Pear
Can I Grow Bartlett?
Bartlett is the classic American pear — aromatic, buttery, and perfect for fresh eating or canning. It's the pear most people picture when they think 'pear.'
Growing Requirements
Chill Hours
800
Hardiness Zones
5-6-7-8
Harvest
August to September
Results
Enter your zip code to see if Bartlett will thrive in your area.
You checked if it'll grow. Now make sure you remember what happens when it does.
Pruning dates, harvests, spray schedules, what worked. The gardeners who get the most from their trees are the ones who kept records.
Start your free tree logFree for up to 30 plants. No card needed.
About Bartlett
Bartlett is the classic American pear — aromatic, buttery, and perfect for fresh eating or canning. It's the pear most people picture when they think 'pear.'
Bartlett requires 800 chill hours — the number of hours between 32°F and 45°F during winter dormancy. Without enough chill, the tree may fail to flower properly or produce poor fruit.
⚠️ Common Challenges
Highly susceptible to fire blight (can kill entire trees); needs a pollinator despite some self-fertility.
❌ Common Misconception
Can I grow Bartlett in Zone 9 or warmer?
No. While Bartlett is listed for zones 5-8, it requires 800 chill hours to produce fruit. Warm zones like 9+ typically receive only 200-400 chill hours. The tree may survive but will not fruit reliably. Consider low-chill alternatives like Anna apple (200h) or Tropic Snow peach (200h) instead.
If you plant it, write it down.
Variety, rootstock, planting date — and every pruning and harvest after that. Future you will thank you.
Free for up to 30 plants. No card needed.
Other Pear Varieties
Chill hour data from Open-Meteo Historical Weather API. Variety information compiled from university extension services.