If your pear tree develops a lot of flowers but no fruit is formed, the cause is often a lack of fertilization. Pear trees are generally not self-pollinating. It usually doesn't work without a second tree.

Pear trees do not pollinate themselves

Many pear varieties are self-sterile. They bear so-called hermaphroditic flowers, which unite both male and female organs in one flower. Self-pollination does not take place in hermaphrodite flowers.

In order to enable pollination, the pear tree is dependent on another pollinator. This is usually a second tree with the same botanical characteristics, for example a second pear tree. This can be the pear tree in the neighboring garden, or you can plant another variety yourself.

Both trees must be within easy reach of each other for wind and bees to pollinate.

Pay attention to trees with the same flowering period

When choosing the second variety, make sure that both trees flower at the same time, because pollination is not possible if the flowering times are different.

Pear varieties that are particularly suitable for pollination

There are a few pear varieties that are good pollinators for many other pear trees. The most well-known are:

  • Early from Trevoux
  • Gellert's Butter Pear
  • conference
  • Club dean's pear
  • Madame Verte

Plant one of these pear varieties near your pear tree for a better chance of a bounty.

If you are not sure which pollinator is right for your pear tree, the nursery will be happy to advise you. There are also comprehensive overviews on the Internet of which pear varieties pollinate each other.

Two varieties of pear trees on one tree

Another solution are pear breeds in which the rootstock has been refined with two different pear varieties. Such breeds carry two varieties on one tree. You just have to make sure that the flowering time of the two selected strains falls at the same time.

tips and tricks

There is not enough space in most gardens for two pear trees. Simply place several pear trees as trellis fruit on the house wall or on wire frames in the garden. Espalier pears take up little space. You can therefore easily plant several varieties.

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Trees