Onward
Pear in the UK
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.
Sow window for Pear generally.
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How to grow it
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.
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.
More Pear varieties
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.