How to Grow Pears and When to Harvest in Arizona
Climate
Having lived in Arizona for 70 years, I can shed a little light on seasonal weather. Central Arizona gets hot in summer, and I cannot tell you how often when working outside I have thought about a cold juicy pear! Summer fruit is a delight in my neck of the woods.
The first thing I recommend about Southwest gardening is to consult the USDA's plant hardiness zones. Anyone who has visited my state knows that Arizona extends from snow covered forest in the north, to the Mogollon Ring in the center, and to the south from Phoenix to the Mexican border. So, it won't be a great surprise that the weather changes vastly.
The hardiness zone chart is great for learning when to plant. I focus on the central portion of Arizona, but to be cautious, the reader needs to consult the USDA for other zonal requirements. My fruit growing experience is in Superior, Arizona, zone 9B, average of 37 degrees F, unchanged since 2012 (lows). Twenty-five degrees is an important bar to watch.
Harm can come to your tree's fruit and foliage if the temperature stays below 25 degrees F for a prolonged period. If the temperature decreases for a short period of time, the pear tree should be ok.
Location, Location
Choosing the right spot to plant your pear, in my opinion, is a very important issue. In the depths of summer from mid-June through August, temps can be a load on a pear tree. The generally accepted full sun exposure that is recommended is 6 hours. That is what they need to be healthy. In Arizona, that exposure can be met by 12pm-1pm.
My home has an unobstructed southerly exposed backyard. The pear's leaves can be hanging fully vertical by sunset. It may be my sympathetic nature, but I dislike that. Providing shade to the south of the pear gives it a break after high noon.
Why Factor in Heat?
Though the last 3 years have been less daunting, here is what happened in 2020. Phoenix broke 18 daily heat records in 2020 and tied another 15 times. Summer 2020 was the hottest on record, setting marks for the most 95-degree days (172), 100-degree days (145), 105-degree days (102), 110-degree days (53) and 115-degree days (14) in a year while also recording the hottest July and August in history. My little mining town is 60 miles east of Phoenix. I include these facts so you understand that full sun is a relative term, relative to where you live.
Note: Living on the Mogollon Rim or Colorado Plateau requires a bit more prudence. You will want to plant a standardized tree so that it is hardy enough to be unaffected by winter's cold.
Pears Are Fairly Tough
Having said all of this, pears are somewhat drought tolerant and are pretty hardy to the cold. They are recommended as a starter fruit tree to the beginner in Arizona.
Fertilizer Is A Mix That Feeds the World
- As for mix, use a 13-13-13 fertilizer following the instructions mix on the packaging.
- Triple 13 fertilizer is thirteen percent nitrogen, thirteen percent phosphorous, and thirteen percent potassium.
- Spread 1/2 cup of fertilizer 6 inches from the trunk in a circular fashion ending 2 feet from the tree.
- You want to keep the fertilizer away from the trunk to prevent burn.
- Use a hand rake to work the fertilizer down to 1/2 inch and then water it thoroughly. Most authorities recommend feeding young plantings monthly with 1/4 cup through the growing season.
- Understand that feeding a fruit tree too much nitrogen can result in production of green foliage and less fruit.
- I like to increase soil acidity in Arizona (bringing down the alkali content in the natural soil) by using cattle manure.
Fertilizer does no good in a heap, but a little spread around works miracles all around.
- Richard Brinsely Sheridan
How to Determine Acidity of Your Pear Tree's Soil
"Analyzing soil types is much easier than it sounds. Finding out how to test the ph of soil enables you to determine whether it's acid or alkaline and can be done with a simple soil test kit. Soil pH varies from around 3.5 (very acidic) to 8.5 (alkaline). A reading of 7.0 is neutral. A reading of less than 7.0 is considered acidic." Check out all the particulars at How to make soil more acidic: 7 ways to amend your soil's PH (homesandgardens.com.)
Ways to Acidify Your Arizona Soil
- Add sulfur to your soil
- Use aluminum sulfate
- Try ferrous sulfate
- Experiment with vinegar or lemon when watering plants
- Use coffee grounds to increase acidity
Coffee grounds make a great mulch. Ammonium sulfate (not aluminum sulfate) provides nitrogen to the soil and some sulfur. In all honesty, I have only used steer manure to raise acidity, and that has worked great.
Soil Preparation
Pear trees can be raised in all sorts of soil types. The one factor that is common
to all is that they need well-drained soil. Don't plant the tree where water can rest over 24 hours. If that is the case, improve drainage. Perennial weeds should be controlled prior to planting. A year prior to planting, include organic matter
in your soil.
There are only ten minutes in the life of a pear when it is perfect to eat.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Planting Your Pear
A common recommendation for hole width depends, to some extent, on drainage. Poorly drained soils require a hole three times the diameter of the tree's root ball. The depth of hole should be 2/3 the height of the root ball. When lowering the plant, the root ball should have 1/3 of the root ball above the soil around it. If the soil is well-drained, a hole 2 to 3 times the root ball diameter is satisfactory.
Stewed Pears
Easy Stewed Pears Recipe - My favorite is recipe by Kate Hackworthy. Sugar, water, lemon juice and cinnamon stick make a lovely dessert.
- https://veggiedesserts.com/stewed-pears/
I use branch supports for fruit laden branches. The bottom of the supports allows you to use stick props to reach the height of hanging fruit
Zhengmy Metal Tree Branch Support Tree Brace Branch Crutch Tree Straightening Kit for Propping Up Fruited Tree Branches Vineyards Ornamental Gardens Orchards (6 Pcs)
Pear Tree Pruning
Your average pear tree can reach 18 feet, and some varieties are a lot shorter.
Prune a pear tree just before the buds appear. In my location (central Arizona) that is by November. Too much pruning early fosters too much leaf growth. If a yuo0ng tree has many branches, those that are 1.5 feet or less from the ground may be removed.
The accepted rule is that the trunk should be longer than any branch. Pear branches naturally grow vertically toward the sun. Fruit mass will bring the branches to a horizontal level.
If you are worried the branch might break, use supports you can buy at the garden shop. See an example photo below. I use YEGBONG tree would dressing on all of my trees.
This Is My Go-to Wound Dressing for Trees
Most Popular Pear Trees for Arizona
A wide variety of pears from Bartlett to Bosc can grow in zones 5-8. Bartlett and Asian pears grow well in my zone 9. That includes: Bartlett, Shinseiki, Hosui, Yakumo
-fruittreehub.com
Nutrition
Pears are especially rich in folate, vitamin C, copper, and potassium.
They’re also a good source of polyphenol antioxidants.
Dietary fiber, and prebiotics that promote bowel regularity, constipation relief, and digestive health in general, are things pears offer the individual concerned about well-being. Eating a pear with the skin on provides the greatest health benefit.
The compounds that pears contain are beneficial. Red pears may protect the heart, while green pears could just help your eyes.
Plant compounds associated with fighting cancer are inside the pear, while more research is necessary.
Pears may help reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes due to their fiber and anthocyanin contents.
Pears are rich in potent antioxidants, such as procyanidins and quercetin, antioxidants that can boost heart health by improving blood pressure and cholesterol. Eating pears regularly may also reduce stroke risk.
The frequent eating of pears might help you feel satiated due to the high content of fiber and water. As a result, you may be helped in losing weight by eating same.
Pears are widely available and easy to add to your diet. You can eat them whole with the skin on or incorporate them into main dishes. These fruits are especially delicious when roasted or poached.
Conclusion
As powerful fruit which are packed with fiber, vitamins, and beneficial plant compounds, pears are must. Thought to fight inflammation, promote gut and heart health, protect against certain diseases, and even aid weight loss, pears should be a consideration for a balanced diet. As is the case with many fruits, the peel is a source of valuable fiber and important plant compounds. Make sure you eat the fruit with the peel.
Sources
Growing in The Garden (2024). Arizona Fruit Planning Guide: A Visual Guide for Low Desert Fruit, Arizona Fruit Planting Guide: A Visual Guide for Low Desert Fruit - Growing In The Garden
Pitto, Thomas. (Oct 29, 2023). Tree Vitalize,16 Bountiful Fruit Trees to Grow to Grow in Arizona (dwarf included), 16 Bountiful Fruit Trees to Grow in Arizona (Dwarf Included) (treevitalize.com)
Grant, Amy. (May 26, 2022). Gardening Know How, Pear Tree Fertilizer: Tips on Fertilizing Pear Trees, Fertilizer for Pear Trees - Learn How and When to Fertilize Pears | Gardening Know How
Kurtz, Lauren. (December 13, 2023). wikiHow, How to Prune a Pear Tree, How to Prune a Pear Tree: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow
Oliver, Jaimee. (no date). Recipes Online, Stewed Fruit. Easy stewed fruit recipe | Jamie Oliver fruit recipes
No author (June 24, 2022). healthline, 9 Health and Nutrition Benefits of Pears, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-pears#TOC_TITLE_HDR_11
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