How to Grow Pear Trees: A Complete Guide to Courtyard Planting Conditions and Techniques

Pear is a very common fruit, and many people enjoy eating it. Pears can relieve constipation, aid digestion, and are also good for the cardiovascular system. So how do you grow a pear tree? Can it be planted in a yard? Let's take a look below.

1. How to Grow Pear Trees?

1. Timing

Planting can be done after the saplings lose their leaves and before they bud. The planting density is determined by the terrain and plot of the orchard, generally 2m×3m or 2.5m×4m.

2. Planting

According to the row and plant spacing, dig holes 80cm wide and 50-60cm deep at marked points. Then place about 30-40cm of straw, branches, or green manure twigs and stalks into the hole, add topsoil and press it firm. After that, apply 50-80kg of organic fertilizer or 20kg of chicken manure, and finally add 1-2kg of calcium-magnesium phosphate fertilizer mixed with soil and fill it in. When planting, the graft union should be exposed 5-10cm above the ground. Be careful to firm the soil around the roots, then immediately water thoroughly. If the planting site is in a windy gap, a support stake needs to be set up to prevent the sapling from falling over.

3. Fertilizing

Fertilizing differs at different growth stages. The first top-dressing is done after the fruit trees bloom in mid-April, the second top-dressing is generally around mid-May to early June, and the third top-dressing is done after the fruit is harvested from late August to mid-September.

4. Pollination

When planting pear trees, you must plant pollinator variety saplings with a similar blooming period to facilitate pollination. Generally, the ratio of main variety trees to pollinator varieties is controlled at 2:1 or 1:1.

5. Training and Pruning

Young trees need to develop fruiting branches, and the pruning length of the extended shoots on the main and lateral branches should be shortened year by year. For mature trees, excessively dense auxiliary branches need to be thinned out or cut back.

6. Pest and Disease Control

Comprehensive pest and disease control on pear trees in spring can effectively reduce the probability of pest and disease outbreaks throughout the year and also improve fruit quality. Currently, the main pests and diseases of pear trees include the pear fruit borer, aphids, stink bugs, and others.

2. Can Pear Trees Be Planted in a Yard?

Some rural residents plant flowers and fruit trees in their own yards, and pear trees can indeed be planted in a yard. However, some rural residents believe in feng shui and feel that the pear (li) sounds like “li” (separation), which may carry an unlucky meaning.

3. When Should Pear Fruit Be Harvested?

1. When the skin of yellow-skin pears changes from dark brown to light yellowish-brown, and the skin of green-skin pears changes from dark green to light green or light yellow, and the flesh changes from coarse and hard to fine, crisp, and sweet, and the seeds inside the fruit change from white to light brown, they can be harvested.

2. When harvesting the fruit, it should be done in stages and batches. Generally, the larger fruits are picked first, and after 7-10 days when the smaller fruits have gradually grown larger, they are harvested. Handle the fruit gently during harvesting.