How to Grow an Asian Pear Tree

Also called an Oriental, Chinese, Japanese, sand or apple pear tree, an Asian pear tree provides crisp, firm, juicy, white-fleshed fruit. The Asian pear is descended from two trees -- Pyrus pyrifolia and Pyrus ussuriensis -- and it's hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9, according to the variety. An Asian pear tree usually begins to produce fruit two or three years after planting. The fruit ripens on the tree. Growing a 'Barlett' pear (Pyrus x 'Bartlett') or a compatible Asian pear variety near an Asian pear tree helps produce a heavy crop of Asian pears.

An Asian pear tree grows best in a sunny spot and deep, freely draining, pH 5.9 to 6.5 soil. Late spring frosts can damage the blossom and reduce fruit production, so grow an Asian pear somewhere not prone to frosts.

Space an Asian pear tree so that its central stem is 10 to 15 feet from another tree, and within 100 feet of a compatible Asian pear pollinator. Bees carry pollen from the pollinator to the Asian pear and pollinate its flowers, which then develop into fruit. The European pear 'Barlett' pollinates many Asian pear varieties. 'Barlett' is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8. Asian pear tree suppliers also provide trees that contain grafts of two or more compatible varieties.

A young Asian pear needs regular watering to grow well, and an established tree produces the most fruit when it's growing in evenly moist soil. For the first five years, water an Asian pear tree when the soil is dry to a depth of 1 to 2 inches. In dry weather this may be once a week or more often. Evenly spray water over the ground beneath the tree's canopy. Apply enough water to moisten the soil to the depth of the tree's root ball.

Water an established Asian pear tree when the soil is dry to a depth of 2 to 3 inches. An established tree needs about 100 gallons of water every seven to 10 days during dry weather.

Spread a 3- to 4-inch layer of shredded bark, garden compost, leaf mold or another organic mulch around the tree to conserve soil moisture. Don't pile the mulch against the tree's trunk.

Nitrogen fertilizer encourages good growth in an Asian pear tree, but overfertilization reduces fruiting and encourages diseases. If an Asian pear is growing more than 1 foot per year, it doesn't need fertilizer. Fertilize slower-growing trees with 1/3 to 1/2 cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer per each year of the tree's age, up to a maximum of 8 cups and divide that dosage between two feedings. For example, fertilize a two-year-old tree with 2/3 to 1 cup of fertilizer. Apply the first portion in spring before new growth appears, and apply the second portion when fruits appear. Evenly sprinkle the fertilizer over the soil area beneath the tree's canopy, and water it into the soil.

If little or no fruit appears, don't apply the second portion of fertilizer.

Thinning new fruits encourages the best crop of large fruits from an Asian pear tree. Use pruning shears to thin fruits, or pick them off with your fingers. Asian pear fruits grow in clusters of two or more fruits, and usually one fruit is larger than the others. Thin Asian pear fruits 14 to 40 days after the flowers fall.

Wipe pruning shear blades with a cloth that was soaked in rubbing alcohol, before and after thinning the fruits on an Asian pear tree.

Select the largest Asian pear fruit in a cluster, and prune or pick off all the others in the cluster.

Remove all but the largest fruit in each cluster on the tree.

Prune or pick off any extra fruit so that there is 6 inches between each fruit.