How to Grow Comice Pear
Wikimedia Commons
Comice Pear
Pyrus communis 'Comice'
treeComice is a premium dessert pear variety prized for its exceptional sweetness, buttery texture, and fine flavor. It produces medium to large, greenish-yellow fruit with a red blush and is considered one of the most delicious pear varieties for fresh eating. The tree is moderately vigorous and somewhat susceptible to fire blight.
When should you plant Comice Pear in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Comice Pear timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Comice Pear
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Comice Pear
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Comice Pear dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 5-8; performs best with cool winters and moderate summers
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Establishment
2-3 yearsYoung tree focuses on root and branch development with minimal fruiting
Stake and support young tree; prune to establish strong central leader; remove early flower buds to redirect energy to growth
Early Fruiting
1-2 yearsTree begins producing small flower clusters and sets limited fruit
Thin fruit to 1 per cluster when pea-sized to ensure quality fruit development; maintain consistent watering and fertilization
Flowering
2-3 weeksAbundant white-pink blossoms appear in spring before leaves fully emerge
Ensure adequate pollinator activity (requires pollinator variety nearby such as Bartlett, Seckel, or Bosc); protect blooms from late frosts; thin flowers if overcrowding occurs
Harvest
Harvest occurs over 2-3 weeksMature pears reach full size but may still be firm; flesh becomes creamy and sweet with proper ripening
Harvest when fruit separates easily from branch (late August to September depending on climate); store in cool location to ripen
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Use pheromone traps, apply kaolin clay, thin fruit to reduce harboring sites, apply insecticidal sprays during flight periods
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Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil when sawfly larvae visible; encourage natural predators; remove affected leaves
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Apply dormant oil in late winter; use neem oil or insecticidal soap in growing season; monitor for honeydew and sooty mold
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and
Hand-pick in early morning; use row covers on young trees; apply kaolin clay; use neem oil
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Apply dormant oil spray in late winter; use horticultural oil during growing season; prune infested branches
Uses
Premium Fresh Dessert
CulinaryComice pears are renowned as the finest dessert pear for fresh eating, featuring exceptional sweetness and creamy, buttery texture when properly ripened. They are best enjoyed fresh, sliced, or poached. [source]
Pear Preserves and Cooking
CulinaryThe fruit can be made into jams, preserves, and chutneys, or poached in wine and spices for elegant desserts and culinary applications. [source]
Home Fruit Production
HouseholdProvides an ornamental fruit tree for home gardens with attractive spring blossoms and substantial harvests of high-value fruit, reducing need for store-bought premium pears. [source]
Nutritional Fiber and Antioxidants
MedicinalComice pears are rich in dietary fiber, vitamin C, and polyphenol antioxidants that support digestive health and reduce oxidative stress. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeSpring flowers provide excellent nectar and pollen resources for bees and other early-season pollinators. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Comice pears are best harvested at the 'mature green' stage (late August to September) when they easily separate from the branch but before full ripeness. Harvest by gently twisting and lifting upward. Do not allow fruit to ripen on the tree, as texture becomes grainy. Store at 32°F for up to 3 months, then remove to room temperature 3-4 days before eating to develop optimal buttery texture and sweetness.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Comice pears are so valued for their premium quality that they are often considered a luxury fruit, with some growers using tissue paper to wrap individual fruits to prevent damage and maintain market value.
- 🌱 The variety originated in France and its name means 'committee pear' — it was selected by a committee of fruit growers in the 19th century as their ideal pear cultivar.
- 🌱 Comice pears require cross-pollination with another compatible pear variety to produce fruit, making companion planting essential; Bartlett pear is the most common and reliable pollinator.
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