Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
With the exception of the varieties 'Tsu Li' and 'Ya Li', Asian pear trees tend
to be small, reaching heights and spreads of about 12 feet.
Asian Pears at a Glance
Chilling requirements:
32 to 55°F (0 to 13°C) or less for 450 hours
Region:
USDA Zones 5 to 9. Humid areas can make Asian pear produc-
tion challenging.
Soil pH and type:
Deep, well-drained soils with a pH between 6 and 7,
although pear trees tolerate heavy, poorly drained soils somewhat bet-
ter than most tree fruits
Pollination:
Partially self-fruitful but set larger and better crops when
cross-pollinated
Other notes:
Trees come into production slowly, bearing a few fruits in
year 3 and 200 to 500 packed boxes per acre in years 5 to 7.
The fruit is called “apple pear” due to the fact that Asian varieties often re-
semble apples in shape and texture. They are generally rounder than typical
European pears and have crisp, tart flesh, rather than the soft, buttery, melt-
ing quality of European varieties. European pears are usually harvested ma-
ture but not ripe and placed into storage to ripen. During storage, the fruits
become softer and sweeter. Asian varieties, however, are picked ripe because
they do not continue to ripen during storage.
Beginning in the 1950s, named Asian pear varieties were introduced to
North America and planted in test blocks, but they proved difficult to pro-
duce and market, and most were removed. Around the mid-1980s, Califor-
nia fruit growers again introduced Asian pears to the United States and
