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Fruit Edible

Pyrus communis 'Onward' (D)
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

pear 'Onward'

A cultivar with a sweet, rich, buttery flesh, somewhat like an early Comice. Good, regular crops with a short fruiting season of September to early October. Pollination group 4

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Size
Ultimate height
4–8 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
4–8 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, °Â±ð±ô±ô–d°ù²¹¾±²Ô±ð»å
pH
Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring White Green
Summer Green
Autumn Green Yellow
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or °Â±ð²õ³Ù–f²¹³¦¾±²Ô²µ

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Rosaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy, Columnar upright
Genus

Pyrus are deciduous trees or shrubs with oval leaves and scented white flowers in spring, followed by green or brown fruits, edible in some species

Name status

Accepted

Horticultural Group
Dessert pears are sweet and juicy and are best eaten picked fresh and raw

How to grow

Cultivation

Suitable for all training forms including cordons and fan-training. Flowers early and so at risk from spring frosts. Plant in a sunny position in moist, but well-drained soil. Needs another cultivar for pollination. Keep a weed free area of 60cm radius around the trunk. Thin fruit if necessary. Not compatible for pollination purposes with 'Doyenne du Comice'. See Pears or pear cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by grafting or chip budding onto a clonal rootstock for fruit; quince rootstocks are usually used. The rootstock used will affect plant size

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Wall side borders
  • Edible fruit
Pruning

Regular pruning required; a spur bearer. Prune cordons and other restricted forms in summer and bushes in winter. Further pruning advice: pruning new pear trees, summer pear pruning, winter pear pruning, renovating pear trees, pruning established fans

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, codling moth, bullfinches, pear midge, pear blister mite and pear and cherry slugworm

Diseases

May be susceptible to blossom wilt, brown rot, fireblight, pear scab, European pear rust and honey fungus (rarely)

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