Pear
Can I Grow Bosc?
Bosc is the elegant russeted pear with dense, honey-sweet flesh that holds its shape when poached or baked. Its long neck and cinnamon-brown skin make it instantly recognizable.
Growing Requirements
Chill Hours
800
Hardiness Zones
5-6-7-8-9
Harvest
September to October
Results
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Pruning dates, harvests, spray schedules, what worked. The gardeners who get the most from their trees are the ones who kept records.
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About Bosc
Bosc is the elegant russeted pear with dense, honey-sweet flesh that holds its shape when poached or baked. Its long neck and cinnamon-brown skin make it instantly recognizable.
Bosc 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
Slow to come into bearing (5-7 years); fire blight can be devastating in warm, wet springs.
❌ Common Misconception
Can I grow Bosc in Zone 10 or warmer?
No. While Bosc is listed for zones 5-9, it requires 800 chill hours to produce fruit. Warm zones like 10+ 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.