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How to Grow Pears UK | Regional Planting Calendar

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How to Grow Pears UK | Regional Planting Calendar guide thumbnail

Pear (Pyrus communis)

White pear blossom and leaves — “(MHNT) Poirier Fleurs et feuilles” by Didier Descouens is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons

2 sources cited · Verified

The short answer

Plant
Early November to mid February
Site
6+ hours of sun, soil pH 6–7
Biggest risk
Blossom wilt

In the UK, pears go in the ground early November to mid February.

Pears (Pyrus communis) — Deciduous tree, 20-50 years to full maturity.

Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: sowing early November, and that same window applies across all 4 regions covered here.

Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural sources — see References.

Regional Planting Calendar

Region Sow
Southern England early November to mid February
Midlands early November to mid February
Northern England early November to mid February
Scotland early November to mid February
Southern England - detail & sources

RHS gives no seasonal sowing window (pears are planted as grafted trees, not sown) -- planted bare-root in the dormant season, roughly November to February. Applied as one UK-wide window across all four sub-regions, matching the convention already used for Apple.

Midlands - detail & sources

RHS gives no seasonal sowing window (pears are planted as grafted trees, not sown) -- planted bare-root in the dormant season, roughly November to February. Applied as one UK-wide window across all four sub-regions, matching the convention already used for Apple.

Northern England - detail & sources

RHS gives no seasonal sowing window (pears are planted as grafted trees, not sown) -- planted bare-root in the dormant season, roughly November to February. Applied as one UK-wide window across all four sub-regions, matching the convention already used for Apple.

Scotland - detail & sources

RHS gives no seasonal sowing window (pears are planted as grafted trees, not sown) -- planted bare-root in the dormant season, roughly November to February. Applied as one UK-wide window across all four sub-regions, matching the convention already used for Apple.

Quick Facts

White pear blossom and leaves — “(MHNT) Poirier Fleurs et feuilles” by Didier Descouens is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“(MHNT) Poirier Fleurs et feuilles” by Didier Descouens is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Factor Value
Soil pH 6 - 7
Sunlight 6-8 hours direct sun
Soil texture Clay, loam or sand -- deep and fertile preferred (RHS; NC State Extension)
Drainage Moist but well-drained or well-drained; good drainage (RHS; NC State Extension)
Lifecycle Deciduous tree, 20-50 years to full maturity (RHS)
Edible parts fruit

At a Glance

A caterpillar feeding on a pear fruit — “Chenille de l'étoilée, orgyia antiqua” by Vibraison is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Chenille de l'étoilée, orgyia antiqua” by Vibraison is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Pyrus communis Pear Blossom wilt Fire blight Pear canker European pear rust Pear scab Brown rot (apple) Anthracnose Powdery mildew Honey fungus Codling moth Wood-boring beetles Pear psylla Pear and cherry slugworm Pear midge Pear blister mite Bullfinches Aphids DISEASES PESTS

Soil & Growing Conditions

A mature standard pear tree in a landscape setting — “Cherves-Richemont 16 Poirier 2014” by JLPC is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Cherves-Richemont 16 Poirier 2014” by JLPC is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Soil pH range

6 7

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

Pear blossom opening on a branch — “(ALB) P. communis - flower-4” by Philmarin is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“(ALB) P. communis - flower-4” by Philmarin is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Stage BBCH Notes
Planting and establishment 0 Grafted or budded onto rootstock rather than grown from seed (RHS; NC State Extension). Space 12-24ft apart, in a deep, fertile, sunny, sheltered spot (NC State Extension).
Vegetative growth 3 Grows on for several years before reaching fruiting maturity; full maturity takes 20-50 years (RHS), though grafted trees fruit much sooner.
Blossom and pollination 6 White blossom in mid-spring. Most varieties are self-sterile -- plant two or more varieties together as reciprocal pollinators for a good crop (RHS; NC State Extension).
Harvest 8 Fruit is harvested summer through fall depending on cultivar (NC State Extension).

Harvest & Storage

Pears ripening on the tree — “Atlas roslin pl Grusza pospolita 7227 8401” by Marek Kluszczyński is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Atlas roslin pl Grusza pospolita 7227 8401” by Marek Kluszczyński is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

When to pick: Fruit is harvested summer through fall depending on variety (NC State Extension); pear-shaped to spherical, green to yellow, up to 10cm long at maturity (RHS).

Diseases

Blossom wilt
moderate

Monilinia laxa

Named directly on the crop's own growing-guide sources.

Fire blight
moderate

Erwinia amylovora

Named directly on the crop's own growing-guide sources.

Pear canker
moderate

Named directly on the crop's own growing-guide sources.

European pear rust
moderate

Gymnosporangium sabinae

Named directly on the crop's own growing-guide sources.

Pear scab
moderate

Venturia pyrina

Named directly on the crop's own growing-guide sources.

Brown rot (apple)
low

Monilinia fructigena

RHS names brown rot as a disease risk on pear.

Anthracnose
low

Colletotrichum spp.

Sunken reddish-brown lesions with yellow halo (anthracnose)

NC State Extension names anthracnose and powdery mildew as disease risks.

NC State Extension names anthracnose and powdery mildew as disease risks.

Honey fungus
low

Armillaria spp.

RHS notes pear is rarely affected by honey fungus.

Pests

Codling moth
moderate

Cydia pomonella

Named directly on the crop's own growing-guide sources.

Wood-boring beetles
moderate

Various families (Buprestidae, Cerambycidae)

Named directly on the crop's own growing-guide sources.

Pear psylla
moderate

Cacopsylla pyricola

Named directly on the crop's own growing-guide sources.

Pear and cherry slugworm
moderate

Caliroa cerasi

Named directly on the crop's own growing-guide sources.

Pear midge
moderate

Contarinia pyrivora

Named directly on the crop's own growing-guide sources.

Pear blister mite
moderate

Eriophyes pyri

Named directly on the crop's own growing-guide sources.

Bullfinches
moderate

Pyrrhula pyrrhula

Named directly on the crop's own growing-guide sources.

low

Aphididae (various spp.)

RHS names aphids and caterpillars as pest risks.

References

  1. Full sun (6+ hrs). Soil pH neutral (6.0-8.0), clay/loam/sand, good drainage, tolerates occasionally dry. Space 12-24ft apart. USDA zones 4a-8b. Best fruiting with two or more varieties as reciprocal pollinizers. Harvest summer to fall. Mature height 40-50ft, width 25-35ft; usually grafted onto dwarfing rootstock. Deciduous, high maintenance. Propagate by grafting or stem cutting. Pests: pear psylla, codling moth, wood-boring beetles. Diseases: fireblight, anthracnose, canker, scab, powdery mildew. Native to Europe through northern Iraq.

  2. Deep, fertile, moist-but-well-drained, fairly neutral soil (clay/loam/sand, acid/alkaline/neutral), full sun, sheltered, south/west-facing, not more than half-day shade. Hardiness H6. Height 8-12m, spread 4-8m, 20-50 years to maturity. Grafted/budded onto clonal rootstock for fruit -- pip-grown fruit will not resemble the parent. White flowers mid-spring, pollinator plant; most varieties self-sterile, need cross-pollination. Pests: aphids, caterpillars, codling moth, pear blister mite, pear midge, pear and cherry slugworm, bullfinches. Diseases: blossom wilt, brown rot, fireblight, pear scab, European pear rust, honey fungus (rarely). Native to Europe and Asia Minor, GB/Ireland. Family Rosaceae.

2 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I sow pears in the UK?

In Southern England, from early November. In Scotland, wait until early November. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.

When do I sow pears?

Sow early November to mid February.

What soil pH do pears need?

A pH of about 6–7. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.

What problems affect pears?

Our data links 9 diseases and 8 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.

Plan next season before the problems start

Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.

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UK vegetable growing guides · Checked against RHS & Met Office guidance

Every SoilCommander guide is written and maintained by our editorial team for real UK growing conditions, and reviewed against Royal Horticultural Society growing advice and Met Office climate data before publication.

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Last verified 2026-09-03

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