Pear 'Williams Bon Chrétien'

Where to Plant

Choose a sheltered position in full sun, avoiding obvious frost pockets where possible as pear blossom can be vulnerable to late spring frosts. Plant in fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil and avoid sites that become waterlogged.

Planting Your Bare-Root Tree

Plant while the tree is dormant, from November to March, avoiding periods when the ground is frozen or waterlogged. Unpack promptly and soak the roots in a bucket of water before planting. Dig a hole wide enough for the roots to spread naturally without bending or crowding them.

Position the tree at the same depth it was previously growing, using the soil mark on the stem as a guide and keeping the graft union above soil level. Spread the roots naturally, backfill with soil, gently firm and water thoroughly. Stake the tree if needed to keep it secure while the roots establish.

Watering & Feeding

Water regularly during the first growing season and during prolonged dry spells. Consistent moisture is particularly important while the fruits are developing. Feed in spring with a suitable fruit tree fertiliser and mulch around the base with well-rotted compost or organic matter, keeping the mulch clear of the trunk.

Pruning

Prune free-standing pear trees during the dormant season to develop and maintain a healthy, well-balanced framework. Remove dead, damaged, diseased, crossing or badly positioned branches and any shoots growing from below the graft union. Trained forms such as cordons and espaliers also require summer pruning to control growth and encourage fruiting.

Do I Need Another Pear Tree?

Not necessarily. 'Williams Bon Chrétien' is partially self-fertile, so a single tree can produce fruit without another pear nearby. However, planting a compatible pear with an overlapping flowering period can improve pollination and help produce a heavier, more reliable crop.

Choosing a Pollination Partner

Choose a compatible pear variety that flowers at around the same time. 'Conference' is a potential pollination partner for 'Williams Bon Chrétien'. Check flowering times and compatibility when choosing another pear tree, as not all varieties will pollinate one another successfully.

Spring Blossom

Clusters of white flowers appear in spring, usually during April or May. Bees and other pollinating insects visiting the blossom help with fruit set, so the flowers are an attractive as well as useful part of growing your own pears.

Developing Fruit

The pears develop through summer, gradually swelling and changing from green towards yellow as they mature. If the tree produces a particularly heavy crop, thinning some of the young fruits can give the remaining pears more room to develop and reduce the weight carried by the branches.

When Will My Tree Start Fruiting?

Your tree is supplied at two years old and is expected to begin producing fruit around two to four years after planting, depending on growing conditions. Cropping should increase as the tree becomes established.

When to Harvest

'Williams Bon Chrétien' is an early-season pear, generally ready to harvest in September in UK gardens, although picking can begin in late August in warmer seasons. Check the fruits regularly as harvest approaches, as this variety is best picked before becoming fully soft on the tree.

How to Tell When Pears Are Ready

Look for well-developed pears beginning to change from green towards yellow-green. Gently lift a fruit in the palm of your hand and give it a slight twist. If it comes away easily with its stalk attached, it's likely to be ready. If it resists, leave it a little longer.

Ripening After Picking

Allow the harvested pears to finish ripening indoors at room temperature. As they ripen, the flesh becomes softer, juicier and more melting. Check the fruit regularly, especially around the neck near the stalk, where a slight give indicates that it's nearly ready to eat.

Storing Your Harvest

Unlike some later-season pears, 'Williams Bon Chrétien' isn't a long-keeping variety. Store firm, undamaged fruit somewhere cool to slow ripening, bringing a few indoors at a time to enjoy. Check frequently and use any pears that begin to soften.

Top Tip

Don't leave 'Williams Bon Chrétien' pears on the tree until they're soft. Pick them while still firm and allow them to finish ripening indoors. This helps prevent the flesh becoming overripe before you get to enjoy it.

Fresh from the Fruit Bowl

Allow 'Williams Bon Chrétien' pears to ripen until the flesh becomes sweet, juicy and melting, then enjoy them just as they are. They're also delicious sliced into fruit salads, served with yoghurt or paired with cheese and walnuts.

Perfect for Poaching

Choose firm, slightly underripe pears for poaching so they hold their shape. Gently simmer in a light syrup with vanilla, cinnamon or ginger until tender. Serve warm or chilled with cream, yoghurt or ice cream.

Baking with Pears

Use the fruit in crumbles, tarts, cakes and puddings. Its natural sweetness pairs particularly well with almonds, chocolate and warming spices. Firmer pears work best when you want the fruit to keep its shape during cooking.

Preserving Your Harvest

If several pears ripen together, turn the surplus into compotes, chutneys or preserves. Use sound fruit and follow a suitable recipe to make the most of your harvest.

Bare-Root Trees

Your tree is supplied bare root while dormant, without a pot or compost around its roots. It will usually arrive with a woody stem and branches but little or no foliage. This is completely normal and fresh growth will begin as the tree comes out of dormancy in spring.

On Arrival

Unpack your tree promptly and don't allow the roots to dry out. If you can't plant immediately, keep the roots moist and the tree somewhere cool and sheltered until you're ready to plant. For longer delays, temporarily heel the roots into moist soil.

Grafted Fruit Trees

'Williams Bon Chrétien' is grafted, combining the fruiting variety with a rootstock that helps determine how strongly the tree grows. You'll usually be able to see the graft union towards the base of the stem. Keep this above soil level when planting.

Quince A Rootstock

'Williams Bon Chrétien' is grafted onto Quince A rootstock, producing a medium-sized garden pear with moderate vigour. Its eventual size will vary according to growing conditions and how the tree is trained and pruned.

What to Expect After Planting

Your young tree won't look like a mature fruit tree straight away. During its first few years it will establish its roots and develop its framework of branches, with cropping increasing as the tree matures.