It is not uncommon to find trees as much as 50 years old that are still producing fruit. At one time pears were grown commercially on a large scale throughout the United States. However, because of the prevalence of fire blight in the humid eastern and southern states, most of the pear production has been relocated to the drier areas of the Pacific Northwest. Click on thumbnail to see full-size graphic. Site and Soil Requirements Air drainage and freedom from spring frosts are important in the location of pear trees.
Pear trees bloom relatively early, normally from one to several weeks before apples.
Thus, they are much more subject to the hazards of spring frosts. As with all fruit trees, sunlight is a key to maximizing fruit production. Pick an area where the trees will be in the sun most or all of the day. The early morning sun is particularly important because it dries the dew from the leaves, thereby reducing the incidence of diseases. If the planting site does not get plenty of sun, do not plant pear trees.