Growing Pears on an Allotment

⚠️ Important first step – check your allotment rules.
Many allotment sites do not allow permanent fruit trees to be planted in the ground, or they restrict tree size, rootstock, spacing, or require trees to be grown in containers only. Always check your allotment agreement before planting a pear tree.

Pears are a long-term, rewarding fruit crop, producing sweet, aromatic fruit when given the right conditions. On allotments, pears are usually grown as dwarf or semi-dwarf trees, trained forms (cordons, espaliers, fans), or in large containers to keep them compact, manageable, and rule-compliant.

This guide explains how to grow pears from seed and plug plants (young grafted trees), when to plant, spacing, watering and feeding, pests and diseases, container vs ground growing, and proven ways to improve yields.

🌳 1. Types of Pear Trees for Allotments

🍐 Dessert vs Culinary Pears

• Dessert pears – sweet, eaten fresh

• Culinary pears – firmer, used for cooking

🌱 Rootstocks (Critical for Size Control)

• Quince C – very dwarf (best for containers, cordons)

• Quince A – semi-dwarf (ideal for most allotments)

• Pear seedling – vigorous (usually unsuitable for allotments)

👉 If space or rules are tight, choose Quince C or Quince A.

🌿 Space-Saving Tree Forms

• Cordons – narrow, single-stem trees

• Espaliers – trained flat on wires

• Fans – ideal against fences or walls

• Bush trees – compact, free-standing

🌰 2. Ways to Grow Pears

🌱 Plug Plants / Grafted Trees (Recommended)

Young pear trees grafted onto known rootstocks.

Pros

• Predictable size

• Known fruit quality

• Fruits in 3–5 years

Cons

• Higher upfront cost

🌰 From Seed

Pros

• Cheap

• Educational

Cons

• Very slow to fruit (6–10 years)

• Unpredictable fruit quality

• Often too vigorous for allotments

👉 For reliable results, grafted trees are strongly recommended.

🗓️ 3. When to Plant Pear Trees

Bare-Root Trees

• Best time: November–March (while dormant)

Container-Grown Trees

• Plant anytime: Autumn–spring (avoid frozen or waterlogged soil)

Autumn planting encourages strong root establishment.

🌾 4. How to Grow Pears in the Ground (If Permitted)

Soil & Position

• Fertile, free-draining soil

• Sunny, sheltered site

• Avoid frost pockets (pear blossom is frost-sensitive)

Spacing (Depends on Rootstock & Form)

• Quince C: 2–2.5m

• Quince A: 3–4m

• Cordons: 75–90cm

Install stakes or wires at planting time.

🪴 5. Growing Pears in Containers (Often Best for Allotments)

Container-grown pears are ideal where trees are restricted.

Container Guidelines

• Minimum size: 60 litres (larger is better)

• One tree per container

• Loam-based compost with good drainage

Container trees:

• stay smaller

• are easier to manage

• need regular watering and feeding

💧 6. Watering Pear Trees

Young Trees (First 2–3 Years)

• Water weekly during dry spells

• Essential during flowering and fruit swelling

Established Trees

• Water during prolonged drought

Container trees may need watering several times a week in summer.

🌿 7. Feeding Pear Trees

Pears are moderate feeders.

Feeding Schedule

• Mulch with compost in spring

• Optional balanced feed in early spring

• Avoid excess nitrogen (encourages leaves, not fruit)

Container trees benefit from monthly liquid feeds in the growing season.

✂️ 8. Pruning Pear Trees

Winter Pruning (Nov–Feb)

• Shapes the tree

• Encourages fruiting spurs

Summer Pruning (Jul–Aug)

• Controls size

• Improves light and airflow

Cordons and espaliers rely on regular pruning to stay productive.

🐛 9. Common Pests & Diseases

Pear Midge

• Deformed or blackened young fruit

Control

• Remove affected fruit promptly

Aphids

• Curling leaves, sticky residue

Wash off early or encourage beneficial insects.

Pear Scab

• Dark spots on leaves and fruit

Prevention

• Good airflow

• Clean up fallen leaves

Fireblight (Rare but Serious)

• Blackened shoots, wilted leaves

Report and remove affected material immediately.

🍐 10. Pollination & Fruit Set

• Most pears need a pollination partner

• Check pollination groups (early/mid/late flowering)

• Nearby pear trees on allotments often help

Good pollination = heavier, better-shaped fruit.

🌾 11. Improving Pear Yields

• Choose dwarf rootstocks

• Prune regularly

• Thin fruit in early summer

• Water consistently during fruit swelling

• Feed lightly, not heavily

Fewer fruits = larger, better-quality pears.

⚡ Quick Pear Growing Tips

• Always check allotment rules first

• Containers solve many restrictions

• Thin fruit early to prevent branch damage

• Harvest pears slightly underripe and ripen indoors

🧠 Key Pear Principles

• Allotment rules come first

• Rootstock controls size

• Pollination is critical

• Containers are often ideal

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash