13 of the Best Winter Pear Varieties to Grow at Home
09.08.2023 - 16:05 / gardenerspath.com / Kristine Lofgren
Learn About Pear Tree Pollination
I’ve found pears are one of those fruits that are getting harder and harder to find fresh at the grocery store without tasting mealy or flavorless and being hard as a rock.
The solution? Plant a few trees in your own yard.
Why do I say “a few”? Because most pears are not self-fertile, which means they need a pal for cross-pollination.
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The two most common types for home growing are European (Pyrus communis) and Nashi or Asian (P. pyrifolia). They can pollinate each other, assuming they blossom at the same time.
If you’ve ever grown apples or you’re familiar with their pollination, the process is extremely similar.
Just like apples, some pears are self-fruitful, or at least partially so. Others are sterile and can’t pollinate other trees.
I know I’ve just made this sound kind of complicated, but it’s really not. This guide will answer all of your questions and even help you find a few recommended pairings.
Here’s what’s coming up:
Now, before we jump in, don’t overthink it. Pollination is more of a concern for large-scale growers.
Those of us who dabble in home growing will usually find that as long as a neighbor within a few blocks has a pear, things will work themselves out.
And one of the nice things about living in urban and suburban areas is that you can bet someone nearby will be growing a similar tree.
As a personal example, I have a lovely ‘Buerre Bosc,’ and my neighbor has a ‘Shenandoah.’
These are in different blooming groups, but somehow they make it work, and we both get to enjoy oodles of beautifully-shaped fruits in the fall.
Or maybe my tree is being pollinated
13 of the Best Winter Pear Varieties to Grow at Home
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