Best Asian Pear trees for the UK

[Shimozu]

I'm thinking of planting an Asian pear tree in my small garden. At the moment I am looking at choosing one from the following three:
Nijisseiki aka 20th Century
Hosui
Shinseiki

I have found one online retailer that sells the top 2 and a few others that sell the third.

From the research I have done so far, the first and last are partially self fertile and will produce some fruit although a pollinating partner is desirable whilst the Hosui definitely needs a pollinating partner. I've also read that the Hosui variety is the most tasteful out of the three and am considering the idea of planting that tree and grafting a Nijisseiki scion onto it to create a duo pear tree (I have no experience of grafting/budding but from what I have read and seen, it seems not too difficult).

Most of the information I have got is based on growers in the US or Australia but have found very little information about the trees growing in the UK. Has anyone tried growing Asian pear trees in the UK and what kind of results did you get in terms of fruit produced? Anything further I should take into consideration before making a final decision?

thanks in advance

Rob

[Kirk]

I grew a Kumoi one, very nice tree lots of fruit, nothing around to pollinate so I guess self fertile.
Fruit is nice if you pick it off the tree when a bit "hard".
Fruits do not keep and go soft and lose flavour, even ones on the tree if at all soft do not taste as good, you do need to get it when it feels pretty hard, but they are nice. However with 100lb of fruit you simply cannot eat it all. It did break branches with the weight of fruit and it did not show biannual tendencies. Just cropped heavily.

Mine grew to about 15-20 foot and was a fair size. No idea what the rootstock was.

As side information the leaves do not sort of compost as deciduous trees here do, they turn black and turn leathery.

Nothing seemed to effect it, sun, drought, wet, water, frost all had what is best described as no damn effect at all.

Trying to recall if a small catapiller found the fruit pleasant to burrow into, think there was and it got in via the blossom when it fruit formed. Didn't bother me as a lot of fruit and unless picked at the right time they were welcome it it.

Biggest problem was 1) the sheer amount of fruit, 2) unless picked early the taste was poor.

[Gman]

Did you get one?

I'm thinking of planting an Asian pear tree in my small garden. At the moment I am looking at choosing one from the following three:
Nijisseiki aka 20th Century
Hosui
Shinseiki

I have found one online retailer that sells the top 2 and a few others that sell the third.

From the research I have done so far, the first and last are partially self fertile and will produce some fruit although a pollinating partner is desirable whilst the Hosui definitely needs a pollinating partner. I've also read that the Hosui variety is the most tasteful out of the three and am considering the idea of planting that tree and grafting a Nijisseiki scion onto it to create a duo pear tree (I have no experience of grafting/budding but from what I have read and seen, it seems not too difficult).

Most of the information I have got is based on growers in the US or Australia but have found very little information about the trees growing in the UK. Has anyone tried growing Asian pear trees in the UK and what kind of results did you get in terms of fruit produced? Anything further I should take into consideration before making a final decision?

thanks in advance

Rob

Hi Rob,

Came across this today when looking on forum for information about Asian pears. Was thinking of getting one.

Did you buy one in the end? And if so, what variety, and if you were doing it again would you get the same or something different?

Cheers,
Graham

[Thelma Sanders]

I doubt you'll get an answer they've not been active of the forum for the last couple of years

[chrisdb]

I'm trying to espalier train a 20th century asian pear (Nijisseiki). I planted it last winter, so it's still early days, but if it fruits I'll report back.

[unclefudgly]

My Nijisseiki is hit and miss, some years are great, whereas last year after having literally a hundred blooms I got a single pear come September

[flynch]

I would personally stay away from Shinseiki. I had it in my back garden. I found it to be very disease prone, in fact I lost it to what looked like fire blight. It did fruit heavily with only European pears for pollination, it required heavy thinning to get the pears to any size. The flavour was good and texture like an apple. I plan on planting another Asian pear but will be a different variety.

[Gman]

Thanks

Thanks for advice flynch, i’ll Avoid that one.