Which Type of Pear Is the Easiest To Grow in Colder Climates?
Pear trees produce delicious fruit and beautiful flowers, making them excellent additions to any property. Growing any fruit can be challenging if you live in a colder climate, but a few pear varieties will thrive in cold-hardy zones. Explore which type of pear is the easiest to grow in colder climates and choose the best variety for you.
Bartlett Pears
Bartlett pears are cold-hardy for zone 5, and they have a true pear shape with a rounded bell bottom and a narrow stem. They come in yellow and red varieties, and there’s only a slight difference between the flavor of each.
You can expect to harvest Bartletts in late August or early September, when they’re mature but not yet ripe. They’ll become gritty if you allow them to ripen on the tree; instead, allowing them to shift from green to yellow after harvesting produces a smooth, sweet fruit.
Pineapple Pears
Pineapple pear trees are cold-hardy to zone 4, and they produce large pears with a sweet pineapple flavor. Pineapple pears ripen in late summer, and they’re perfect for eating freshing, cooking, and canning. The trees are self pollinating, and they bloom with beautiful white flowers in early spring.
Baldwin Pears
Baldwin pear trees are cold-hardy to zone 5, and they produce medium yellow pears. These semihard, sweet fruits are ideal for canning and dessert dishes. The trees bloom with aromatic white flowers in early spring, and you can expect to harvest the fruit in early fall. Baldwin pear trees require a nearby pollinator, such as a pineapple or hood pear tree.
Orient Pears
Orient pears are large, round, and yellow in color, and the trees are cold-hardy to zone 4. These pears have a thick skin with a smooth inside and a sweet but mild flavor. The light flavor makes them perfect for eating fresh or adding to your favorite dishes. Orient pear trees require a nearby pollinator to produce an abundant yield, and the fruit ripens late in the summer.
Kieffer Pears
Kieffer pears are medium to large in size, with a light yellow to pale green skin. The inside is crisp and juicy, but the texture is a bit coarse, making them the perfect options for canning. Kieffer pear trees are self fertile, but they’ll produce a more abundant crop if you plant multiple trees. You can expect to harvest Kieffer pears in September or October while the fruit is still relatively hard.
Don’t let living in a lower hardiness zone discourage you from planting fruit trees. As you now see, you can find and buy pear trees that are hardy enough to withstand low temperatures. Knowing which types of pears are the easiest to grow in colder climates is the best way to ensure your trees will thrive in your location.
