Pear Trees

Info

The pear is a tree of genus Pyrus and also the name of the tree's edible fruit. The pear is classified within Maloideae, a subfamily within Rosaceae. The apple, which it resembles in floral structure, is also a member of this subfamily.

The form of the pear and of the apple respectively, although usually characteristic enough, is not by itself sufficient to distinguish them, for there are pears which cannot by form alone be distinguished from apples, and apples which cannot by superficial appearance be recognized from pears. A major distinction is the occurrence in the tissue of the fruit, or beneath the rind, of clusters of lignified cells known as "grit" in the case of the pear, while in the apple no such formation of woody cells takes place. The appearance of the tree—the bark, the foliage, the type of inflorescence (i.e. form of the flower cluster)—is, however, usually quite characteristic in the two species.

Varieties

  • Ayers

    Small to medium size, high quality, yellow fruit with red blush. Sweet flesh is subacid and almost free of grit cells. Excellent fresh eating quality. Pollinator required. One of the highest quality pears that can be grown in the South. Ripens mid-season.

  • Bartlett

    Large, golden yellow fruit blushed with brownish red; classic shape. Smooth, juicy white flesh; pleasant touch of tartness. Medium size, compact, upright tree ideal for dense plantings; vigorous, highly productive, long-lived and bears early. Self-fertile in the arid West; needs pollination elsewhere. Ripens mid-late season.

  • Keiffer

    Large. long, golden yellow fruit with a crimson blush. Crisp, juicy, coarse textured, white flesh with musky aroma. Hardy, vigorous tree bears young; dependable crops. Self-fertile. Extra hardy. Ripens late season.

  • Moonglow

    Medium to large, dull yellow fruit with pink blush. Mildly juicy, soft, white flesh with smooth texture. Excellent, mild flavor and almost no grit cells. Pollinator required. Ripens mid season.

  • Pineapple

    Large, yellow fruit blushed with red. Crisp flesh with unusual pineapple flavor. Bears large crops at an early age. Self-fertile, but sets heavier crop if a second variety is planted. Good for the Deep South. Ripens mid-season.

Care and Maintenance

  1. Preparing the Hole

    Dig the hole as deep as the root ball, and as much as three times as wide as the diameter of the root ball. Breaking up the soil around the tree provides the newly emerging roots room to grow into loose soil to hasten establishment.

  2. Placing Your Tree

    Place the tree carefully in the center of the hole after removing it from the container. The tree's root collar (the bulge right above the root system) should be just above the top of the soil. Don't dig the hole too deep. It is better if the root collar is slightly (1 to 2") higher than ground level because of possible setting.

  3. Filling the Hole

    Carefully fill the hole with soil when the tree is positioned and straight. Fill the hole about 1/3 full and lightly push the soil around the base of the root ball. Fill the remainder of the hole taking care to gently but firmly pack soil to eliminate air pockets that may cause the roots to dry out. Don't plant the tree too deep. Back fill the soil to the height just below the root collar.

  4. Mulching

    Place 2 to 4 inches of mulch in a 2 to 3 foot circle around the tree. Keep the mulch from touching the trunk to keep fungus from growing on the trunk. Mulch can be aged wood chips or bark. Mulch helps keep roots moist and insulates them, and prevents weed growth. It is not recommended to apply fertilizer at the time of planting.

  5. Watering

    Water the tree well as soon as you plant it. Water the tree at least once a week for the first year after planting. A slow, root-saturating, one-hour trickle once a week is recommended for a new tree. The watering schedule should be adjusted accordingly if it rains or is very dry.