Crops › Pear
How to grow Pear
in the UK
Sow November to March, plant out December, harvest September to December. About 190 days from seed to plate.
Pears, eh? Proper lovely when you get 'em fresh off your own tree. They're a bit of a commitment on the plot, mind, not like your annual veg, but the rewards are well worth it. Takes a bit of patience, but growing your own cracking pears is dead chuffed, to be honest.
Sowing
Right, so you don't really sow pears from seed, not for eating anyway. What you're doing is planting a bare-root tree, usually in the dormant season, like from November right through to March. Find a spot in full sun, dig a big enough hole, loosen the soil at the bottom, and get some good compost in there. Plant it so the old soil mark on the stem is level with your new soil, then firm it in well. Most pears need a pollination partner nearby to give you a proper harvest, so check what you're buying, you know what I mean.
Growing on
Once your bare-root tree is in, it's about getting it established. You'll need a good sturdy stake for the first few years to keep it upright against the North East winds. If you're going for a fan or cordon, get your wires up early on to train it right from the start. Give it plenty of space if it's going to be a free-standing tree; depends on the rootstock, but you don't want it getting crowded out.
Looking after it
Water is dead important, especially in that first year and during any dry spells, like we often get in spring. A good mulch around the base will keep the moisture in and stop the weeds growing up. You'll want to prune your pear to encourage 'spur-bearing' which is where the fruit forms, usually in late summer. Also, comfrey and borage planted nearby are cracking companions for pear trees, like I say.
What goes wrong
Pests can be a nuisance with pears, mind. We sometimes get pear psylla, which are tiny sap-sucking insects, and they can make a right mess. Scab is another common one, causing spots on leaves and fruit, especially in wet weather. Canker can be serious, so keep an eye out for sunken patches on the bark. Regular checks are your best bet to catch anything early before it gets too bad.
Harvest
You'll be picking your pears from September right through to December, depending on the variety. Don't wait for them to be soft on the tree; pick 'em firm, then bring 'em indoors to ripen. Just gently lift and twist, if they come away easily, they're ready for picking. How long they keep for varies a lot, some only a week or so, others a few weeks, so enjoy 'em quick!
My best tip for pears is to be patient in the early years and get that pruning right from the start – it makes all the difference for a proper harvest down the line, trust me.
Dates for your plot
Type the first half of your postcode and the plant-out advice shifts to your area's typical frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Conference A cracking, reliable UK pear, perfect for training as a fan or cordon, or just a free-standing tree. This is a brilliant choice for beginners looking for a consistent maincrop. | No club votes yet |
| Doyenné du Comice A proper reliable UK pear, grows well as a fan, cordon, or free-standing. If you're after a sweet, juicy maincrop pear with superb flavour, this is the one to go for. | No club votes yet |
| Concorde Another reliable UK pear that's happy as a fan, cordon, or free-standing tree. It's known for being self-fertile, which is handy if you've only got space for one tree. | No club votes yet |
| Beth This is a reliable early UK pear, good for training or as a free-standing tree. It's a great choice if you want to get your first crop of pears a bit earlier in the season. | No club votes yet |
| Williams' Bon Chrétien A very reliable UK pear, well suited for fan, cordon, or free-standing growing. It's one of the best for eating fresh and also excellent for bottling or preserving. | No club votes yet |
| Beurré Hardy This reliable UK pear works well as a trained fan or cordon, or as a free-standing tree. It's known for its lovely aromatic flavour and smooth texture, making it a real treat. | No club votes yet |
| Louise Bonne of Jersey A reliable UK pear that's good for fan, cordon, or free-standing growth. This one gives you really good quality fruit that stores well for a maincrop. | No club votes yet |
| Invincible (Delwinor) A cracking reliable UK pear, happy as a fan, cordon, or free-standing tree. It’s got good disease resistance, which is a bonus for easy growing on the plot. | No club votes yet |
| Onward This reliable UK pear is another good option for fan, cordon, or free-standing. It's a heavy cropping variety, so you'll get a proper yield if you give it the right care. | No club votes yet |
| Glou Morceau A reliable UK pear, great for fan, cordon, or free-standing. If you're after a late-season maincrop pear with excellent quality, this one is worth a try. | No club votes yet |
| Forelle A reliable UK pear, ideal for fan, cordon, or free-standing growth. This variety is beautiful with its red blush and offers a sweet, aromatic flavour. | No club votes yet |
| Packham's Triumph A reliable UK pear that grows well as a fan, cordon, or free-standing tree. It’s known for its long storage capabilities, meaning you can enjoy your harvest for longer. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Pear seeds
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Cook the harvest
Ripe pear halves baked into a buttery almond frangipane filling set in a crisp sweet pastry shell — this is one of those recipes that looks far more impressive than the effort involved. The fragrant almond filling puffs up beautifully around the fruit in the oven to create a stunning dessert. Serve just warm with a spoonful of cream.
80 min · mediumWhole pears gently poached in a spiced red wine syrup until tender and deeply flavoured, then served upright with a glossy, bittersweet dark chocolate sauce poured over at the table. This is an elegant, unfussy British dinner party dessert that looks far more impressive than the effort involved. The poaching syrup can be reduced to a glaze for extra drama.
50 min · easyA rich, frangipane-style tart where ripe Conference pears are nestled into a hazelnut cream filling inside a crisp shortcrust pastry shell. The earthy, buttery nuts complement the delicate floral sweetness of the pear beautifully, and the whole tart bakes to a deep, golden finish. Serve at room temperature with a generous spoonful of crème fraîche.
75 min · mediumWhole pears gently simmered in spiced red wine until deeply coloured and perfectly tender, then served in a glossy, syrupy reduction. This is one of the most elegant desserts you can make with autumn fruit and requires very little effort. Serve with a dollop of mascarpone or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
55 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: comfrey, borage
Questions people ask
When do you sow Pear in the UK?
Sow Pear from November to March. Plant out December, after the last frost.
How long does Pear take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 190 days, with the harvest September to December.
Which Pear varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Conference, Doyenné du Comice, Concorde, Beth and more.
Track your Pear from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.