General
Pear (Pyrus communis and P. pyrifolia) is a long-lived fruit tree suited to much of Sweden in zones 1–5, with the hardiest European cultivars tolerating brief winter lows around −25 to −28°C. European pears ripen off the tree and develop buttery texture; Asian pears are crisp and eaten tree-ripe. Chill requirement typically 600–1000 hours. Rootstock choice dictates vigor and hardiness: seedling or pear-rootstocks are hardier and more tolerant of cold soils, while quince rootstocks give smaller trees and earlier bearing but are less winter-hardy (best in zones 1–3 and often require a compatible interstem in cold regions). Choose disease-tolerant cultivars where possible and ensure cross-pollination by planting two compatible varieties within 20–30 m.
Light
Full sun (at least 6–8 hours of direct light daily).
Soil type
Deep, well-drained loam with high organic matter; avoid waterlogging. Slightly acidic to neutral.
Water requirement
Moderate. Keep evenly moist during establishment and fruit swelling; reduce after leaf fall.
Nutrient requirement
Moderate. Annual compost/mulch plus light balanced organic feed in spring; avoid excess nitrogen after midsummer.
Precultivation
Pears are usually propagated by grafting; sowing seed is used for breeding or rootstocks and requires 60–90 days cold stratification. For home growers, order grafted trees. If raising rootstocks, stratify seeds from early February and pot up in a cool greenhouse; graft by whip-and-tongue in late winter. Container-grown trees can be staged in a cold frame until planting conditions are suitable.
Planting
Plant when air temperatures are consistently above 5°C and soil is workable—typically April–May, or in early autumn in mild areas. Spacing: 3–4 m for semi-dwarf (on quince/compact pear roots), 4–5 m for vigorous or standard. Dig a wide hole, loosen sides, and mix in compost but avoid strong fertilizers in the planting hole. Set the graft union 10–15 cm above soil. Stake young trees for 2–3 years in windy sites. Water in deeply and mulch 5–8 cm with wood chips or leaves, keeping mulch away from the trunk.
Pruning
Train to a central leader with 3–5 well-spaced scaffold branches. Winter prune (late Feb–mid Mar) to shape, remove crossing branches, and maintain light; avoid heavy cuts in deep frost. Summer prune (mid Jul–mid Aug) to check vigor and remove water shoots. Pears bear on short spurs that remain productive for years—avoid over-pruning spurs. Remove any rootstock suckers below the graft promptly.
Maintenance
Water weekly during the first 2–3 seasons in dry spells (20–30 L per tree). Renew organic mulch annually. Feed in early spring with 2–4 L well-rotted compost plus a light application of balanced organic fertilizer; a small potassium-rich top-up just after fruit set can improve quality. Thin fruit when marble-sized, leaving 1–2 fruits per cluster, spaced 10–15 cm apart to prevent biennial bearing. Protect blossom from late frost with fleece on cold nights. Encourage beneficials, use pheromone traps for codling moth, and apply kaolin clay film early season if pressure is high. Keep grass short under the canopy or use a low-growing clover mix.
Harvest
European pears: pick when mature but still firm—fruit lifts with an upward twist and seed coats are dark; finish ripening at 15–20°C for a few days, then store at 0–2°C. Asian pears: harvest fully colored and crisp from the tree. Typical harvest ranges from mid-August to mid-October depending on cultivar and region. Handle gently to avoid bruising.
Common issues
Pear scab (Venturia pyrina): choose tolerant cultivars, prune for airflow, remove fallen leaves, apply organic protectants (e.g., sulfur) if needed. Pear rust (Gymnosporangium): avoid nearby junipers, remove infected leaves, prioritize resistant varieties. Pear psylla: encourage predators, use sticky bands and oil sprays during dormancy. Codling moth: pheromone traps, sanitation, bagging select fruits. Fire blight: rare in many parts of Scandinavia but serious—avoid heavy nitrogen, prune out infected shoots well below symptoms and disinfect tools; comply with local reporting rules. Frosted blossoms and calcium-related disorders can occur—ensure steady moisture and balanced nutrition.
Pollination
Mostly self-sterile or only partially self-fertile; best yields with a compatible second variety flowering in the same group. Asian pears (P. pyrifolia) cross-pollinate within Asian pears; some can pollinate European pears if bloom overlaps. Bees are primary pollinators.
Companion plants
Clover or white clover under-sow, comfrey (dynamic accumulator), chives and other alliums (reduce scab/psylla pressure), borage and phacelia (beneficial insects), calendula and nasturtium (groundcover and trap crops).
Incompatible plants
Avoid planting near junipers (Juniperus spp.), which host pear rust; avoid close proximity to black walnut (juglone sensitivity). Keep vigorous raspberries and blackberries away from the trunk zone.
