Tree fruit · perennial season
Pear
Pyrus communis / P. pyrifolia
More frost-reliable than peaches. Bartlett, Moonglow, and fire-blight-resistant Asian pears all grow in Ohio.
- When to plant in Ohio
- Plant bare-root in April
- Harvest window
- August through September; pick European pears firm
- Days to maturity
- Perennial; fruit year 4–5
- Spacing
- 12–18 ft
- Light
- Full sun
How to grow it
Plant two varieties for pollination. Fire blight is the main threat—avoid heavy nitrogen and prune out shepherd’s-crook strikes in dry weather. Pick European pears when they loosen from the spur and ripen indoors.
Related tree fruit
Apple Perennial; first fruit year 3–5
Peach Perennial; fruit year 3–4
Tart cherry Perennial; fruit year 3–4