Crops › Pear
How to grow Pear
in the US
Sow March to November, plant out December, harvest July to February. About 900 days from seed to plate.
Shown for zone 6. Zone table further down.
Right, pears. A proper treat they are, aren't they? Takes a bit of patience, mind, but biting into your own homegrown pear is something else. They're part of the Rosaceae family, same as apples and roses, and they'll stand proud in a sunny spot on your plot, adding a bit of height.
Sowing
Now, with pears, you're not really sowing tiny seeds, you're planting young trees. It's a bit of a wait, about 900 days from planting a young tree to getting your first proper harvest, so choose your spot wisely. The best time to get them in the ground varies by your USDA zone, you know. For Zones 3-5, aim for April or May. If you're in Zone 6 or 7, you can plant in March, April, or even October-November. Warmer Zones 8-10 get a bit more flexibility, with February, March, April, and then October right through December working well. You want to dig a hole wide enough for the roots to spread out, planting the tree to the same depth it was in the nursery, making sure the graft union is a few inches above the soil line.
Growing on
Once your young tree is in, it needs a bit of care to get established. You'll want to stake it firmly, especially in windy spots, to give those young roots a chance to grip properly. Pears need their space, so think about where they'll be in a few years – usually about 15 to 20 feet apart, unless you're going for dwarf varieties or espaliers. If you've got a smaller yard, some dwarf varieties can do well in large containers, but they'll need a bit more looking after with watering, you know.
Looking after it
Keep your pear tree well-watered, especially during dry spells and when it's young and settling in. A good layer of mulch around the base, keeping it away from the trunk, will help hold moisture and keep weeds down. Feed it with a balanced fertilizer in early spring to give it a boost. Pruning is important too, to shape the tree and encourage good fruit production – mostly in late winter when it's dormant, taking out any dead or crossing branches.
What goes wrong
Pests and diseases can be a bit of a nuisance with pears, to be honest. Watch out for codling moths and pear psylla; sometimes pheromone traps can help with the moths. Fire blight is a nasty one that can really knock a tree back – prune out any affected branches quickly, making sure to sterilize your tools. Aphids can show up too, but a good spray of soapy water often sorts them out.
Harvest
You'll be harvesting your pears from about August through to October, depending on the variety and your local climate. Pears don't always ripen properly on the tree, you know. The trick is to pick them when they're mature but still firm. Lift a pear gently and twist; if it comes away easily with the stem attached, it's ready. You can then ripen them indoors in a cool spot. For longer storage, a cool, dry place is best, maybe even the fridge for some types, to keep them going for a bit.
I always plant a couple of daffodils around the base of my pear trees, not just because they look cracking, but because they're meant to help keep the voles away from the roots, which is a proper bonus.
Dates for your plot
Type your zone and the plant-out advice shifts to your frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Bartlett This is a real classic pear, a reliable performer that's widely grown. It's fantastic for eating fresh, but equally good for canning or making preserves, so you get a proper versatile crop. | No club votes yet |
| Anjou A lovely, sweet pear with a smooth texture, Anjou is another reliable choice for many growers. It's known for keeping well in storage, so you can enjoy its flavor long after harvest. | No club votes yet |
| Bosc You'll spot Bosc by its distinctive russeted skin and elegant neck. This pear offers a crisp texture and a sweet, spicy flavor that makes it a favorite for baking and fresh eating. | No club votes yet |
| Comice Often called the 'Christmas pear' because of its rich, sweet flavor and buttery texture, Comice is a proper dessert pear. It's best enjoyed fresh, maybe with a bit of cheese, for a real treat. | No club votes yet |
| Seckel These little 'sugar pears' are small but mighty, packed with a super sweet, spicy flavor. Seckel is a reliable little producer and perfect for kids or for pickling whole. | No club votes yet |
| Moonglow This pear is a good choice if you're worried about disease, as it shows good resistance to fire blight. It ripens fairly early and offers a sweet, juicy fruit, making it a reliable performer. | No club votes yet |
| Harrow Delight If you're in a colder spot, Harrow Delight is one to consider, as it's known for being quite cold hardy. It's also resistant to fire blight and produces sweet, juicy fruit for fresh eating. | No club votes yet |
| Kieffer This is a really robust pear, a tough cookie that can handle a bit more neglect and still give you a good crop. Kieffer pears are excellent for canning and cooking, holding their shape well. | No club votes yet |
| Warren Warren pears are prized for their incredibly rich, sweet, and complex flavor, with a smooth, almost butter-like texture. It's a bit of a connoisseur's pear, but a reliable performer if you want top taste. | No club votes yet |
| Magness Another excellent choice if fire blight is a concern in your area, Magness offers good resistance. The fruit itself is very sweet and buttery, a proper delight for fresh eating. | No club votes yet |
| Rescue This pear ripens early in the season, giving you a quick reward for your efforts. Rescue offers a crisp texture and a sweet flavor, making it a good choice for fresh snacking. | No club votes yet |
| Ayres Ayres is another variety known for its good resistance to fire blight, which is always a bonus. It produces sweet, juicy pears that are lovely for fresh eating or even making preserves. | No club votes yet |
| Monterrey If you're in a warmer climate, Monterrey is a good late-season pear to consider, as it handles the heat well. It gives you a good crop of sweet, crisp fruit that can keep for a bit. | No club votes yet |
| Flemish Beauty This is an older variety, a proper heritage pear known for its excellent sweet, juicy flavor and smooth texture. It's a reliable choice if you appreciate traditional pear taste. | No club votes yet |
| Conference My personal favorite from my plot, Conference is a cracking all-rounder that's really reliable. It's lovely eaten fresh, but holds up brilliantly in cooking too, so it's proper versatile. | 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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Sowing by USDA zone
| Zone | Sow / plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April to May | August to February |
| Zone 4 | April to May | August to February |
| Zone 5 | March to May | August to February |
| Zone 6 | March to November | July to February |
| Zone 7 | March to November | July to February |
| Zone 8 | February to November | July to February |
| Zone 9 | February to December | June to February |
| Zone 10 | November to February | June to February |
Cook the harvest
Whole pears are poached in a fragrant bath of red wine, sugar, cinnamon, star anise, and orange peel until they turn a deep, jewel-like burgundy color and become silky and tender throughout. The poaching liquid is then reduced to a glossy syrup that is drizzled over the finished pears. This French-inspired dessert is dramatic, delicious, and requires almost no technique.
50 min · mediumA classic French upside-down caramel tart with tender, deeply caramelized pears arranged in a cast-iron skillet and topped with a golden, buttery pastry lid. When flipped onto a plate, the pears emerge lacquered in a rich amber caramel with edges burnished to perfection. This is one of the great dishes of French home cooking — deceptively simple and dramatically beautiful.
65 min · mediumPears cooked in butter and brown sugar until golden and caramelized take a bowl of simple oatmeal somewhere altogether more interesting. A pinch of cardamom adds a floral warmth that plays beautifully with the pear's delicate sweetness. This is a five-minute upgrade that turns weekday breakfast into a small pleasure worth getting out of bed for.
20 min · easyThinly sliced ripe pears, pungent gorgonzola, and candied walnuts on a crisp flatbread is one of those flavor combinations that stops people mid-bite. The sweetness of the pear tempers the funk of the cheese, while honey and fresh thyme tie everything together. It works as an appetizer, a light lunch, or a very good dinner.
25 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: nasturtium, chives, comfrey, white clover, yarrow, daffodils
Questions people ask
When do you sow Pear in the US?
Sow Pear from March to November in zone 6, earlier or later by zone. Plant out December, after the last frost.
How long does Pear take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 900 days, with the harvest July to February.
Which Pear varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Bartlett, Anjou, Bosc, Comice 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.