How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Bosc Pear Trees

While apples are some of the most popular fall fruits, pears come in a close second. Late-ripening varieties like ‘Bosc’ allow you to enjoy juicy fall fruits, and a large harvest means you’ll have plenty to preserve. Plus, since ‘Bosc’ pears have a great storage life, you can continue to enjoy fresh fruits into the winter.

Growing pears at home may seem overwhelming, especially if this is your first time planting a fruit tree. However, as long as you have the proper environment, planting and caring for these trees is pretty simple.

I’ll explain how to select an ideal location for your ‘Bosc’ pear tree and provide the proper follow-up care. I’ll also share some common problems to look out for and offer tips for preventing and treating these issues.

What Is a Bosc Pear?

The ‘Bosc’ pear is an heirloom variety of the European pear (Pyrus communis). It’s a popular commercial variety readily available in grocery stores, but it’s delicious enough to warrant growing at home. The fruits have an elongated shape with light brown skin and firm flesh.

Native Range

Despite their common name, European pears are native to western China. Around 3,000 years ago, they arrived in Europe, where people cultivated them for fresh eating and cider making. Pear lovers cross-pollinated the trees to develop new varieties, such as the ‘Bosc’ pear.

This variety emerged sometime in the early 19th century, although its people debate its exact origin. Some people say the pears were first created in Belgium, while others argue they were discovered in France. Regardless, this pear variety made its way to the eastern United States in either 1832 or 1833. While you can still find ‘Bosc’ pears growing in this region today, they are primarily grown in the Pacific Northwest.

Characteristics

‘Bosc’ pears stand out from other European pears due to their unique shape, texture, and color. The fruits have a classic pear shape but sport a more elongated neck than varieties like ‘D’Anjou’ and ‘Barlett.’ Their skin is a warm, light brown prone to harmless discolored patches known as russetting.

These pears have firmer flesh than many other European pears, so they’re excellent for slicing and using in baked goods. However, their sweet and slightly spicy flavor and noticeable juiciness make them great for fresh eating. ‘Bosc’ pears develop their sweetness when they’re still quite firm, so you can eat them before they’re completely soft.

The trees themselves are similar to other European pears. Their mature height depends on the rootstock. Most ‘Bosc’ scions are grafted onto semi-dwarfing rootstocks, so they’ll grow between 10-15 feet tall. However, obtaining smaller trees by grafting onto dwarfing rootstocks and larger ones by grafting onto standard rootstocks is also possible.

Planting Bosc Pears

There are two main options when it comes to planting pear trees: potted and bare-root. Both options are readily available through in-person and online nurseries and can produce healthy specimens. However, each option has its advantages and requirements, so choose the one that best fits your garden and needs.

No matter which option you select, choose a location with well-draining soil and full sun. Be sure you won’t hit any underground utilities when digging, and check for any overhead obstacles that will hit the tree’s growing branches.

Pollination requirements: To set fruit, ‘Bosc’ pears require another pear variety that blooms at a similar time. ‘Comice,’ ‘D’Anjou,’ and ‘Corsica’ are all suitable pollinators.

Planting Bare-Root Trees

Bare-root trees are dormant plants that nurseries dig up, trim, and ship without soil. Their slim design means they’re lighter weight and easier to ship than those growing in containers. Therefore, they’re often less expensive than potted specimens.

Since bare-roots are dormant, you must plant them when outdoor vegetation is dormant. You can plant anytime from the late fall through early spring, as long as the ground isn’t frozen. Planting in the fall is ideal since it lets the plants settle into their new home and put on root growth before they break dormancy.

A day before you plant your tree, place the roots in water and let them soak for 24 hours. The following day, dig a hole a bit wider than the tree’s roots and set the tree in the hole so the graft union is a few inches above the soil line. Backfill with soil and water well.

Planting Potted Trees

Container-grown trees grow in plastic pots. Since they are already growing in soil, you don’t have to plant them as soon as you bring them home. Like bare-root trees, fall and spring are the best times to plant.

When it’s time to plant, dig a hole as deep as the plant’s rootball and twice as wide. Remove the tree from its container and gently loosen the roots with your hands. Place the tree in the hole, spread the roots, fill it with soil, and water well.

How to Grow Bosc Pear Trees 

Bosc pears are pretty simple to grow, especially when you compare them to other fruit trees. Providing the proper environment is the first crucial step, followed by proper pruning and maintenance.

Light

Like other pears, ‘Bosc’ trees require lots of sunlight to remain healthy and produce fruits and flowers. Eight hours of direct sun each day is the bare minimum, and they will be happy with more light.

If you have to choose between morning and evening shade, opt for evening shade. Morning light helps dry the tree’s leaves and prevents fungal diseases that are more likely to occur in moist conditions.

Water

Newly planted trees require moist soil to help them adjust to their new environment with as little stress as possible. If you transplant in the fall, soil moisture is less of a concern. However, if you plant your pear tree in the spring, plan to water it at least once a week.

As your tree matures, you will need to water it less. However, supplying water during dry periods will help keep it healthy. Apply water near the tree’s base while keeping the foliage and trunk dry.

Soil

‘Bosc’ pear trees require well-draining soil to remain healthy. While they prefer a nice loam, they aren’t specific about soil type as long as it allows excess moisture to drain. A slightly neutral pH between 6.0 and 7.0 is ideal.

Temperature and Humidity

‘Bosc’ pear trees have moderate chilling requirements and cold hardiness, so they can grow well in various growing zones. They thrive in zones 5-8, and can also be grown in zone 4 and zone 9, although they will experience more stress in these areas.

This variety is cold-hardy to -25°F (-32°C), so cold damage is rarely a concern if you live in zone four and above. However, protecting newly planted trees from sudden cold snaps will limit the stress they experience. Mulching the base of the trees with wood chips and wrapping the top with burlap will help limit cold stress.

‘Bosc’ trees don’t love prolonged temperatures above 90°F (32°C), but they can survive heat spells. Watering the soil during hot and dry periods will help the plants cool themselves.

Fertilizing

As long as your soil is healthy, you don’t need to add much fertilizer to your pear tree during the first few years of growth. Adding fertilizer encourages the tree to put on new growth. While this growth may sound like a good thing, a rapid increase in size can cause structural problems and lead to increased susceptibility to diseases, pests, and drought stress.

Although you should be careful to avoid over-fertilizing, you can apply fertilizer if your trees need it. A soil test is the best way to determine which nutrients you should add. Avoid applying any high-nitrogen fertilizers, since these can encourage shoot production and draw energy away from fruits.

The best time to fertilize your ‘Bosc’ tree is in the spring, around the time of bud break. Never add fertilizer after July, since this can encourage the plants to put on tender new growth that is more susceptible to cold damage. 

Maintenance

Like most deciduous fruit trees, ‘Bosc’ pears benefit from regular pruning. This careful removal of branches helps prevent crowded and crossing branches, which improves airflow, limits disease, and increases fruit production. The best time to prune your pear tree is in the late winter.

In the first few years of growth, your pear tree will require limited pruning. Your main goal is to establish a central leader and remove the top few inches of this leader. Removing the terminal bud will encourage the plant to develop a series of horizontal branches off this main leader. If branches are growing vertically along the main leader, you can use close pins to encourage more horizontal growth.

As the tree grows, pruning involves removing vertical, broken, and diseased branches. You can also continue to remove the end portions of branches to encourage new shoot production.

Harvesting and Storage

‘Bosc’ pears start to ripen at the beginning to middle of fall. Unlike many other tree fruits, pears won’t ripen on the tree. Since they ripen from the inside out, pears that become soft on the tree are also mealy and undesirable.

Therefore, you should harvest your ‘Bosc’ pears when they’re mature but before they’re ripe. Since you can’t use color or texture to determine when pears are ready to harvest, it can be tricky knowing when to pick them. Fortunately, there’s an easy trick.

Grab a pear gently in your hand and tilt it upwards 90°. If the stem easily breaks away from the branch, it’s ready. If it shows any resistance, leave it on the tree.

Once you remove your pears from the tree, you can allow them to ripen on the counter or place them in cold storage. ‘Bosc’ pears will ripen in about a week at room temperature and have a slightly soft neck when ripe.

If you want to store your pears for later use, place them in an area just above freezing. A refrigerator works well, as does a cold root cellar. ‘Bosc pears can be kept for a few months in cold storage and will ripen once you place them in a warmer area.

Common Problems

Compared to fruit trees like peaches and cherries, pear trees are relatively problem-free. They face far fewer fungal diseases but are still susceptible to numerous bacterial and fungal issues. Here are some of the common problems your ‘Bosc’ pear tree may face.

Fire Blight

This is a serious disease that can kill young trees in a single growing season. It’s caused by the bacteria Erwinia amylovora which spreads by splashing water or insects. 

The bacteria enters a branch or trunk and kills a small section of the tree, leading to a dead area known as a canker. While many of the bacteria die over the winter, a single oozing active canker can produce millions of these harmful pathogens.

In the spring, splashing water, pruning equipment, and insects spread the bacteria from the active canker to the trees’ blossoms, twigs, and shoots. Infected tissues appear water-soaked and eventually turn brown and die.

Treating fire blight is difficult but not impossible. If you notice your trees are infected, prune off infected twigs and cankers during the winter. Burn these materials or place them in the trash, and continue to monitor your tree for signs of fire blight.

You can also help prevent fire blight by choosing a resistant rootstock. When you’re buying a ‘Bosc’ pear tree, take note of its rootstock and research the corresponding disease resistance.

Codling Moths

Although codling moths are typically a bigger problem on apple trees, they can also infect pear trees. The brown moths lay their tiny eggs on pear leaves and fruit, and small larvae soon emerge. The larvae typically feed on pear fruits, leaving multiple unwanted channels through the pear.

Since the adults overwinter in tree bark, populations can quickly increase from year to year. Therefore, you should treat the pests as soon as you spot them.

Regularly check your pears for small holes that indicate the presence of codling moths, and remove them from the tree. You can also choose to cover maturing fruits with mesh bags, but this time-intensive method is best for small trees with few fruits. Another control method involves placing a band of cardboard around the tree’s trunk and removing it once mature larvae go under the band to pupate.

Frequently Asked Questions