Can You Advise Me On A Suitable Pear Tree That Could Help Cross Pollinate My Existing Two Pear Trees?

Question

In early 2020 I purchased two pear trees from a local gardening centre, both with Quince A root stock, namely a Louise Bonne of Jersey and a Doyenne du Comice. I was advised that they would complement each other through X pollination. In 2020 and 2021 I had no pears and this year there are only two and one pear growing on the respective trees. They are both healthy trees and are growing well. They are planted about 10 feet apart. The problem seems to be that their respective flowering periods are NOT coterminous so my pollinator friends are unable to satisfactorily complete their allotted task! It would appear to me, therefore, that I would need, ideally, to plant an additional tree with an extended flowering period which straddles most of the flowering periods of my existing trees. Any suggestions or other advice would be most welcome!

Answer 1

You need trees in the same pollinator group or bloom at the same time. Louise Bonne of Jersey is in group 2 and Doyenne du Comice is in group 4 so you need to find a third tree that blooms around the same time. It may be best to inquire at a fruit tree nursery which variety that would be. Comice pears take 3 to 5 years after planting to produce fruit.

Researching on the web, I saw these varieties as pollinators for Doyenne du Comice: Winter Nelis, Concorde and Conference. There are lots more listed on various sites. Conference will also pollinate Louise Bonne.

Another thing you can do is plant flowers that will attract bees so you have more bees readily available when your trees come into bloom.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/pear/pear-tree-pollination.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/pear/comice-pear-tree-care.htm

https://www.rhs.org.uk/fruit/pears/choosing-cultivars

http://treefruit.wsu.edu/web-article/pear-pollination/

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/attracting-bees.htm