Pear Conference Trees

The Pyrus communis ‘Conference’ is a delicious pear and one of the best for slightly shady or colder areas. With beautiful white blossoms in spring, loved by bees and fruit in late summer and autumn, loved by birds and small creatures. The Conference pear is a self-fertile, long-lived tree giving much pleasure and is a reliable dessert pear. The tree needs a rich-well drained moist soil, preferably light and loamy. If planted in more northern areas the Conference pear tree will need a warm protected position. The more sun the happier the tree will be, yielding more fruit. Pear trees in general are amenable to pruning, hard pruning in winter, light summer pruning or not at all. If possible, dig in plenty of manure and compost before planting. In spring, weed, mulch and spray with a seaweed solution once a month. When the Conference pear tree is smaller try and protects the blossom from frost.

Soil: Rich, well-drained moist soil. Preferably light & loamy

Position: Full sun,  partial shade, sheltered

Foliage: Deciduous

Flowering: White blossom in spring

Fruiting: Late summer, autumn

Habit: Upright, dwarf

Hardiness: Fully hardy

Growth: Vigorous

Benefits to Wildlife: Bees, insects, birds & small creatures

Height & Spread in Maturity:  Quince Eline (Dwarf) 1.75 – 2 metres x 1.2 metres   Quince A (Semi-vigorous): 4 metres x 3 metres

History: Pears are native to Europe and Asia. The first cultivated varieties were selected from the wild in prehistory. Ancient Phoenicians and pre-Christian Romans grew several improved sorts. By the time of Cato, there were at least half a dozen varieties. Pliny recorded over forty and Palladium recorded fifty-six. In Britain, in 1640 only five dozen were known but this rose to more than seven hundred in 1842. This was mainly the result of the work of a few dedicated breeders in France and Belgium.