How to Grow Red Comice Pear
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Red Comice Pear
Pyrus communis 'Comice'
treeRed Comice is a premium pear variety prized for its exceptionally sweet, buttery flesh and attractive deep red coloring when ripe. This medium-sized deciduous tree is a dessert pear that requires cross-pollination and careful ripening management. It is considered one of the finest eating pears available, though it is more challenging to grow commercially than some hardier varieties.
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Example Red Comice Pear timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Red 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 Red Comice Pear
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Red Comice Pear dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 5-9, with best results in zones 6-8 where winter chill is adequate but late spring frosts are less common
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Get my Red Comice Pear timeline →Growth Stages
Establishment (Years 1-2)
2 yearsYoung tree focuses on root and branch structure development rather than fruit production. Canopy is sparse with vigorous new growth.
Remove early flowers to direct energy to tree structure; stake and prune to develop open center or central leader form; maintain consistent watering; mulch around base with 2-3 inches of organic material
Young Bearing (Years 3-4)
2 yearsTree begins to produce flowers and small fruit crops; canopy fills in with secondary branches. Growth rate slows as energy shifts to fruiting.
Allow limited fruit set (thin to 1 fruit per 6 inches of branch); continue structural pruning; thin fruit clusters early for larger pears; begin monitoring for pests and diseases
Flowering & Fruit Set (Spring)
3-4 weeksTree produces abundant clusters of white flowers with pink tinges. Flowers appear before or as leaves emerge. Requires pollinator activity or hand-pollination.
Ensure cross-pollinator variety is nearby (Bartlett, Bosc, or Seckel work well); promote bee activity; avoid spraying pesticides during bloom; thin flowers if heavy crop expected to prevent branch breakage
Fruit Development (Summer)
8-12 weeksFruit grows rapidly from marble size to full size over 8-10 weeks. June drop naturally thins excess fruit. Fruit remains hard and green at maturity.
Thin fruit to 1 every 6 inches for larger, premium fruit; maintain consistent water (critical for size and quality); provide nitrogen-balanced fertilizer monthly; manage canopy for light penetration; monitor for sooty blotch and flyspeck diseases
Harvest & Ripening (Fall)
4-6 weeksFruit develops full size and starch content; remains firm on tree. Skin may show red blush. Pears ripen off the tree after harvest.
Harvest when full size but still firm (late August-September, depending on location); pick mature pears before they soften or drop; ripen indoors at 65-70°F for 3-7 days; store unripe fruit in cool location; do not allow to ripen on tree or quality suffers
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Pheromone traps; remove fallen fruit; bagging young fruit; dormant oil sprays; spinosad or carbaryl in early summer
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Horticultural oil sprays in early season; insecticide soap; avoid excessive nitrogen; manage weeds nearby
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Strong water spray to dislodge; spinosad; neem oil; encourage natural predators
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Hand-pick early morning; trap crops nearby; carbaryl or neem oil if needed
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Horticultural oils; sulfur dust (not during heat); overhead watering to increase humidity; miticide if severe
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Prune infected branches 12 inches below damage; sterilize tools; avoid nitrogen overfertilization; manage water to avoid humidity; streptomycin spray if severe
Uses
Premium Fresh Eating
CulinaryRed Comice pears are considered one of the finest dessert pears, with exceptionally sweet, buttery, and juicy flesh. Best eaten fresh when properly ripened. [source]
Poaching and Preserves
CulinaryThe firm texture and balanced sweetness make Red Comice suitable for poaching in wine, creating pear compotes, or making preserves that retain the delicate flavor. [source]
Wine and Cider Production
CulinaryRed Comice pears can be fermented into perry (pear cider) or blended with other pear varieties to create distinctive beverages with high sugar content. [source]
Ornamental Value
HouseholdThe tree produces beautiful white and pink blossoms in spring and develops an attractive form with proper pruning. The reddish fruit adds visual appeal in late summer. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeThe abundant spring flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators during early season when food sources are scarce. [source]
Harvest Tips
Harvest Red Comice pears in late August to early September when they reach full size but remain firm and bright green. The fruit should not yield to gentle pressure. Harvest with a slight twist and lift; do not allow pears to fully ripen on the tree, as quality and storability decline. Ripen harvested fruit indoors at 65-70°F for 3-7 days until they yield slightly at the neck. Red Comice are best eaten fresh when properly ripened. Harvest regularly to maintain quality and encourage continued production.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Red Comice pears must be harvested before full ripeness and ripened off the tree indoors—a unique characteristic that allows for better control of eating quality and reduces storage problems.
- 🌱 The variety was discovered as a chance seedling in Comice, France, in 1849, and has since become one of the most expensive and sought-after pear varieties in premium markets worldwide.
- 🌱 Red Comice requires adequate winter chill hours (typically 600-900 hours below 45°F) to break dormancy and set fruit properly, making it unsuitable for tropical or very warm climates.
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