Recommend me a Pear Tree please?

**Ganesha** · 16-04-12, 10:08 AM

Fellow Gardeners, I've decided I need an Espalier fruit tree against my garage wall. See picture below. The wall, as you can see, is painted brightly so it will reflect the sun nicely & it faces directly SW so that's good - lots of sun for most of the day. I cut a little border alongside it years ago & despite attempts to make it into a little 'meadow fringe' with all the usual poppies, grape hyacinths, cornflowers, etc it hasn't worked & all I've had for the last two years is Foxgloves & Forget-Me-Nots. Not that I dislike them, I just want something more productive.

So I've decided on an Espalier Fruit Tree. I asked the Memsahib what she wants & she said Pears. So a pear tree it shall be.

I'm planning a couple of fence posts about 12' apart with straining wire between them at appropriate vertical intervals. See pic below: I've photoshopped in the planned placement of the posts & tree. It'll work well cos I can then plant climbers at each end - Sweet Peas, Runner Beans, etc.

Now I need a tree idea. Any suggestions?

Bob Flowerdew was on GQT yesterday saying 'don't go for Conference cos they're boring & don't fruit well enough as a single plant. Go for Beth or Concorde.'

I looked into this & decided Concorde might be a winner. Any ideas from you seasoned growers as to which Pear might do well as a single plant? (NB: No pear trees in the local vicinity so no cross-pollination likey)

All suggestions gratefully recieved.

**TIKTOK** · 16-04-12, 10:29 AM

I think you have to plant two trees for cross pollination but that could be bollocks, it's niggling away in the back of my sparry heed so thought I'd mention it

**Ganesha** · 16-04-12, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by TIKTOK

I think you have to plant two trees for cross pollination but that could be bollocks, it's niggling away in the back of my sparry heed so thought I'd mention it

Well that's precisely why I need a variety that self-pollinates. Apparently Conference does but doesn't crop nearly as well as when it has a neighbour.

That's why I need a self-pollinating one. Do Concorde do this? I've read conflicing reports. & It's a late-cropper too. Beth is an early cropper so I'm very undecided.

All help, as usual, gratefully accepted.

**TIKTOK** · 16-04-12, 11:15 AM

Get one with a partridge in it and on the first day of Christmas send it to the one you love

**Forest** · 16-04-12, 11:16 AM

it seems conference dont self on this table m8

there no mention of selfing pear trees but thats just one site

http://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/Pollination-Pear-Trees

**Forest** · 16-04-12, 11:30 AM

another quite good link here there does not appear to be a total self tree there a few semi selfs
http://www.pots2plots.com/Fruit/Pear%20Cultivars.htm

**Ganesha** · 16-04-12, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by TIKTOK

Get one with a partridge in it and on the first day of Christmas send it to the one you love

Whey-Hey!! Ba-dum-TISH!!!

Originally Posted by Forest

it seems conference dont self on this table m8

there no mention of selfing pear trees but thats just one site

http://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/Pollination-Pear-Trees

Cheers Forest, I'll check it out.