| Botanical name | Pyrus communis |
|---|---|
| Plant Care |  Deciduous Deciduous – Sheds Its Leaves Annually  Full Sun Full Sun – Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day.  Frost Hardy Frost Hardy – Can Handle frost without damage.  Moderate Watering Moderate Watering – Requires Regular Watering.  Pruning Required Pruning Required – Needs to be Pruned.  Non Indigenous Non Indigenous – Exotic to South Africa. |
| Size | |
| Categories | |
| Common name(s) | Pears |
| Origin | |
| Planting instructions | Plant trees 5m apart. |
| Maintenance | Water well during dry weather in summer. Pruning is only done when planting; tree shaping is the same as for apples. |
| Fruit | Pick fruit when still green, pears become mealy if left to ripen on the tree. If pears come away easily when lifted and twisted they are ready to be picked. Store in a dark place at room temperature to ripen. |
| Common pests and diseases | Codling moth; scale; fruit fly. |
| Recommended varieties | ‘Beurre Bosc’, large fruit with a long neck, colours brown, ripens February/March; ‘Bon Chretien’, juicy yellow pear, ripens January; ‘le Conte’, self-fertile, round yellow fruit, ripens January; ‘Keiffer’, large bottling variety, ripens March; ‘Packham’s Triumph’, large yellow fruit excellent for eating and bottling, ripens March. |
| Harvest | Pick fruit when still green, pears become mealy if left to ripen on the tree. If pears come away easily when lifted and twisted they are ready to be picked. Store in a dark place at room temperature to ripen. |
Pyrus communis (Pears)
- Botanical name: Pyrus communis
- Common name(s): Pears
- Categories: Fruits and Vegetables, Trees
Plant description:
Pears prefer areas with cold winters and mild summers, although some varieties suitable for cooking can be grown in areas with mild winters. Two trees are required for cross-pollination.
Family: Rosaceae
Botanical Pronunciation: PYE-rus kum-YOU-niss
Pyrus communis requirements and features
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Moderate Maintenance
Requires moderate maintenance.
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