Position – Plant your pear tree in full sun for the best fruit yield. They can tolerate some shade they will not fruit as much or grow as fast. They are easy to grow if you protect them from heavy wind and areas where frost lingers.
Size – Pear trees have more of a conical (narrow but tall) growth habit. At maturity, they reach up to 6 metres tall and 4 metres wide.
Soil Type – This tree can tolerate most soils, but not heavy clay. A sandy loam soil is best as good drainage is important. Organic compost with soaked peat moss gives your pear tree a good start.
Fertilising – Don’t fertiliser at planting time, as it can burn the roots. You can fertilise with a balanced 13-13-13 in spring before new growth emerges, not in summer. Keep the fertiliser away from the trunk to prevent burn. Lightly work it into the soil and water well.
Mulch – Add a thick layer of pine bark mulch, keeping it about 20 to 30 centimetres away from the tree trunk. This will keep the soil’s moisture and prevent weeds from taking over.
Watering – Water your tree every second day for a week after transplanting. After that, water it twice a week if it is in light loamy soil and once a week in heavy soil. Soak the entire root system deeply for about 40 to 50 minutes when watering.
Harvesting – Pears ripen from the inside out. So, once it looks and feels completely ripe on the outside, it’s likely to be mushy and overripe in the centre. This means that you should pick them when they are still quite firm to the touch.
