How to Grow Pear Trees From Pits

Learn to grow your own pear trees from harvested fruit seeds.

Pear trees, known botanically as Pyrus communis, are deciduous fruit-bearing trees that produce characteristic pomaceous fruits of the same name. While pear trees can be grown at home from harvested pear seed or "pits," the fruit that they produce will not be "true" and may vary in appearance and taste from the pear you originally consumed. To grow true, delicious pear trees at home, purchase a young pear tree from a local garden center or nursery. Pear trees grow best in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 5 through 9.

Things You'll Need

• 1 fresh pear
• Paper towel
• Shovel
• Spade
• Aged manure
• Peat moss
• Coarse builder's sand
• Garden hose or watering can
• 10-10-10 fertilizer

Instructions

1. Remove all of the seeds from one fresh pear. Wash the pear seeds in warm water to remove any sticky pear pulp. Lay the seeds on a paper towel to air dry.

2. Choose a planting location for your pear seeds that receives full sun six to eight hours per day and has nutrient-rich, well-draining soil.

3. Cover your planting location in a 3-inch layer of equal parts aged manure, peat moss and coarse builder's sand. Till the amendments into the soil to a depth of approximately 6 inches.

4. Create a planting furrow for your pear seeds 3/4 inch deep. Place the pear seeds in the bottom of the furrow, spacing the seeds approximately 1 inch apart. Cover the seeds with 3/4 inch of soil.

5. Cover your freshly-planted pear seeds with 2 inches of coarse builder's sand to prevent the surface of the soil from hardening and making it difficult for your pear seeds to sprout. A heavy layer of sand also makes it harder for wildlife to unearth and eat your seeds before they germinate.

6. Water your planting location lightly immediately after planting your pear seeds to encourage them to germinate. Continue to water as often as necessary to keep the soil just slightly moist to the touch. Provide established pear trees with at least 1 inch of supplemental irrigation each week.

7. Fertilize established pear trees twice a year with a 10-10-10 fertilizer. Apply the first fertilizer application in early spring, before new growth is observed. Apply the second fertilizer application when fruit forms on your tree. Use the fertilizer according to package directions for best results.

Tips & Warnings

• Prune any diseased, damaged or dead branches from your pear tree in the early spring. Use only sharpened and sterilized pruning shears to prevent the spread of plant diseases.

• Pear trees are susceptible to problems with fruit worms, red spider mites, aphids and scale. Treat with an insecticide, if necessary, to restore the health of your trees.

References

• Purdue University: Growing Trees from Seed
• Penn State University: Growing Fruit Trees from Seed
• Virginia Cooperative Extension: Growing Pears
• Texas A&M University Home Fruit Production: Pears

Resources

• University of Georgia: Home Garden Pears
• USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map