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
Pollination
Needs pollinator (Bartlett or Anjou)
Results
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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.
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.