Pear Tree advice please

[Suzybrook]

Hi

I've recently bought a pear tree (Pear Beth) it says on the growing instruction label that it cross pollinates with groups 2 or 4. it also states though if you're in a urban area you dont need a pollinating partner. I live in a suburban type area.

Do i need to buy another variety for cross pollination?

*confused*

thanks for any advice

[Cowgirl]

Hi Suzy,

I wouldn't worry, you should be fine, I have a pear tree bought last year & live rural yet it still managed to start to produce fruit (high wind knocked them off tho before they got a chance to grow). Chances are someone in your area will have a pear tree.

I think bees can fly quite a distance.

[Suzybrook]

thanks for the reply cowgirl

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by Suzybrook

Hi

I've recently bought a pear tree (Pear Beth) it says on the growing instruction label that it cross pollinates with groups 2 or 4. it also states though if you're in a urban area you dont need a pollinating partner. I live in a suburban type area. Do i need to buy another variety for cross pollination? *confused*
thanks for any advice

To ensure pollination you need to have a tree of a closely related type (in your case either a type 2 or 4) located within bee (or other pollinating agent) flying distance. As Cowgirl points out, that doesn't have to mean the trees are within the same garden - however the further away the trees are from one another, the greater the chances of pollination failure.

The destinction between urban/suburban isn't absolute, and as it happens there are likely to be far more pear trees in suburban UK than in areas adjacent to city centres, so you can probably take a chance on not acquiring a second tree. Watch for when your existing tree produces flowers and see if any fruit does set; as Cowgirl points out, you can't rely on the develoment of mature fruit as a test of pollination because poor weather can cause the young set fruit to drop early. If you get flowers and no fruit sets at all, then you will very likely need a second tree.

CM

[Hedera]

Beth flowers early, so you need to be near another early flowering pear such as a Williams' or Beurre Hardy. These are quite common so you may be lucky! Watch out for bees - they will fly over a mile for pollen. There's always the old rabbit tail trick - find another tree in flower and gather pollen, put in a bag and then touch your blossoms with it! The frosts are the worst enemy of early flowering pears though. You can put fleece overnight on the tree if not too large.

[Suzybrook]

Tbanks for taking the time to post that really helpful advice and clarification CM and Hedera

i appreciate that