Pear trees

Make take as much as eight to ten years before bearing a substantial crop but may produce for up to 100 years.

Train to a modified central leader; once six or seven lateral scaffold branches have developed and the tree is a manageable height, say 10 feet, head the leader off to a strong lateral branch.

Self-unfruitful so need another variety to pollinate. Pear blossoms oddly unattractive to bees.

Bartlett and Seckel will not cross pollinate each other.
Nice to have three varieties for staggered harvest and distinct tastes.

Susceptible to fireblight so it is best to minimize heading back cuts that encourage profuse lateral growth; it is more desirable to encourage side branching by spreading the scaffolds with wooden or plastic spreaders or tying them down with twine. Light annual thinning out cuts can be used to eliminate unwanted shoots. Once the tree starts producing fruit the weight will also help spread the branches.

Pears ripen from the core out so pick when skin begins to change from dull green to yellowish green, then store them under cool conditions (34 degrees), bringing out needed quantities and allowing them to ripen at room temperature.