When to plant Pears in the UK

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

Add to garden
Harvest September to October.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesNoNo

UK averages · set your town for dates worked out from your local frost records · how dates are worked out

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

Dates for your town

Set your town to see planting windows worked out from local frost history, not a generic UK calendar.

Growing guide for the UK

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

    mid-June to early July UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    Around mid-June to early July, 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

    early September to late October UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    Harvest from early September to late October 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

    early February to mid-March UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    Prune during early February to mid-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.