Comice Pear Pyrus communis 'Doyenné du Comice' (D)

Water

The Comice pear tree should be watered deeply once a week during the growing season, ensuring that the soil is moist to a depth of a few inches. In the absence of rain, increase watering to twice a week. Each watering session should provide the tree with about 1 to 2 gallons of water, depending on the tree's size and the weather conditions. During the winter months, reduce watering, as the tree requires less moisture while dormant. Be careful not to overwater, as too much moisture can lead to root rot and other diseases.

Light

The Comice pear tree thrives best in full sun, meaning at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. A spot that receives morning light is ideal, as it dries dew quickly and helps prevent disease. Avoid locations that are too shaded, as insufficient sunlight can reduce fruit production and affect overall health.

Temperature

The Comice pear tree prefers temperate climates with cold winters to ensure proper dormancy and fruit development. It can withstand winter temperatures as low as -20°F, but prolonged exposure to such cold can damage the tree. The ideal temperature range for this pear tree is between 35°F and 85°F. These temperature conditions are crucial for flower and fruit setting.

Pruning

Pruning the Comice pear tree is important for maintaining tree health, encouraging a strong structure, and promoting fruit production. Prune in the late winter when the tree is dormant and hazards of frost have passed but before new growth starts. Thin out crowded branches to allow light and air to penetrate the canopy, which helps reduce disease risk. Annually remove dead, damaged, or diseased limbs and shape the tree to manage its size.

Cleaning

As needed

Soil

The best soil mix for the Comice Pear tree should be well-draining, loamy, and fertile to ensure proper growth and fruit production. Incorporate compost or aged manure to enrich the soil. The ideal soil pH for this tree should be between 6.0 and 7.0.

Repotting

Comice Pear trees planted in containers should be repotted every 3 to 5 years to prevent root-bound conditions and to replenish nutrients in the soil.

Humidity & Misting

Comice Pear trees prefer outdoor conditions and do not require specific humidity levels; they are adaptable to the ambient humidity found in the environment where they are typically grown.

Suitable locations

• Indoor

  Hard to grow indoors, requires full sun, space, and proper pruning.

• Outdoor

  Plant in full sun, well-draining soil, and space to accommodate growth.

• Hardiness zone

  5-8 USDA

Life cycle

Pyrus communis 'Doyenné du Comice', commonly known as the Comice pear, begins its life cycle as a seed, which upon germination in the spring, develops into a seedling. The seedling grows into a young tree through the vegetative stage, where it undergoes primary growth, expanding in height and girth, with leaves emerging for photosynthesis. After a few years, typically 4 to 6, the tree enters the reproductive phase, characterized by the production of flowers, which are usually white or off-white, that attract pollinators. Following pollination and fertilization, flowers develop into fruit, specifically pears, which mature over the summer and are typically harvested in late summer to fall. Once the fruit is ripe and picked, the tree goes into a phase of dormancy during the cold winter months, dropping leaves and conserving energy. Year after year, the Comice pear tree repeats this cycle, potentially living and bearing fruit for several decades, depending on environmental conditions and care.

Propogation

• Propogation time

  Late winter-early spring

• The Pyrus communis 'Doyenné du Comice', commonly known as the Comice Pear, is commonly propagated through grafting, which is a horticultural technique where tissues of one plant are inserted into those of another so that the two sets of vascular tissues may join together. This method is typically performed in late winter or early spring before the buds begin to break dormancy. Understock and scion wood are selected; the understock is usually a rootstock with desirable characteristics like disease resistance and hardiness, and the scion is a piece of a mature plant's stem with nodes for future growth that is obtained from the desired Comice Pear tree. During grafting, the scion is cut at a precise angle to match a cut on the understock and then joined together through various methods such as cleft grafting, whip grafting, or bud grafting. The grafting site is then sealed with grafting tape or wax to prevent drying out and infection by pathogens until the graft union has healed and vascular tissues have fused, which usually takes several weeks to a few months.