How to Grow Pear Trees from Pear Seeds

Growing a pear tree from pear seeds is a fun project you can enjoy with the whole family. Pear trees are easy to grow, can be grown in zone 4 or higher for most species, and are largely resistant to pests and disease. While these trees can be fun to grow, and make wonderful specimen trees, growing them for fruit would be a long process. There’s an old saying, “Plant a pear for your heirs.” It can take up to 20 years from some varieties to bear fruit! Also, pear trees planted from seed will likely bear different fruit than the donor pear. Read on for the easy steps to grow a pear tree from pear seeds.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pear(s)
• Plastic bag
• Sand, vermiculite, peat moss or soil
• Paper towel
• Water
• Planting pot & soil

1. Eat a pear! You can get your pear seeds from a recently eaten pear. For variety, try a few different types of pear. This gives you a better chance to grow quality trees and have some variety in your planted pear trees.

2. Clean the seeds. A simple stream of water and finger rubbing will do the trick.

3. Refrigerate the seeds for up to 12 weeks. If planting outside, do this 12 weeks before the last frost. Place the seeds in a sealed plastic bag. Within the bag, the seeds can be placed in a moist mixture of vermiculite, peat moss, soil or sand. You may also choose a damp paper towel instead. This process is called stratification and is meant to simulate the effects of winter. Without this process, the chances of seed germination are far lower. Keep the baggy moist, but not liquid. Too much water will cause mold.

4. Plant your pear seeds. Using quality potting soil and a sizeable pot, 8-12” should be fine to start, plant the seeds about one inch below the soil. Plant one seed per pot, and keep the pots labeled. Keep the soil moist and in a sunny location.

5. Care for your seedling. Germination should occur within 90 days. Pears love sun! Keep tabs on the soil to keep it moist. Overly dry or wet conditions are not advised.

6. Plant the tree outside. Do this after the tree has reached a height between one and two feet, and the stalk is sturdy. If you live in a climate where temperatures drop below -18 degrees Fahrenheit, planting outside may not be an option.

Tips & Warnings

• This is a fun project for smaller children. Let them discover the magic of seed growing!
• Keep everything labeled when trying different varieties.
• Don’t expect fruit for many, many years.
• If you want a fruit bearing tree quicker, you will need to purchase a tree from a nursery, or perhaps try a grafting process.