When to Plant Pear in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide
What this month normally looks like in Subtropical
In October the Subtropical zone normally runs 27°C by day and 15°C overnight, with about 77 mm of rain over 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 33 postcodes, SILO.
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This Pear guide is written for the Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Jun to Aug
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
- Shop price
- $4.44/kg
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.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Subtropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Grow nashi or other low-chill pears only, as European pears do not get enough chill here. Plant dormant trees in winter.
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How to Grow Pear in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Deep, well-drained. Tolerates heavier soil than peaches or cherries. Slightly acidic to neutral.
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun, 6+ hours.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Lettuce, Onion, Chives, Garlic
- Keep away from
- Broccoli, Cabbage, Capsicum, Tomato
Subtropical Growing Tips for Pear
Recommended Varieties
- Nashi: Nijisseiki, Hosui, Kosui (low chill)
- European: Hood (if available)
Key Challenges
- Marginal chill for European pears
- Limited variety choice
Pro Tips
- Nashi pears are the best bet for SEQ - lower chill requirement.
- European pears are marginal to poor.
Pests and problems for Pear in Subtropical
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.
Storing and preserving pear
How to keep it
- Drying. Halve or quarter, core. Dip in lemon water. Dehydrate at 55°C for 12-16 hours. Keeps: 12 months.
- Bottling. Peel, halve, core. Pack in light syrup. Water bath 25 minutes. Keeps: 12 months.
- Perry (pear cider). Press juice from ripe pears. Ferment with wine yeast. Keeps: 6-12 months.
- Pear butter. Cook pears with sugar and spices until thick. Jar hot. Keeps: 12 months.
What pear costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
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:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jun to Aug
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jun to Aug
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jun to Aug
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jun to Aug
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jun to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jun to Aug
When should I plant Pear in Brisbane?
Grow nashi or other low-chill pears only, as European pears do not get enough chill here. Plant dormant trees in winter.
How do I know when Pear are ready to harvest?
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).
What are the best Pear varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Nashi: Nijisseiki, Hosui, Kosui (low chill), European: Hood (if available).
What grows well with Pear?
Good companion plants for Pear include: Nasturtium, Lettuce, Onion, Chives, Garlic.
Are pear salt tolerant?
No. Pear are salt-sensitive, one of the more sensitive veggies. Use rainwater if your bore water is salty, or grow them in a raised bed of fresh mix if your soil is.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it 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 Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.