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
Pollination
Partially self-fertile (better with Anjou or Bosc)
Results
Enter your zip code to see if Bartlett will thrive in your area.
Ready to start your orchard?
Log pruning, spraying, and harvests. See what you did last season. All your trees in one place.
Start Tracking FreeFree plan. 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.
Other Pear Varieties
Plan Your Orchard
Log pruning, spraying, and harvests. See what you did last season. All your trees in one place.
Start Tracking Free →Chill hour data from Open-Meteo Historical Weather API. Variety information compiled from university extension services.