Growing the Orient Pear Tree

Size and Appearance

The Orient Pear Tree Is a small deciduous tree growing between 10 and 20 feet tall, depending on how it is pruned, with a spread of up to 15 feet. This tree flowers on bare branches in early spring, in March or April, and the attractive white blooms are small but appealing, with touches of pink on the back of the petals. This tree needs a second tree of a different variety to develop a worthwhile crop of pears. We recommend the Moonglow Pear Tree for this, or in hot zones the Ayers Pear Tree. Each tree will pollinate the other, giving bumper crops. The leaves sprout as the flowering is coming to an end, hiding for a time the small, green fruits than are by then beginning to develop.

The fruit is large, over 3 inches in diameter, and round like an irregular apple. The skin is mottled green, turning yellow as it begins to ripen. The first pears ripen around the middle of August, and because they don’t all ripen at the same time you can pick over several weeks. As well, fruit picked before it is fully ripe (when the skin first begins to yellow) will ripen in a warm place within a week, and it can be stored in the fridge, where it will ripen over the next month. When ripe the flesh is creamy-white and very juicy, with a mild, sweet flavor. The flesh is almost completely free of grit cells, giving it a soft, buttery flavor. This pear is excellent for eating fresh or in salads, and for bottling or canning.

Using the Orient Pear Tree in Your Garden

You can grow this handsome tree right on your lawn – it is lovely in bloom and also when it is covered in the attractive fruits. A row of pear trees of several varieties is an attractive feature along a fence, or edging your vegetable garden. In cooler zones especially it grows well spread out on a sunny wall as an espalier.

Hardiness

The Orient Pear Tree needs no more than 400 chilling hours a year, with temperatures below 45 degrees, so it will grow well in zone 8, and even in cooler parts of zone 9. It also grows in cooler areas down to zone 5, in sheltered spots or as an espalier.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Always plant the Orient Pear Tree in full sun for the best growth and good crops. It enjoys rich but well-drained soils, so add plenty of organic amendments when you are planting.

Maintenance and Pruning

The Orient Pear Tree was selected for its resistance to fire blight, a very important consideration when planting a tree in most areas. Other pests or diseases don’t have such significance, and are usually not serious problems. Prune during dry periods in summer, not in winter or spring. Keep your tree with an open form, removing crowded branches. Shorten new side stems that are longer than 12 inches back to 6 inches long, to encourage flowering. Shorten stems don’t need pruning, but you can remove their tips. If you have a large number of young fruits it is a good idea to remove some, leaving just one or two in each cluster. This will give you top-quality, large fruits.

History and Origin of the Orient Pear Tree

The European pear tree, Pyrus communis, has been grown for thousands of years, but in America its future was threatened when fire blight became a lethal disease last century. Dr. Walter Van Fleet was always keen on nature, but he became a medical doctor. He kept up his interest, though, by breeding roses and other plants, mostly between 1880 and 1926. At some point he crossed together a European pear with a pear from China that might have been a garden variety there. Unfortunately he didn’t keep good records, but the Chinese parent was probably a form of Pyrus pyrifolia, the sand pear. The Tennessee Agricultural Experimental Station in Knoxville received some plants of this cross around 1920, with permission to name and release it. In 1945 Dr. Brooks D. Drain, at the Experimental Station, wrote a book about this pear, naming it ‘Orient’. Crosses between the European pear and the sand pear almost always show good resistance to fire blight, already a problem at that time, and this new pear showed it too, so Dr. Drain encouraged its planting. Since then it has remained a valuable heirloom variety.

Buying the Orient Pear Tree at the Tree Center

Disease resistance is especially important when choosing a pear tree, and in warmer southern areas you can get that without sacrificing quality, by growing the Orient Pear Tree. These heirloom varieties are always in short supply, but why grow a pear you can buy at the store? Order your trees now – don’t forget to order a suitable pollinator as well – because that limited supply will soon be gone.

Growing the Moonglow Pear Tree

Size and Appearance

The Moonglow Pear Tree Is a sturdy, vigorous small deciduous tree growing up to 15 feet tall and wide, although pruning techniques and growing as espalier can modify that considerably. The leaves are 2 to 3 inches long, with a healthy green luster, and the gray-brown bark is smooth on young stems and more rugged on the main trunk, giving a tree of character that fits into any garden space. In March or April your tree will bloom, with attractive small white flowers, flushed with pink, in clusters along the bare branches. These develop into the pears, and a second, different variety of pear is needed nearby for good fruit development. Almost any other pear will work, such the Ayers or Orient varieties, or the popular Bartlett pear. By mixing varieties together within no more than 50 feet of each other, pollinating insects will deliver a bumper crop on every one of them.

The fruit of the Moonglow Pear Tree is large and round, with the classic ‘pear’ shape and a short neck. The skin is mottled green turning yellow as it approaches ripening, and also developing a large, bright red blush on one side. It is best to pick pears just before they are fully ripe, as ripe pears can drop and be damaged. They will ripen indoors in a few days even better than they would on the tree. The flesh is white, almost free of those rough grit cells found in cooking pears, and it is buttery, lush, sweet and aromatic – the way a good eating pear should be. This variety also slices well for salads, and can be used for everything from poaching to pies and chutneys.

Using the Moonglow Pear Tree in Your Garden

You don’t need an orchard to grow this tree, because it is beautiful enough at all stages to stand proudly in your flower garden. Grow it on the lawn, or build a pear collection along a fence or wall. In smaller gardens it can be grown spread out on a sunny wall or fence, trained as an espalier. This gives good ripening even in zones 5 and 6, and takes up almost no room.

Hardiness

The Moonglow Pear Tree needs around 500 chilling hours each winter, with temperatures below 45 degrees. So it will not grow well in warmer parts of zone 8, or in zone 9. We recommend the Ayers Pear Tree for warm areas, while this tree does best in cooler zones, down to zone 5.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Like all pear trees, your Moonglow Pear Tree should be grown in full sun, or it will not bloom well or ripen its fruit successfully. The soil should be well-drained, and richer, deep soils are preferred, so dig the area well and mix in plenty of rich organic materials like compost or rotted manures. Don’t plant in wet places.

Maintenance and Pruning

The Moonglow Pear Tree has excellent resistance to fire blight, the main danger to any pear tree. Other pests or diseases are less important, and easily controlled. Pruning should be done during dry weather in summer, not in winter or spring, to give additional protection from fire blight. Besides keeping your tree from becoming crowded with branches, prune stronger side shoots – those longer than 12 inches – back to 6 inches in length to encourage flower buds. Shorter shoots don’t need pruning. Once the developing fruits reach the size of a quarter they should be thinned to one or two at each cluster, to develop full-sized fruit and keep your tree bearing every year.

History and Origin of the Moonglow Pear Tree

The pear tree, Pyrus communis, was being grown before the ancient Greeks and Romans, and most varieties were developed in Europe. The spread of deadly forms of fire blight in the middle of the 20th century led to research to find resistant varieties, and the US Department of Agriculture did considerable work with pears. Their breeders crossed together the varieties ‘Bartlett’ and ‘Comice’, both known for flavor, to produce experimental seedlings. Then one of those, designated ‘Michigan 437’, was crossed with an old German pear called ‘Roi Charles de Wurtemburg’. Among the resulting seedlings was one that proved very resistant to fire blight, and had excellent large, flavorful pears. They named it ‘Moonglow’ and released it in 1960.

Buying the Moonglow Pear Tree at the Tree Center

It’s important to grow disease resistant trees, but they must produce top-quality fruit as well. Satisfy those goals by growing the fabulous Moonglow Pear Tree. Don’t forget to add a pollinator if you don’t already have one in your garden, but order your trees right away, because our fruit trees sell like crazy, and they will soon be gone.

Growing the Ayers Pear Tree

Size and Appearance

The Ayers Pear Tree is a vigorous, upright small deciduous tree that will grow between 12 and 15 feet tall and wide, depending on how you prune and train it. The leaves are ovals with a pointed tip and a serrated edge, and an attractive dark green with some glossiness. The bark and branches become a rugged gray-brown and even a bare tree in winter has interesting character. In the second half of March, the flowers will open, and they are white with some pink overtones on the back of the petals, making a pretty display. This variety is partially self-fertile, so a single tree will carry a good crop. It takes about 3 years for your tree to bear a significant crop, but a mature tree will produce 10 or even 15 bushels of pears. For the heaviest crop a suitable second pollinating tree is needed, planted within 50 feet. Varieties like Moonglow, Orient and Bartlett are all excellent pears and will pollinate the Ayers Pear Tree – and of course vice versa.

The fruits ripens from mid-August into September, and they are fat and round, almost 3 inches across, with a short neck. The skin is mottled yellow, with a red blush on one side appearing when they are nearly ripe. It is best to pick pears shortly before they fully ripen, as ripe pears tend to drop to the ground and bruise. Place them indoors for a few days and they will ripen to perfection. The flesh is very sweet and free of grit cells, so it is delicious for eating fresh or slicing in a salad (pass the blue cheese!). This pear also poaches well, and of course it can be baked into delicious pies, pastries, and baked goods.

Using the Ayers Pear Tree in Your Garden

Its compact size and attractive blooms makes this tree appropriate in the garden – you don’t need an orchard. Laden with fruit it is a beautiful sight. In zone 6 especially it will grow to perfection when grown against a south-facing wall as an espalier. This is also an excellent way to grow it if you have a small garden, as spread out against a wall it takes up almost no room.

Hardiness

The Ayers Pear Tree needs no more than 350 chilling hours per year (temperatures below 45 degrees), so it grows well even in cooler parts of zone 9. It is also hardy into zone 6. This tree is widely described as the perfect pear for the South.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Grow the Ayers Pear Tree in full sun for the best growth, and to ripen the crop successfully. It grows best in rich, deep, well-drained soils, but it will in practice grow in just about any well-drained soil, including both acid and alkaline soils.

Maintenance and Pruning

The important thing when growing a pear tree is to avoid fire-blight, a very serious and often fatal disease that has decimated pear orchards around the world. It is always most severe in areas with wet springs, but don’t worry. The Ayers Pear Tree was bred to give it excellent resistance to this disease, so it is unlikely to ever be affected. Still, avoid pruning in spring, as fresh cuts can become infected. Prune in summer as needed to develop the tree you want. Thin fruits to one per cluster when the tiny pears are about the size of a quarter. This will give you large, high-quality pears, rather than a crop of tiny, inferior fruit.

History and Origin of the Ayers Pear Tree

The pear tree, Pyrus communis, is native to warmer parts of Europe, and it is there that most varieties were created. The Tennessee Agricultural Experimental Station, Knoxville, was founded in 1883, as part of the University of Tennessee, dedicated to developing plant varieties adapted to the state’s climate. In 1937 breeders at the station began with an unusual pear called ‘Garber’. That pear was created in the late 1830s by the fruit breeder Jacob Garber in Pennsylvania. He crossed an Asian Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) called ‘Sha Lea’ with an unknown European pear. One of the seedlings was a pear shaped like an apple, and with a crisp flavor. Nicknamed the Apple Pear, it grows well in Texas and the south, and was popular for cooking, although its gritty texture made it less popular for eating. The breeders in Tennessee used pollen from a French pear variety called ‘Beurré d’Anjou’ on ‘Garber’ and among the seedlings was one they named ‘Ayres’, after the 12th president of the University. In the 1950s the Experimental Station was testing pears for resistance to fire blight, and discovered that the Ayres Pear had excellent resistance, so it was officially released in 1954. Somehow the spelling changed, and today everyone calls it the Ayers Pear Tree.

Buying the Ayers Pear Tree at the Tree Center

Planting the right variety for your location, and the needs of your home, is vital for success in producing home fruit. If the Ayers Pear Tree seems right for you, order now, because our limited supply will not last long.

Growing the Shinko Asian Pear

Size and Appearance

The Shinko Asian Pear is a medium-sized deciduous tree that typically grows to around 15 feet tall, but can be a little smaller or even a bit bigger. It has a spreading crown around 10 or 12 feet wide. The broad oval leaves have a bronzy tone when they are young, quickly turning a deep and healthy dark green. Fall leaves are often bright red, which adds to the decorative qualities of this tree. In spring the branches are decorated with clusters of creamy-white flowers that are richly-fragrant and attractive to bees and other pollinators. The new leaves begin to appear as the flowers mature, and they soon hide the tiny pears that quickly develop, until they become too large to remain hidden. The fruits are medium-large, usually 3 to 4 inches in diameter, and shaped like an apple, not a pear. The skin is beige, with many tiny near-white spots on it, looking like a russet apple. You can eat the skin, or peel it – your choice. The flesh is white and moist, with a firm, crunchy texture and a delicious floral/butterscotch flavor you will adore. There is just enough acidity to keep it from being bland and over-sweet.

Use the fruit to eat fresh, or add to salads. Bake them into muffins, and for tarts and pies they are especially good, because the slices hold their shape and don’t become mushy. They can also be dried into long-lasting tasty slices. Fruits ripen on the tree, and are ready to harvest when the skin turns from green to yellow. This is usually in September, but your local climate may cause that to vary. These fruits can be kept for up to 3 months simply by storing them in the crisper of your fridge. You won’t be trying to get rid of a ‘fruit glut’ when you grow this pear – you will be able to eat them all.

Using the Shinko Asian Pear in Your Garden

This compact tree is easily attractive enough to grow on your lawn – you don’t need an orchard. Plant it wherever you would grow a decorative tree, and enjoy watching it change through the seasons. Like almost all Asian pears, the Shinko Asian Pear needs a second tree to act as a pollinator, otherwise it will produce no more than a handful of fruit. European pears don’t work, as they bloom too early, so grow another variety of Asian pear, such as ‘Chojuro’, or a hybrid like ‘Orient’ or ‘Pineapple’. Since these trees are quite small, it’s easy to fit a second tree into your garden – and that means more fruit to enjoy or share.

Hardiness

The Shinko Asian Pear grows in all moderate climates, from zone 5 to zone 8, without trouble. It is not as demanding for climate as European varieties.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Grow your Shinko Asian Pear in full sun for the best results. It grows best in more fertile soils that are well-drained. Enrich the soil when planting, and cover the root-zone with a rich organic mulch like garden compost. Keep grass and weeds away from around it and water deeply during extended dry spells.

Maintenance and Pruning

Although you might encounter some minor pests, this tree is resistant to serious diseases. Prune in late winter and develop an open, spreading crown, removing crowded branches and shortening side-shoots. Once the pears are developing it is best to thin out the crop, leaving one or two fruits at each cluster. Otherwise you will have a heavy crop of tiny fruits with little flesh, rather than big juicy pears.

History and Origin of the Shinko Asian Pear

The Asian pear, or sand pear, Pyrus pyrifolia, has been grown in Japan for 2,000 years, but it was only in the late 19th century that growing outside home gardens began. Among the first-named varieties were Chojuro and Nijisseiki. Government research stations bred varieties in the 20th century, and in 1941, in Okayama, breeders crossed Nijisseiki with a variety called Amanogawa. A great new variety was the result, which was called Shinko. Although considered a top variety for flavor, it is still mostly grown on a smaller scale in Japan, and rare in America outside of specialist markets.

Buying the Shinko Asian Pear at the Tree Center

If you haven’t tried growing your own fruit, the Shinko Asian Pear is a great place to start. You will love the combination of crunch and fragrant pear flavor, how long you can store them, and how easy and disease-free the tree is to grow. Order now, because this highly desirable variety is always in short supply, and sells out fast.

Growing the Pineapple Pear Tree

Size and Appearance

The Pineapple Pear Tree is a vigorous and resilient deciduous fruit tree, growing 18 to 20 feet tall, and over 12 feet wide, with an upright profile. It is also long-lived, and trees last for many decades. The smooth, glossy, oval leaves are 2 to 4 inches long, and give the tree a full, attractive and ornamental crown. In spring, with the first new leaves, this tree is covered with a beautiful display of white flowers, in clusters all along the branches. These flowers resemble apple-blossoms, with five open petals, and they can be up to 1½ inches across. A tree in bloom is a lovely sight in any garden.

Within a few short years of planting you will see your first pears, and since this tree is self-fertile, it doesn’t need another variety nearby to carry a good crop of fruit. At first you will see clusters of small green miniature pears developing. As early as July, and certainly by August they will be fully ripe. The fruit is large, with a classic pear shape, and a yellow skin with a red blush on one side when fully ripe. Pick one and bite into it. The fruit is crisp and crunchy, like an Asian pear, but sweet and delicious, with a unique pineapple flavor found in no other pear. The fruit stores well – keep it in a cool, dry place – and it is excellent for using in the kitchen for baking and for preserves.

Hardiness, Disease Resistance and Pollination

The Pineapple Pear Tree is hardy in zone 5 and all the way into zone 8. It is especially useful in the South, because it needs only 150 hours of cold in winter to mature its flower buds. Most varieties need much more, and they will not grow well in warm climates.

As well, pear trees, especially in the South, are very prone to injury and death from ‘fire blight’, a deadly bacterial disease that most pears are very susceptible to. The Pineapple Pear Tree is very resistant to that disease, and in trials it has always been the ‘last tree standing’ when all the other varieties around it have died.

This tree is self-fertile, so you need no other pear trees nearby for it to carry a big crop. This makes it ideal for a smaller garden, where you only have room for one tree. As well, it is an excellent pollinator, able to pollinate a wide range of other pear varieties. If you already have a pear tree that isn’t bearing well, with the Pineapple Pear Tree nearby it will now carry a huge crop. As well, other varieties nearby will make the Pineapple Pear carry an even bigger harvest – a real win-win.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

For best results grow the Pineapple Pear Tree in full sun. It will grow in any well-drained soil, doing best in deep, sandy soil, but also growing well in heavier clay soils in warmer areas. Mulch over the roots with compost each year to conserve moisture and feed your tree.

Maintenance and Pruning

This vigorous tree will normally stay free of pests, and it is resistant to disease, so it is relatively easy to grow well. Prune in late winter to keep the branches open and spread out, allowing light and air to circulate through the tree. If you have a heavy crop of baby pears it is best to remove some, leaving only one or two at each cluster, and spacing the clusters 6 to 8 inches apart. You will have fewer fruits, but they will be much larger and of far better quality.

History and Origin of the Pineapple Pear Tree

When Commodore Matthew Perry, of the US Navy, opened Japan to trade with America in 1854, he had a large fleet with him. One of the officers had an interest in fruit, and it seems he brought back with him a pear tree. Plants of this tree were later found in gardens scattered across the South, and by 1888 it was already being noted for its vigor, reliability and unique fruit. In the 1920s, H.P. Stuckey, the director of the Georgia Agricultural Experimental Station, took pieces from an old tree of this variety growing in the garden of a relative, Mrs. Benjamin Nelson Stuckey of Nesmith, South Carolina, for pear trials at the Station. He was the first to notice its resistance to fire blight and he became an enthusiastic promoter of it, endorsing the Pineapple Pear Nursery and Orchard Company in Atlanta, Georgia. Studies have shown that this tree is a hybrid, between the European pear, Pyrus communis, and the Asian pear, Pyrus pyrifolia. This accounts for its vigor and the unique qualities of the fruit.

Buying the Pineapple Pear Tree at The Tree Center

We love being able to offer unique heirloom varieties of plants, along with the most modern forms, so that everyone can find exactly what they want. The Pineapple Pear Tree really is unique, and a piece of American fruit-growing history. Difficult to find, our stock will not last long, as fruit enthusiasts are always seeking these special heirloom trees. Order yours now, while stocks last.

Growing Chojuro Asian Pear Tree

The Chojuro Asian Pear Tree is a small tree, growing no more than 20 feet tall, or smaller if pruned correctly. With a spread of about 10 feet it fits perfectly onto a smaller lawn as a specimen tree, and indeed, when in bloom it really is a beautiful sight – as attractive as almost any flowering tree. The branches of the Chojuro Pear Tree are covered in spring with clusters of creamy-white fragrant flowers, nestling among the new leaves. The young leaves have a coppery sheen to them, turning deep green as they mature. In fall they turn brilliant red, giving you another ornamental feature from this beautiful tree.

Appearance

But of course, it is the pears we are here for, and delicious pears they are. Asian pears are quite different from European pears, and much easier to succeed with at home. The fruit of the Chojuro Asian Pear does not have the typical long shape of a European pear, but instead it is round, like an apple, and medium to large – 3 or 4 inches in diameter. The skin is golden brown, with the texture of a russet apple, and you can eat the skin, or peel it, as you wish. The flesh is white, crisp and very juicy, with a rich, aromatic pear flavor, and many people describe it as tasting like butterscotch. The fruit begins to ripen at the end of August, and the texture remains crisp. If you have eaten Asian pears from the store, you know how expensive they can be, and homegrown tastes so much better too. 

This pear is ideal for eating fresh, putting into sweet or savory salads, or baking into tarts or muffins. With its firmer flesh it makes very attractive pies, as the slices hold their shape. It also dries well, into delicious dried pear slices. The best part of all is that you can store these pears for up to 20 weeks – that’s right, 5 months of having this delicious home-grown fruit available for your family. For storage the fruit should be picked and handled carefully, without bruising. Wrap each fruit separately in paper, and store in a cool room in single layers. Check periodically and eat any pears showing soft spots first. That’s all you need to do to enjoy this pear in your home for almost half the year.

Planting and Initial Care

Grow the Chojuro Asian Pear Tree in full sun, on a lawn, in a garden bed, or in a home orchard. This tree grows best in fertile and well-drained soil, so add plenty of rich organic material when planting, and as a spring mulch over the root zone. Keep the area under the tree free of grass and weeds, and a mulch will help you do that, as well as feeding the soil and conserving moisture. Although some pests or diseases are always possible with fruit trees, Asian pear trees are much easier to grow than their European relatives. Prune in late winter, and develop a single central stem, with radiating branches spreading almost horizontally. You can use string attached to stones to pull the branches down and spread them out. When the young fruit is the size of a dime, remove all but one from each cluster. If you leave all the fruit on the tree, most of it will be misshapen and small – thinning gives you larger fruit of a much better quality.

History and Origins of the Chojuro Asian Pear Tree

Asian pears are a different species of pear (called Pyrus pyrifolia) from the European pear tree, Pyrus communis. It grows throughout China, Japan and Korea, and it has been grown and eaten there for centuries. These fruits have only recently become available, and they always attract interest, and command high prices. The variety called ‘Chojuro’ originated in Japan around 1895, and it has remained popular there, as well as becoming very popular in Western countries. Our trees are produced by attaching stem pieces taken from the correct tree, onto roots of seedling pear trees. If you see any sprouts coming from the base of your tree, remove them cleanly immediately. This variety is partially self-fertile, so it will produce fruit when grown alone, but for a much larger and more reliable crop, plant near another Asian pear, or a European pear variety like Bartlett, which blooms at the same time.

Asian pears have become very, very popular, and the demand for trees to grow at home is enormous. Many people are removing their old European pears and replacing them with the much easier and more reliable Asian varieties, like the Chojuro Asian Pear. The demand is huge, so our stock will soon be gone. Order now, and enjoy fresh fruit month after month, picked right from your own garden.

Pears are particularly welcome in fall and winter, so when choosing a variety to grow a late harvest is especially useful. A pear that will store well and last into the winter is a great choice too. Since pears are subject to a lethal disease called fire-blight it is very important to grow a variety that is resistant to this disease, especially if you live in a region with damp and humid springs, which encourages its spread.

Growing Kieffer Pear Trees

When you plant a fruit tree you don’t want to have to wait years and years to see a harvest. Finally, if your garden and family is small you may not want to grow two varieties, which is often a need to ensure that fruit is produced. This is a long list of needs, but one tree, the Kieffer Pear tree, satisfies them all. It is the perfect tree when just one tree is needed and it will grow right across the country, from hot, humid states, to cold regions with minus 20⁰ winters.

Hardiness

The Kieffer Pear tree is hardy from zone 4 to zone 9, so it can be grown almost everywhere in America. It forms a small tree to around 15 feet and should be grown in a sunny, sheltered location or trained against a sunny wall, which is a great way to grow this tree in colder regions. It prefers a well-drained, slightly sandy soil, but if your soil is heavy with a lot of clay it can be improved by digging plenty of rich organic material into it before planting.

Mulching and Watering

Once your tree is planted, put organic mulch over the root zone and renew it every spring, spreading it further out as the tree grows. Do not put the mulch against the trunk of your tree and do not let weeds or grass grow over the root-zone. Water your new tree well each week for the first growing season and after that whenever the soil becomes dry.

Pruning and Maintenance

Most Pear tree varieties do not need a lot of complicated pruning. While the tree is young spread out the branches to about 60⁰ by using strings attached to rocks to pull the branches down. This will make a strong framework for your tree and keep it open in shape. Once your tree is more mature, you can begin to prune it by shortening-back the shoots and removing any soft stems that sprout from older branches. Keep the center of your tree open so the sun can reach to the center.

When your pears are developing, reduce the number if necessary to one or perhaps two in each cluster. Otherwise you will get a crop of very tiny pears. Pick the pears when still firm, but after they turn yellow. Store them in a cool place at 60-70 degrees, to finish ripening. Tree-ripening will allow parts of the fruit to rot.

History and Origins of the Kieffer Pear Tree

In recent years there has been a lot of interest in the Asian pear, Pyrus pyrifolia, which has been grown for many years in China, Japan and Korea. These are typically round and apple-like with a juicy crunch quite different from the softness of a European pear, Pyrus communis. They are often seen in supermarkets at high prices, and Asian pears are also known for their cold-hardiness and resistance to disease. They were originally grown in America for many, many years as ornamental trees.

In 1812 a French gardener came to America and started a nursery in Roxborough, Philadelphia. In 1873 he found a chance seedling pear tree growing in his garden which turned out to be a cross between an Asian pear, the sand pear, Pyrus pyrifolia, and a Bartlett Pear, both of which he grew in his nursery. The Bartlett Pear is an English variety first mentioned around 1770, and called ‘Williams’ Bon Chrétien’ (Which translates as ‘William’s Good Christian’. For that reason, outside America and Canada it is commonly called Williams.)

The French gardener’s name was Peter Kieffer and he is the ‘father’ of the heirloom Kieffer Pear tree. This pear has the hardiness and disease-resistance of an Asian pear, but it is shaped like a European pear and has a taste and texture in between the two. Many people love the slightly crunchy texture of the Kieffer pear, and in salads and cooking this pear really comes alive. It is the perfect texture and it does not fall apart when cooked.

Buying Kieffer Pear Trees

You can see that the Kieffer Pear is a special tree and so it must be reproduced the correct way. Our trees are grown the right way, by grafting stems of correctly-identified trees onto sturdy roots that control the size of the tree. Avoid cheaper seedling trees that will not have the right qualities and will only be a disappointment. Our Kiefer Pear trees are true to the original features of this heirloom variety and we regularly receive new stock so that we can ship the best to our customers. However, this popular variety can be in short supply, so order now to avoid disappointment.

Growing Bartlett Pear Trees

The Bartlett Pear tree grows 15 to 20 feet tall, with glossy, deep-green leaves about 3 inches long. In spring clusters of white flowers will appear on the bare branches and these will be quickly followed by small pears. The fruit ripens at the end of August and should be picked when the skin begins to turn from green to yellow but while it is still firm to the touch. Pears taste best and have the best texture if ripening is completed off the tree. Place the fruit indoors for a few days to finish the ripening process.

Planting Location

Choose a sunny, sheltered location for your Bartlett Pear tree. It will grow best in a deep, rich soil that is slightly acidic, but as this is a vigorous tree it will grow well in most types of soil. However, it does not like soil that is wet and heavy with clay. If you have heavy soil add plenty of rich organic material like garden compost or rotted manure which will improve the soil and help your tree to grow well. Turn over an area of ground about 6 feet across where you want to plant your tree, adding organic material and some bone meal or superphosphate. When planting you will see a bend in the trunk where the tree was joined to its roots, and that point must be 2 or 3 inches above the soil level.

Care and Maintenance

After planting cover the root-zone with rich mulch but do not touch the trunk with it. Do not allow weeds or grass to grow over the root-zone of your tree. During the first year water well once a week and then only when the soil is getting dry. Always water well and water the root area under the branches, not close to the trunk. Each spring add a new layer of mulch, extending it outwards as your tree grows.

Pear trees need only minimal pruning. When your tree is young remove any crowded branches and use strings attached to stones to pull the young shoots down to about 600 from the horizontal so that they are well spread out. Once the tree has developed the only pruning is to shorten back long shoots and stop the branches from getting too crowded. Remove branches that sprout from the main stems when they are young. This should be done in late summer after fruiting or in late winter before new growth begins. Prune during dry, sunny periods and not during wet, cloudy days. If you have a heavy crop of baby pears, remove some to leave one pear every 5 inches. You will have a smaller number of pears, but they will be bigger and better quality.

History and Origins of the Bartlett Pear Tree

The Bartlett Pear has a long history. It began its life in England around 1765 in the garden of a schoolmaster and was taken and grown by a nurseryman called Williams. It was at that time called the Williams Pear, or more correctly ‘Williams’ Bon Chrétien’. Plants were brought to America in 1799 and planted on an estate in Roxbury, Massachusetts. The estate was later bought by a Mr. Bartlett, who thought he had something new, named the pear after himself and distributed it across the country. His naming mistake was discovered in 1828, but by then the name had caught on. So in American and Canada this pear is still called Bartlett. In most other countries it is called ‘Williams’.

The Bartlett Pear is a special heirloom variety and must be reproduced in the correct way. Our trees are grown by taking stems from correctly identified parent plants and grafting them onto the roots of special roots pear varieties that control the size and growth of the tree. Avoid cheaper trees that may be seedlings and will definitely not grow to be the right variety. Our Bartlett Pear Trees are true to the original type and we are constantly receiving new plants so that our customers only have the best material for planting. However this is our most popular pear tree, and supplies can be limited, so order now to avoid being disappointed.