Pears like cold winters and mild summers, free draining fertile soil and a sunny, sheltered spot. Water well when young and when fruiting if the period is dry.
Pears are more adaptable in warmer, humid conditions than apples and will tolerate temperatures down to -20°C however spring frosts can kill blossoms at -1°C. A warm summer will help fruit ripen.
Pears should be picked while still hard: Lift slightly and they should come away easily. Store at room temperature for several days until they have softened and sweetened. The list below gives an indication of fruiting times for each variety and pollinators recommended (if not self fertile)
February
- Belle du Jumet – Juicy and sweet heritage pear. Valued for its high yield of fruit. Pale gold skin and white flesh (Self-fertile)
- Starkrimson – Pear with crimson skin. The flesh is finely textured and smooth with a light taste. Sweet and juicy as well. Excellent for fresh eating (Pollinator – Williams bon Chretien or Winter Nelis)
- Morettini Early – (Pollinator – Williams bon Chretien)
- Red Bartlett – Wine-purple skin turning brilliant scarlet when ripe, great for dessert or bottling (Pollinators – Winter Nelis, Packhams Triumph)
- Williams’ Bon Cretien – The pale green skin is soft yellow when fully ripe. A sweet and delicious pear which is popular for desserts and bottling. .(Pollinators – Beurre Bosc, Doyenne du Comice, Williams bon Chretein or Winter Nelis)
March
- Beurre Bosc – Large, brown-skinned juicy fruit with delicious sweet flavour. Stores well. (Pollinator – Winter Nelis, Williams Bon Chretien and Doyenne du Comice)
- Conference – Long and narrow, smooth khaki-green skin. Flesh that is rich and aromatic with a slight pink tinge when ripe. (Semi self-fertile. Assist with Williams Bon Chretien)
- Doyenne du Comice – gourmet pear regarded by many as the pear with the finest flavour. Green skin blushed pink and white, melting, sweet, juicy flesh. Green skinned with a pinkish blush. Very sweet and juicy (Pollinators – Beurre Bosc, William Bon Chretien or Winter Nelis)
- Garden Belle – Green skin with soft russeting and sweet, smooth textured flesh (Pollinators – Williams bon Chretien or Conference)
- Packham’s Triumph – Large greenish-yellow skinned fruits. Finely textured, white, sweet tasting flesh. Great for bottling and preserving. (Pollinators – Beurre Bosc, Williams bon Chretien or Durondeau)
- Seckel – Red-brown skin with prominent white dots. Honey-sweet, very juicy flesh. (Pollinators – Conference, Packhams Triumph or Winter Nelis)
- Taylor’s Gold – Tender and juicy with a delicate sweet taste(Pollinators – Beurre Bosc, Packhams Triumph, Williams bon Chretein)
April
- Concorde – Large, elongated juicy yellow pear that ripens in mid-autumn when fruit take on a pinkish blush (Semi self-fertile, assist with Doyenne du Comice)
May
- Winter Cole – Round medium sized fruit with russeted skin and delicious, juicy, melt in your mouth, white flesh that is richly flavoured. (Pollinators – Beurre Bosc, Packhams Triumph, Williams bon Chretein or Winter Nelis)
- Winter Nelis – Green skin, rich buttery flavour. Good keeper (Pollinators -Beurre Bosc, Doyenne du Comice, or Williams bon Chretein)
Nashi
January
- Hayatama – Deep gold colour, sweet, juicy but firm flesh
- Kosui – Golden brown fruit with russeted skin and crisp juicy flesh superb for eating (Pollinators – Hosui)
February
- Hosui – Large golden brown fruit. Excellent eating, sweet, juicy with good acid balance and a fine texture. (Self fertile or assist with Kousi)
March
- Dan Bae – Deep gold-bronze colour. Firm full flavoured crisp sweet flesh
- Nijisseiki – A gourmet pear with very juicy and sweet. Creamy white crisp flesh. Medium sized greenish-yellow fruit (For best cropping results, companion plant with Housi or Kosui)