a garden

Choose a sunny spot with well drained soil. Enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. If the soil is clay based, add gypsum and fork in well.

Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the tree from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.

Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Form a raised or doughnut shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant's root zone. This helps keep water where it's needed. Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil moist for several weeks while the new plant establishes.

Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, sugarcane or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.

Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.

Feed and improve the soil yearly with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser – once in spring, summer and autumn. When in flower, feed weekly with Yates Thrive Citrus & Fruit Plant Food to help promote more flowering and fruiting.

How to grow pears in a pot

Pears can be grown in pots, but look for the dwarf varieties, such as Fleming’s® Nurseries Trixzie® ‘Pyvert’. Sensational space savers!

Choose a pot at least 600mm wide. Position in full sun and fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.

Remove the tree from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.

Position in pot and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well.

Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, sugarcane or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.

Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.

Growing tips

Super dwarf varieties such as Fleming’s® Nurseries Trixzie® ‘Pyvert’ only grow to around 1.5m tall so are perfect for both small gardens and growing in pots.

Most pear varieties will need at least two trees to help with pollination and fruit set. If you don’t have the space, look for self-fertile varieties such as ‘Sunshine’ or ‘Bonza’. The dwarf varieties are self-fertile too.

Pears are also great for espaliering, where the trees are trained to grow flat against a wall or trellis, so take up very little room.

Pears do best in cool to temperate zones, with different varieties requiring different levels of ‘chilling hours’ to maximise the fruit yield. Ensure you check the label before purchasing to see if its suitable for your climate.

For warmer areas look out for special ‘low chill’ varieties like ‘Flordahome’ and ‘Hood’. Both these varieties do require a partner tree for pollination and fruit set.