When to Plant Pear in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide

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

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 Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs 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 Cold / Highland

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

P = Planting window

Plant bare root July-August.

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How to Grow Pear in Cold / Highland Australia

When to Plant

Plant bare root July-August.

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)

Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Pear

Recommended Varieties

  • Williams
  • Packham
  • Beurre Bosc
  • Winter Nelis
  • Josephine de Malines

Key Challenges

  • Late frost on blossoms

Pro Tips

  • Good pear zone with excellent chill. Late-ripening varieties excellent for storage.
  • Protect blossoms from late frost.

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 cold and highland zone this September: Sweet Corn, Beetroot, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

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 Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.