Pear Trees in France: One-Hectare Plot Establishment and Work Schedule

Quick Read / The Essentials of the Pear Tree

The pear tree (Pyrus communis) is a highly valued fruit tree in arboriculture, offering a regular production of tasty fruit. To ensure a successful crop, it is essential to properly prepare the soil, adjust planting density, and implement effective irrigation and fertilization management.

One of the key elements of a successful pear orchard is the selection of quality plants . As a specialist wholesale supplier of pear plants , Arboriverse offers a range of plants rigorously selected to ensure vigorous growth and optimal fruiting.

If you want to buy pear plants , it is recommended to plant them between autumn and winter , when the tree can root effectively. The recommended spacing is 5-6 m between rows and 3-4 m within the row , allowing for good ventilation and harmonious development of the orchard.

Cross-pollination is a determining factor in pear tree productivity. Some varieties, such as Dr. Jules Guyot or Packham's Triumph, require the presence of other compatible varieties to ensure good fruiting. Installing a drip irrigation system ensures a regular water supply, especially during the early years and during the production period.

Thanks to its expertise, Arboriverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of pear plants , helps you select varieties suited to your region and offers certified plants to maximize the yield and profitability of your orchard. If you are considering purchasing pear plants , trust our professional solutions for a successful and sustainable establishment.

Typical Layout for a Plot of One Hectare of Pear Trees

1. Preparation of the ground

• Soil Selection: Select well-drained soil, rich in organic matter, with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.5-7.5). Pear trees can grow on a variety of soil types, including limestone, clay, sandy, and humus-rich soils.
• Soil Test: Perform a soil test and adjust fertility if necessary.
• Soil work:
  • Work the soil deeply (60-80 cm) to encourage good rooting.
  • Remove weeds and incorporate compost or well-rotted manure.
• Soil amendment:
  • Adding well-rotted manure: It is sometimes also advantageous to add 20 to 30 tonnes of manure per hectare (ask an agronomist for advice).
• Improve drainage: If necessary, add a layer of gravel or coarse sand to prevent excess moisture.
• Windbreaks: Consider installing windbreaks if your plot is exposed.

2. Planting

• Planting period: The apple tree can be planted at any time of the year, but the optimal planting period is generally between 1 and 12.
• Density: Planting density can vary. Trellised systems can increase planting density to 1000-1500 trees/ha, compared to 200-400 trees/ha for traditional orchards.
• Spacing: Recommended spacing is 5-6 m between rows and 3-4 m within the row, or approximately 400 to 600 trees per hectare.
• Planting Holes: Dig holes 43 cm (17 inches) deep and 51 cm (20 inches) in diameter.
• Tutoring:
  • Yes, it is recommended to tie the Bererd Pear tree to a stake when planting. This helps keep the tree upright and protect it from strong winds.
  • It is recommended to tie the Dr. Jules Guyot Pear Tree to a stake to allow it to grow straight and be well supported in strong winds.
  • Although the tree is vigorous, it is recommended to provide a stake for the first five years of the tree's life, especially if the rootstock is weak.

3. Irrigation

• Irrigation system: Installation of the irrigation system (drip recommended).
• Water requirements: It is important to make a trench basin all around the trunk to keep the irrigation water when planting and avoid watering it every day.

4. Choice of varieties

Pollination:

• Clapp's Favorite Pear Tree: Pollinates well with Triomphe De Vienne.
• The Dr. Jules Guyot Pear Tree: It is not self-fertile, so it is essential to plant it near other fruit trees of the same genus to ensure good pollination. The best pollinators are the General Leclerc, William's, and Conference pear trees.
• Packham's Triumph Pear Tree: Is a good pollinator for the William variety, but requires a variety with the same flowering period for good pollination.
• The Fausset Pear Tree: Is generally self-sterile, meaning that it requires the presence of other pear trees to pollinate effectively. However, it can be supplemented with hand pollination if necessary.
• Partially self-fertile variety: Requires the presence of other pear varieties nearby to improve pollination and increase the number of fruits.
• The perry pear tree: Requires cross-pollination to bear fruit. It is recommended to plant several compatible trees to obtain fruit.

10-Year Work Schedule for a One-Hectare Plot of Pear Trees

Year 1 (Preparation and planting)

• Autumn :
  • Soil analysis and amendments if necessary (ideal pH between 6.5 and 7.5).
  • Deep plowing (40-50 cm) and subsoiling if necessary.
  • Addition of 30-50 t/ha of composted manure.
• Winter :
  • Planting trees with a spacing of 5-6 m between rows and 3-4 m in the row (400-600 trees/ha).
• Spring :
  • Installation of the irrigation system.
  • Training size.

Year 2: Tree Training

• Winter :
  • Formative pruning (removal of low branches, selection of 3-4 main branches).
• Spring :
  • Fertilization (30-40 units N, 20-30 units P, 40-50 units K per ha).
• Summer :
  • Weeding.
  • Irrigation (30-40 mm/week).

Year 3: Start of production

• Winter :
  • Maintenance pruning (thinning out branches, opening up the center).
• Spring :
  • Fertilization (60-70 units N, 30-40 units P, 60-70 units K per ha).
• Summer :
  • Manual thinning of fruits (keep 1-2 fruits per floral bouquet).
• Autumn :
  • First small harvest (1-2 kg/tree).

Year 4

• Winter: Maintenance pruning.
• Spring: Fertilization (80-100 units N, 40-50 units P, 80-100 units K per ha).
• Summer: Thinning out the fruit (keep 3-4 fruits per bunch).
• Autumn: Harvest (15-20 kg/tree).

Years 5 and beyond

• Winter: Annual maintenance pruning (removal of 20-30% of the year's wood).
• Spring: Fertilization (100-120 units N, 50-60 units P, 100-120 units K per ha).
• Summer: Thinning out the fruit (keep 4-5 fruits per bunch).
• Late summer/autumn: Harvest (25-40 kg/tree at full production).

Annual recurring operations

• Phytosanitary treatment: 3-4 treatments against scab and codling moth.
• Irrigation: 3000-4000 m³/ha/year by drip.
• Mechanical weeding: 3-4 passes per year.
• Soil analysis every 3 years to adjust fertilization.

Pruning techniques

• Pear tree maintenance is mainly done by pruning for fruiting and cleaning. Fruit pruning is necessary to avoid low yields or an unpredictable harvest.
• The "trigemma cut" or "3-eye cut" is an easy method to put into practice.
• To obtain abundant and good quality production, it is recommended to practice thinning and aeration pruning to limit the appearance of diseases and improve the light and color of the fruits.
• Pruning can help prevent certain diseases by promoting better air circulation and removing dead or diseased branches.
• It is important to carry out annual pruning to maintain a beautiful crown and avoid low yield.

Other recommendations

• Soil maintenance: In spring, lightly plow the base of the tree, at the level of the branches, and incorporate a special fruit tree fertilizer.
• Weeding: Frequent weeding is carried out to always keep the soil clean at the base of the tree.
• Mulching: The ideal is to put in place a natural mulch with straw or pebbles.
• Arborist Services: For optimal maintenance, it is recommended to consult an expert arborist who can advise on the actions to take on your trees to maximize their performance and longevity.
• Disease sensitivity: No known sensitivity on our part and penalizing to production, perry pear trees are traditionally grown without treatment.
• Monitoring Tree Health: When purchasing seedlings, make sure the trees are healthy and well-maintained.
• Regional Adaptation: Make sure the pear varieties you offer are adapted to the specific region of your customer base.

This calendar is a guide and should be adapted according to local conditions, variety specificities and field observations. Pruning and thinning are essential techniques for optimizing pear production in professional orchards.

To summarize: the Pear Tree

Growing pear trees requires careful site preparation , careful monitoring of irrigation and controlled pollination management to ensure optimal production. Well-drained soil, rich in organic matter and a pH between 6.5 and 7.5 provide an ideal environment for tree rooting and development.

The optimal spacing in a traditional orchard is 5 to 6 meters between rows and 3 to 4 meters in the row , or a density of 400 to 600 trees/ha . For trellised systems, the density can be increased to 1000-1500 trees/ha to optimize productivity. Staking is recommended in the first few years , especially for weak rootstocks or varieties sensitive to strong winds.

Irrigation is a key factor , especially in times of drought or during the fruit growth phase. A drip irrigation system is recommended for a regular and controlled water supply . Training and maintenance pruning plays a vital role in structuring trees and improving yield.

Regarding pollination , many pear varieties require a compatible pollinator to produce optimal fruit. Variety selection should therefore be carefully considered based on cross-pollination needs. Thinning the fruit can improve the size and quality of the harvest.

To ensure the success of your orchard, it is essential to source from a reliable supplier. Arboriverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of pear plants , guarantees you rigorously selected plants, adapted to the growing conditions and needs of professional arborists.

If you are looking to buy pear plants , we offer certified plants, carefully selected to ensure successful planting and abundant production . Our experts will guide you every step of the way to help you maximize your yield and ensure the sustainability of your orchard.