Pears are a delicious and juicy fruit that can be grown in the garden. It takes time and care for a pear tree to grow well, but in the end you will be able to enjoy the fruit you grow yourself. From one small pear, you can have a fruitful pear tree that the whole family will love.
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Part 1 of 4: Stratifying Pear Seeds
Step 1. Collect seeds in early February
In the country of the four seasons, pear seeds germinate well in late winter or early spring. In Indonesia, pear seeds can germinate at any time as long as you do the stratification (cooling process) first. By collecting seeds in February, you will have enough time to stratify the seeds. Stratification will aid germination and increase seedling success.
Step 2. Remove the seeds from the pear
You can use store-bought pears. Use a paring knife to cut the pear into two halves. Cut each piece in half so you can easily pick up the seeds in the center. Take the pear seeds using your fingers or a spoon. You can get about 8 seeds from one pear.
- Each pear is unique because of cross-pollination. If you want to plant more trees in the future that will produce the same fruit, store half of the seeds in a plastic bag and refrigerate for two years.
- You can also use pears plucked from the tree. Be sure to pick fully ripe fruit for the seeds.
- You can also get pear seeds at a nursery or farm store.
Step 3. Soak the pear seeds in water for one night
Remove any seeds that float. Seeds that can grow well are those that sink to the bottom of the basin. Take the pear seeds the next morning. Mix 10 parts water with 1 part bleach. Soak pear seeds in this mixture for 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
Step 4. Put the wet peat moss in a plastic bag
Peat moss (planting media made from several materials such as moss and decayed grass) can hold water and moisture, which can be found in farm stores. Place the wet peat moss in a ziploc plastic bag. Peat moss should be damp, but not soaking wet.
You can also use wet potting soil (a growing medium designed for potted plants), but you will need to water more often
Step 5. Put the pear seeds 5-8 cm deep into the peat moss
Bury at least 4 pears in peat moss, then seal the bag tightly. The more seeds you place in the moss, the more likely it is that the seeds will germinate.
Step 6. Store the plastic bag in a cool, dry part of the refrigerator shelf for up to 3 months
Put the plastic bag in the refrigerator for 2-3 months. This will give the seeds enough time to start the germination process. Peat moss will retain moisture during this time, but you should still check it every 2 weeks.
If the peat moss is dry, moisten it again using a spray bottle
Step 7. Remove the plastic bag when the outside temperature exceeds 4 °C
Three months later, you can take the pear seeds out of the refrigerator. If you live in a country with four seasons and there is no frost or the temperature is not lower than 4 °C, you can take the pear seeds out of the refrigerator early.
Step 8. Soak the pear seeds in warm water for two days
The outer shell of a pear seed is so tough that it must be softened before you plant it in the ground. Soak the seeds in water for two full days before you pick them up.
If any seeds float in the water when you soak them, they will not grow and must be discarded
Part 2 of 4: Planting Seeds in Nursery Containers
Step 1. Put the potting soil in a plastic cup and plant the pear seeds about 1 cm deep
Space each seed evenly as you plant them. If you plant 4 seeds, imagine the plastic cup is a clock and plant the seeds at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock positions.
Insert a toothpick next to each seed to mark where it is planted
Step 2. Water the pear seeds and wait for 2 to 3 weeks
Water the pear seeds until the soil is moist to the touch. Do not over-water it because it can make the seeds submerged in water. About 2 or 3 weeks later, the seeds will sprout through the soil.
Step 3. Place the plastic cup in a bright location
In order to grow, seedlings that have sprouted must be placed in a warm, well-lit location (for example, on a windowsill). Remember, the more light your plant gets, the more often you will have to water it.
If you want to retain moisture in the pear seedlings, try wrapping the nursery glass loosely in plastic. This allows the soil to retain moisture for a longer time
Step 4. Wait until the pear seedlings have 4 true leaves
The first leaves to appear are actually cotyledons, not true leaves. True leaves will grow over time and are similar in shape to pear leaves on mature trees. If at least 4 true leaves appear, the pear seedlings are ready to be transplanted.
Step 5. Transfer the seedlings to separate pots
Remove the seedlings from the plastic cup using a ruler or garden utensil, and make sure the roots are not damaged. Once removed from the seedbed, plant the pear seedlings into a hole larger than the root ball and fill it with topsoil.
- At this point, you can place the seedlings indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather. If the sun is shining brightly, it's a good idea to keep it indoors until the seedlings grow bigger.
- When the seedling is too big for the pot, move the plant to a larger pot so you can still move it indoors or outdoors.
Part 3 of 4: Transferring Seeds to Pages
Step 1. Plant the seedlings at the start of the rainy season
In a country with four seasons, plant the seeds in the ground at the start of the growing season so the roots have a chance to sprout before winter arrives. You can plant them in late spring or early summer so the seedlings have enough time to grow.
Step 2. Find an area that has good drainage and gets 6 hours of sun
Well-drained soil and full sun provide ideal growing conditions. If it rains, check the area for any standing water on the surface. If the water stagnates, you may need to find another planting location.
- To test soil drainage, dig a hole 30 cm wide and 30 cm deep and fill it with water. Measure the water level every hour. If the water level drops by 2.5 to 8 cm every hour, the soil has good drainage.
- Over time, the roots will spread. So, pay close attention to the planting location. Do not plant pear trees near important structures, or other plants that require adequate amounts of water.
Step 3. Plant pear trees 6-8 meters apart between plants
It is recommended that you plant 2 pear trees to encourage cross-pollination. When fully grown, pear trees can reach 12 meters in height and require some space between the two trees.
Dwarf pear trees should be planted with a distance of about 3.5 to 4.5 meters between plants
Step 4. Remove the circular roots on the tree trunk using scissors
If you're sowing a seedling in a pot, chances are that the roots will grow in a circle around the stem. Lay out the seedlings and trim the roots that are wrapped around the plant stems using sharp garden shears.
Alternatively, you can straighten the coiled roots by hand if possible
Step 5. Make a hole about 8 centimeters deeper and wider than the root
Give extra space for seedlings to grow and to help establish a root system. After digging the hole, you can fill the soil back to level.
You don't need to fertilize when planting seedlings, but you can mix the soil with peat moss or compost, if you prefer
Step 6. Tie the stem of the plant to the stake (support stick)
By tying the stem to the stake, the plant will grow straight. You can use two stakes and a flexible material shaped like a figure 8 around the stem of the plant.
Part 4 of 4: Caring for a Pear Tree
Step 1. Place a shield around the base of the plant
Some small mammals can eat the skin around the base of the plant. So you have to put a shield around the stem of the plant. Tree protectors can be purchased at farm or hardware stores. If the bark is rough and crusty, you can remove the shield.
Tree shade can also protect the trunk from sun exposure
Step 2. Water the pear tree once a week in the first year
In the beginning, tree roots cannot absorb enough water to survive. Water the pear tree in the morning or evening when the plant is not in direct sunlight. As the plant grows, the roots will be able to provide enough water for the tree.
- Check the soil around the tree. If it feels damp, do not water. Excessive watering can also damage the plant.
- Water the plant more often in the dry season.
Step 3. Fertilize the pear tree once a year
At the beginning of the rainy season, apply ammonium nitrate fertilizer. Use 60 grams of fertilizer multiplied by the age of the tree. The amount can vary depending on the level of soil fertility.
- If the leaves are yellow or pale green in the dry season, apply more fertilizer the following year.
- If the tree grows more than 30 centimeters in one season, reduce the use of fertilizer the following season.
Step 4. Prune the tree branches with sharp garden shears
If any branches are broken or dead, this is the time to do some pruning. Do pruning at the beginning of the rainy season. Prune off diseased or overlapping branches. Cut as close to the base of the branch as possible.
Leave the distance between the branches of about 30 centimeters so that the fruit can appear on all branches
Step 5. Harvest pears 3 years later
Pear trees take at least three years to bear fruit, but it can also take 10 years. Pick the pears when the color begins to change and the texture is still firm. Pears will complete ripening when kept indoors.
