When to plant Pears in Nottingham

Pyrus communis

Pear
Pear · Pyrus communis

A hardy fruit tree for UK gardens, usually planted bare-root while dormant. It does best in full sun, in fertile, well-drained soil, with steady watering while it establishes and winter pruning to keep the crown open.

600 cm · Full Sun · Moderate Water

Calibrated to Nottingham · last frost ≈ 20 Apr

Harvest September to November. Frost risk November to April.
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Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

Growing guide for

Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.

Use this guide once the tree is settled and cropping. It suits most garden pears grown in the ground, with light pruning and seasonal harvest care.

  1. 01

    Thin Fruitlets

    4 Jun to 19 Jun

    Around 4th June - 19th June, thin clustered fruitlets after the natural drop. Space the remaining fruit so the branches carry a manageable crop and the pears size up properly.

  2. 02

    Harvest Pears

    23 Sept to 7 Nov

    Harvest from 23rd September to 7th November once the fruit comes away with a gentle twist. Pick in stages, because pears are often ready over several passes rather than all at once.

  3. 03

    Winter Prune

    20 Jan to 6 Mar

    Prune during 20th January - 6th March while the tree is dormant. Remove congested growth, shorten whippy leaders if needed, and keep the framework open so light reaches the fruiting wood.

Suggested varieties

Popular varieties of Pear to consider

Conference

The standard UK pear for reliable cropping and good flavour. It stores well and suits most gardens.

Williams' Bon Chrétien

A well-known early pear with a juicy, aromatic flavour. Best eaten soon after picking.

Doyenné du Comice

A rich dessert pear with excellent flavour. It prefers a warm, sheltered site and can be a bit fussier than Conference.

Concorde

A compact, modern dessert pear with a good flavour and reliable cropping. Often a sensible choice for smaller gardens.

Pear guides by town

See how Pear timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.