Pear Duo 'Conference' & 'Concorde'

Where to Plant
Choose an open, sunny and sheltered position with fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Plenty of sunshine helps the pears develop and ripen well. Avoid frost pockets, as pear blossom appears relatively early in spring, and avoid ground that regularly becomes waterlogged.

When to Plant
Bare-root fruit trees are best planted while dormant, from late autumn to early spring. Avoid planting when the ground is frozen or waterlogged.

Preparing Your Tree
Unpack your tree promptly and soak the roots in a bucket of water before planting to make sure they are well hydrated. Dig a generous planting hole wide enough for the roots to spread naturally without bending or crowding them.

Planting Your Bare-Root Tree
Look for the soil mark on the stem showing the level at which the tree was previously growing. Position the tree at approximately the same depth, making sure the graft union remains clearly above soil level. Spread the roots naturally, backfill with the excavated soil and gently firm as you go to remove large air pockets. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots.

Staking
Stake the tree when planting to keep it stable while its roots establish. Secure with a suitable tree tie and check the tie regularly, loosening it as the trunk grows. Keep the tree supported during its first few years while it establishes.

Watering
Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged during the first growing season, particularly during warm or dry weather. Established trees may also need additional water during prolonged dry spells, especially while the pears are developing and swelling.

Feeding & Mulching
Apply a suitable fruit tree fertiliser in spring to support healthy growth, flowering and cropping. Add a 5–10cm layer of well-rotted garden compost or organic mulch around the base to help retain moisture and suppress weeds, keeping the mulch clear of the trunk.

Pruning Your Twin Pear Tree
Prune during the dormant season to maintain a healthy, open framework, removing dead, damaged, diseased or crossing branches where necessary. Because two varieties share the same tree, keep an eye on their growth and prevent one variety from becoming significantly more dominant than the other.

Top Tip:
When pruning, make sure you can identify which branches belong to each variety. Keeping both sides growing well will help you continue enjoying both 'Conference' and 'Concorde' from your twin tree.

Pollination
'Conference' and 'Concorde' are in flowering group 3 (FG3), so they flower at a similar time and make good partners on a Twin Tree. Both are capable of setting fruit without another pear tree, although compatible pears flowering nearby can help improve pollination and cropping.

Encouraging a Good Crop
Spring blossom attracts pollinating insects, which help the flowers develop into fruit. Grow your tree in a sunny, sheltered position and avoid using insecticides while it is flowering. Protect blossom from severe late frost where practical, as damaged flowers can reduce the crop.

Balancing the Two Varieties
Keep an eye on both 'Conference' and 'Concorde' as your tree develops. If one becomes noticeably more vigorous, careful pruning can help maintain a balanced framework and give both varieties plenty of room to flower and fruit.

When Will My Tree Fruit?
Your twin pear tree will usually begin producing fruit within around 2–4 years after planting, although this can vary with growing conditions and how quickly the tree establishes. Early harvests may be smaller, with crops becoming more generous as the tree matures.

When to Harvest
'Conference' and 'Concorde' are autumn pears, generally ready to harvest from September into October. Exact picking times will vary depending on the weather, your location and growing conditions.

Picking 'Conference'
Pick 'Conference' pears while they are still firm rather than waiting for them to become completely soft on the tree. Gently lift a fruit into a horizontal position and give it a slight twist – when it's ready, it should come away easily.

Picking 'Concorde'
'Concorde' should also be picked while still firm and allowed to finish ripening after harvest. Check the fruit regularly as harvest approaches and pick carefully to avoid bruising.

Ripening Your Pears
Pears are best harvested before they're fully ripe and allowed to finish ripening indoors. Keep them somewhere cool after picking, then bring a few into room temperature at a time to soften and develop their full sweetness and juicy texture.

Top Tip:
Don't wait for pears to become soft on the tree. If the fruit lifts and twists away easily, it's usually a much better indication that it's ready to pick.

'Conference' – Sweet & Juicy
'Conference' is a classic dessert pear with sweet, juicy, fine-textured flesh. Allow it to ripen until the flesh softens, then enjoy fresh from the fruit bowl, slice into salads or serve with cheese.

'Concorde' – Sweet & Full of Flavour
'Concorde' produces delicious dessert pears with sweet, juicy flesh and excellent flavour. It's particularly good eaten fresh once fully ripened and also works beautifully in desserts and baking.

From Tree to Fruit Bowl
Having two dessert varieties on one tree gives you plenty of delicious pears to enjoy through autumn. Ripen a few at a time indoors rather than bringing the whole harvest into warmth at once, helping you enjoy your crop over a longer period.

Storing Your Pears
Choose sound, undamaged fruit for storage and keep it somewhere cool, dark and well ventilated. Check stored pears regularly and remove any that begin to deteriorate. Bring fruit into room temperature as you need it to finish ripening.

Preserving Your Harvest
If you have more pears than you can eat fresh, try poaching or baking them, or use them for chutneys, preserves and desserts. Pears can also be prepared and frozen for cooking later in the year.

Bare-Root Trees
Your bare-root tree will arrive dormant, without a pot or compost around its roots, ready for planting. It may have no leaves at this stage, which is completely normal – once temperatures rise in spring, it will naturally come back into active growth. Unpack your tree promptly, keep the roots moist and plant as soon as possible.

Why Has My Tree Been Pruned?
Your tree may be pruned before despatch to encourage strong, well-branched growth. This helps it establish a balanced shape and encourages healthy, productive growth as both varieties develop.

What Will My Twin Tree Look Like?
Your twin pear tree has two varieties grafted onto the same tree, creating a branched form that will develop a fuller canopy as it establishes. Regular pruning helps keep the growth of 'Conference' and 'Concorde' balanced.

What Is a Twin Fruit Tree?
A twin fruit tree has two different fruiting varieties grafted onto a single rootstock. On this tree, both 'Conference' and 'Concorde' grow from the same root system, allowing you to enjoy two different varieties of pear from one tree.

What Does Quince A Mean?
Quince A is a semi-vigorous rootstock used for pear trees. It helps control the tree's eventual size while supporting strong, productive growth. This Twin Tree will reach around 2.5–3.5m tall at maturity, with pruning and growing conditions also influencing its final size.

What Does Grafted Mean?
Grafting joins the chosen fruiting varieties to a compatible rootstock so they grow together as one tree. You may notice raised areas where the different parts have been joined – these graft unions are a normal part of the tree.

If You Can't Plant Straight Away
If planting is delayed, keep the bare roots cool, moist and protected. For more than a short delay, temporarily heel the roots into moist soil in a sheltered position until conditions are suitable for planting.

After Planting
Water regularly while your tree establishes, particularly during dry weather in its first growing season. Mulching around the base in spring will help conserve moisture and suppress weeds, but always leave a clear gap around the trunk.