When to Plant Pear in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide

Plant June to July. Right now in September it is out of season. The next planting month is June.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Pear guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Pear

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Long-lived deciduous tree available as European pear (Williams, Beurre Bosc, Packham) or Asian/Nashi pear (Nijisseiki, Hosui, Kosui). European pears are picked slightly unripe and ripen off the tree. Nashi pears are eaten crisp like apples. Most varieties need cross-pollination with a different variety. Trees are very long-lived (50-100+ years) and generally easier to manage than peaches (less disease, fewer spray requirements).

Best Planting Window for Arid / Semi-Arid

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - P P - - - - -

P = Planting window

Plant bare root June-July.

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How to Grow Pear in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia

When to Plant

Plant bare root June-July.

Soil
Deep, well-drained. Tolerates heavier soil than peaches or cherries. Slightly acidic to neutral.
pH Range
6.0-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun, 6+ hours.

Companion plants: Comfrey, Nasturtium

Avoid planting near: Juniper species (host for pear rust)

Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Pear

Recommended Varieties

  • Williams
  • Packham
  • Beurre Bosc

Key Challenges

  • Water during fruit development

Pro Tips

  • Good pear zone with irrigation. Shepparton and Sunraysia are commercial pear regions.

Harvesting Pear

When ready: European pears: pick when full-sized but still firm (NOT ripe on tree). Background colour lightens slightly. Fruit detaches with upward twist. Ripen at room temperature for 5-10 days. Nashi pears: pick when sweet (they ripen on tree like apples).

How to harvest: Twist upward. European pears MUST be picked pre-ripe. Tree-ripened fruit is mealy/grainy.

Where to next

What pear costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the arid and semi-arid zone this September: Ginger, Chilli Peppers, Lemongrass and Beetroot.

The pest most likely to find your pear: Queensland Fruit Fly.

Supermarket Price

Current average retail: $3.74/kg (12-month range: $2.99–$4.90)

Grow your own and save on grocery bills.

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Common Questions About Pear

When do you plant pear in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.