Pyrus ussuriensis 'Early Gold' - 'Early Gold' Pear Tree

Enjoy the first pears of the season with the 'Early Gold' Pear Tree, an ultra-hardy and exceptionally productive variety! This vigorous tree produces medium to large pears with crisp, juicy flesh and an exquisite sweetness. Perfect for fresh eating or processing, 'Early Gold' is also highly disease-resistant, ensuring a reliable and abundant harvest year after year.

Harvest: Production & Flavours

The 'Early Gold' Pear Tree is a very early and generous cultivar, offering an abundant harvest of flavourful fruit from late summer. Its pears are renowned for their excellent keeping quality and culinary versatility.

• Harvest Period: Late August - Early September
• Visual Description: Medium to large pears, with smooth green-yellow skin that develops golden hues when ripe. Rounded, slightly conical shape.
• Flavour Profile: Sweet and refreshing, with a crisp and very juicy texture. Their subtle flavour is very pleasant on the palate.
• Culinary Uses: Excellent fresh for eating, in compotes, pies, fruit salads, preserves, or dried.

Planting Guide

To ensure the success of your 'Early Gold' pear tree, follow these key steps:

1. Ideal Location: Plant your 'Early Gold' in full sun for optimal production. Deep soil and good air circulation are also important.
2. Soil Preparation: This pear tree prefers well-drained, deep, fertile soil with a neutral pH (between 6.0 and 7.0). Generously amend with compost or well-rotted manure before planting.
3. Planting: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. Position the tree so the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Fill with your amended soil mix and gently tamp down. The ideal spacing between trees is approximately 4 to 6 metres (13 to 20 feet), depending on the rootstock used.
4. Pollination:
   • Type: Requires cross-pollination. 'Early Gold' will not produce fruit without the presence of another compatible pear tree nearby.
   • Suggested Partners: To maximize your harvest, plant varieties like 'Patterson' or 'Golden Spice' nearby.

Care Guide

• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the first year of establishment and during summer dry periods. Deep watering is preferable.
• Fertilization: In early spring, apply a balanced fertilizer or one specific to fruit trees. An annual application of compost around the base of the tree is also beneficial.
• Pruning: Formative pruning is essential in the first few years to establish a strong structure. Afterward, annual pruning in late winter or early spring helps thin the centre, remove dead, diseased, or weak wood, and promote fruiting.
• Protection:
  • Against Birds: Pears can attract birds; netting may be an option to protect ripening fruit.
  • Winter Protection: Thanks to its exceptional hardiness (Zone 2), 'Early Gold' requires no additional winter protection.