Varieties of Pears for Late Frosts

Protecting Existing Plantings

• Existing pear trees in some areas are suffering more than ever from late frosts as winter temperatures fluctuate. Trees planted in areas where they were once suitable may need extra protection on spring nights when frost threatens. A few pear trees can be covered with plastic tents and heated with small heaters, giving good protection to buds. A solution for larger plantings is running a sprinkler when temperatures threaten to dip below freezing. The sprinkler must continue running until all the ice melts in the morning.

Short-Season Pears

• Winter chilling is vital to fruit formation. When temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, fruit trees enter their dormant periods. After a sufficient number of chilling hours, the fruit trees begin emerging from dormancy. Pears were bred with a range of chilling-hour requirements for a variety of growing conditions. In areas where late frosts are a problem, those pears needing a high number of chilling hours but ripen quickly are more successful than other varieties.

European Pears

• European pears are what most people imagine when they think of pears. These fruits have narrow tops and large bottoms, and come in a variety of colors. Many European pears are up to the late-frost challenge. Varieties grown in regions with very late frosts include Bartlett, Bosc, Conference, Gourmet, Flemish Beauty, Luscious, Orcas, Parker, Rescue, Summercrisp and Ure.

Asian Pears

• Asian pears are more difficult to grow with short seasons, but a few are showing success in frost-prone areas. Recent introductions that produce apple-shaped fruits with firmer flesh than other pear varieties include Atago, Kosui, Seuri, Shinseiki, Shinsui and Yoinashi grown in central Oregon, an area where frosts are problematic. Fruit set for these pears is improved when they are pollinated by European varieties.