How to Grow Asian Pears in Georgia

Asian pears (Pyrus pyrifolia) are crisper and sweeter than European pears but the tree is not as cold-hardy. They also don't do well in Georgia's heat and humidity and thus aren't grown commercially in the state. However, many home gardeners and hobbyists in the state have been successful growing them for personal use. Asian pears are ready to harvest from the middle of summer until the end of September.

• 1

  Plant the Asian pear tree in an area that will provide it with sunshine for most of the day, especially in the morning. Don't choose a site that is located in a depression in the landscape, as a late spring frost in Georgia will settle in the lower elevations and can kill the early pear buds.

• 2

  Plant at least two Asian pear trees to allow for cross-pollination. Allow 20 feet between the trees.

• 3

  Water the newly planted pear tree to keep the soil moist at all times. Once the tree matures you can cut back to watering only during periods of drought.

• 4

  Prune the Asian pear tree immediately after planting to one main cane that is 24 to 30 inches tall. After its first season in the ground, cut any limbs or shoots that are lower than 18 inches from the soil level. Choose the four strongest limbs to be the tree's scaffolding branches. These should be adjacent to one another on the tree and will form the tree's structure, becoming the main fruiting branches.

• 5

  Watch for signs of disease. Pear trees in Georgia are susceptible to fire blight. Remove any diseased or damaged branches immediately by cutting them back to healthy wood or cut them completely off. When you cut back to healthy wood, cut 6 inches into it. Sterilize the pruning shears after working on diseased wood.

• 6

  Fertilize the Asian pear with a 10-10-10 formula. Use 1 cup of fertilizer for each year of the tree's age. Give the tree half of the amount in the early spring before the tree comes out of dormancy and the other half after the fruit has set. If the second fertilization falls on a day hot day in Georgia, apply the fertilizer early in the morning. Sprinkle it on the soil beneath the tree, at the dripline. Lightly scratch it in with a rake or hoe and water until the top 6 inches of soil is wet. Do not fertilize a tree after heavy pruning. Wait until the next season to fertilize.