Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Concorde pear (Pyrus communis 'Concorde')— schedule & NPK

Also called Concorde pear.

More about concorde pear

About Concorde pear

Pyrus communis 'Concorde' · also called Concorde pear · edible

A modern UK-raised hybrid of Conference and Doyenné du Comice, with a characteristic elongated neck, sweet, creamy-white flesh and excellent resistance to browning when cut. Self-fertile, heavy-cropping and easier to grow than many cultivars. Holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Ideal for beginner fruit growers.

Growth habit: Moderately vigorous, upright deciduous tree; spur-bearing; suitable as open-centred bush, cordon, espalier, or fan

Watch for — Fireblight (Erwinia amylovora): Concorde's main weakness; particularly problematic in warmer parts of the UK. Shoots blacken and collapse. Prune 30–60 cm below visible infection with sterilised tools and burn the material. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds that produce susceptible soft growth.

What fertiliser concorde pear actually wants — and why

Concorde pear feeds in two distinct phases — balanced to build the plant, then high-potassium the moment flowering starts to set and fill a heavy crop.

For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for concorde pear: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.

How often to feed concorde pear, and which months

Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For concorde pear:

The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when concorde pear is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.

What strength to mix for concorde pear

Follow the crop-feed label rate for concorde pear — these are calibrated for hungry vegetables. Consistency through fruiting matters more than strength; erratic feeding causes problems like blossom-end rot.

Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water concorde pear first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the concorde pear watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding concorde pear

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for concorde pear:

Vigorous dark-green leafy growth but few flowers or fruit (excess nitrogen).
Lush foliage hiding the crop; soft growth prone to pests and disease.
Salt crust on the soil and scorched leaf edges in containers.

Signs you are under-feeding concorde pear

Pale, yellowing lower leaves and stunted growth.
Small fruit, poor set, and a quickly exhausted plant.
Blossom-end rot and weak cropping from erratic or insufficient feeding.

If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full concorde pear care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

In containers, fertiliser salts build up fast — water concorde pear thoroughly so excess drains from the base each time, and flush pots with plain water every few weeks to prevent a damaging salt build-up.

Organic vs synthetic feeds for concorde pear

Organic options

Garden compost or well-rotted manure dug in before planting, plus a liquid comfrey or seaweed feed once fruiting starts. UK: comfrey feed or organic Tomorite; US: Espoma Tomato-tone or Neptune's Harvest. Builds soil and feeds in one.

Synthetic / liquid feeds

A balanced feed at planting then a high-potash tomato feed in fruiting — UK: Growmore at planting then Tomorite (Levington) or Phostrogen; US: a balanced 10-10-10 then Miracle-Gro Tomato or a bloom booster.

Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.

Fertilising concorde pear — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does concorde pear need?

Balanced (even N-P-K) at planting for roots and frame, then switch to a high-potassium ("high-potash") tomato-style feed once the first flowers open — potassium is what sizes and ripens fruit, not nitrogen. Concorde pear feeds in two distinct phases — balanced to build the plant, then high-potassium the moment flowering starts to set and fill a heavy crop.

How often should I feed concorde pear?

Apply a balanced fertiliser (Growmore or fruit-tree granules) at bud-break in early spring. Top-dress with sulphate of potash in late summer to boost fruit flavour. Mulch after feeding. Concorde is a strong grower, so avoid excess nitrogen, which can encourage fireblight-susceptible soft growth. Apply a balanced fertiliser (Growmore or fruit-tree granules) at bud-break in early spring. Top-dress with sulphate of potash in late summer to boost fruit flavour. Mulch after feeding. Concorde is a strong grower, so avoid excess nitrogen, which can encourage fireblight-susceptible soft growth. So: a balanced feed or compost at planting, then a high-potash liquid every 1-2 weeks from first flower through harvest across the main season (spring through early autumn).

What strength of feed for concorde pear?

What does over-feeding concorde pear look like?

Vigorous dark-green leafy growth but few flowers or fruit (excess nitrogen). Lush foliage hiding the crop; soft growth prone to pests and disease. Salt crust on the soil and scorched leaf edges in containers. Staying on a high-nitrogen feed once concorde pear starts flowering is the classic error — you get a huge leafy plant and a disappointing crop. Switch to high-potash the moment flowers appear.

Should I flush the soil of concorde pear?