How to Grow Comice Pears

Select a location that has good drainage and plentiful sunlight. Choose an area of the yard or garden that is in full sun most of the day. Pear trees do reasonably well in a wide range of soils, and are the most tolerant of all fruit trees when it comes to wet soils, but do not tolerate poorly drained soils.

Prepare the soil before planting your Comice pear tree. If the soil is compacted, thoroughly work it with a shovel. Conduct a soil test to determine the soil pH and nutrient needs. Contact your local county extension office for information on soil testing. A soil pH of 6.0 to 6.5 is optimum for pears, but trees can thrive in soils that have a soil pH of 5 to 7.5.

Plant the pear tree in the winter or early spring while it is dormant. Soak the tree's roots in water for 30 minutes to an hour before planting. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the root system. Trim off all broken or mutilated root parts with a sharp knife before planting. Set the tree in the hole, and then fill it in with soil around the roots, tamping it to eliminate air pockets. Fill in the rest of the hole with soil. Water the tree thoroughly after planting.

Water the pear tree as need. Water young trees at least weekly with 2 gallons of water. Mature pear trees are more drought tolerant, but they will fruit better if they are watered weekly or twice weekly. Be sure to thoroughly soak the soil several inches deep.

Fertilize the pear tree when growth begins. Apply 1/2 cup of balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) in a 2-foot circle around the tree. Keep fertilizer at least 6 inches from the tree trunk to avoid damage to the tree. The best time to fertilize the Comice pear tree is after rain has settled the soil around the roots.

Keep an area at least the width of the canopy of the pear tree or at least 3 feet from the trunk weed-free using a hoe, mulch or chemicals. Consult your county extension agent for recommendations for chemical weed control.

Harvest the Comice pears in the autumn. They are ready to harvest when they change from green to yellow and have firmness similar to a softball. Pick the fruit by snapping it off the tree by twisting it upward.