Possibly the favorite of heirloom tomato gardeners, the Yellow Pear gets its name from its yellow color and pear shape. This variety dates back to the 1800s and they are vigorous indeterminate tomatoes. They are a prolific producer with an abundance of small, yellow pear-shaped fruit that have a sweet, but mild flavor. These are a popular table tomato and are a good choice if you are looking for a relatively cold tolerant variety (for a tomato). They can produce later into the growing season than others might, in some cases even into he fall.
Best Soil for Tomatoes
All great tomato cultivation begins with the soil. It should be nutrient-rich, well-tilled, and soft. Yellow Pear tomato plants are not particularly deep-rooted, so only 4-5 inches of depth is required to grow these beautiful little plants. Soil should be acidic at 5.0 to 6.0 pH for best results.
This indeterminate tomato variety of yellow pear plants requires compost and/or manure mixed in well with the soil in early spring (well before planting time). This is the optimum way to ensure vigorous plant and fruit growth.
Proper Care for Tomato Plants
Seedlings take a couple of weeks to germinate (the planting hole should be about 1/2-inch deep in starter pots or moss pellets). Thin well once the sprouts appear, choosing the most vigorous. In about two months, the starts will be 4 to 6 inches in height and ready for hardening and transplant. They can be kept for up to 10 weeks or so if required, however. Do not transplant until overnight temperatures are averaging 60F or higher for best starts.
Yellow Pears grow best in warm, sunny locations that get full sun. They should be at least 36 inches apart to allow a good spread.
Once in the soil, regular watering and at least two applications of balanced fertilizer should be given. Liquid fertilizer (i.e. compost tea) should be used, but side applications can be done with dry fertilizer. Organic mulch is a good idea for these tomatoes as it helps retain water and discourage weeds.
During the hottest part of the summer a shade cloth, row cover or similar protection may be needed, although if plenty of water is at hand, enough to maintain soil moisture, this is not often a problem except in the hottest parts of the country. If the weather is particularly hot where you are, don’t be surprised if the plants appear to go dormant during the hottest month or two before bearing fruit.
When to Harvest Yellow Pear Tomatoes
At the 70 to 80 day mark, you should begin to see plump. ripe tomatoes. Yellow Pears are ready when they are easily plucked from the vine and have no green whatsoever. Each batch ripens in stages over a 1-2 week period, with most plants providing tomatoes for up to two months after the initial harvest, depending on soil conditions and weather.
Saving Tomato Seeds
As with most heirlooms, yellow pear tomato seeds are easily kept from these lovely fruits. They should be left to over-ripen and become soft (on the vine is favored) and then picked, partially dried, then husked and cleaned. Allow the seeds to dry completely then store in a cool, dry place for successful heirloom seed preservation.
Yellow Pear Tomato Plant Pests and Diseases
Yellow Pears are resistant to most of the common diseases that afflict many other tomato varieties. They are susceptible to worms, caterpillars, and aphids, however. Some birds prize the yellow fruit as well. These can all be handled with simple counter-measures such as netting, soap sprays, and the like.
How to Serve Yellow Pear Tomatoes
Yellow Pears are most often served whole or sliced in half or quarters. Because they are not particularly flavor intense, but are sweet, juicy and have beautiful yellow fruits, they are a delight at the table. They can be dried, though they are not as flavorful as other varieties. They are the perfect tomatoes to use as a garnish or to add as a bite-sized fruit for a salad topper. They add bright color and a mild sweet taste.
Tips for Growing Yellow Pear Tomatoes
Other than the usual tomato requirements, the best thing to remember with these tomatoes is that they can thrive well into the fall, even in cooler temperatures.
More Tomato Growing Resources:
NC State University – Commercial Production of Staked Tomatoes [PDF]
Clemson University – Tomatoes
do you have to pickoff the side shoots on the pear tomatoes
Yes Mick yellow pear is an indeterminate and does suggest picking off side shoots although I grew these last year and didn’t prune them,I had lots of foilage but still had an insane crop,I mean these plants were loaded with tomatoes!..this year I’m only picking of the side shoots only two thirds the way up and I’m leaving the tops quite bushy. Cheers Mick and good luck.
what to do about the bottom rotting. as tomatoes mature a black spot is on the bottom of the fruit and “growing” as the fruit does.
Blossom End Rot…Calcium deficiency. Awesome remedy is a foliar spray comprised of a gallon of water and and extra strength plain TUMS. Mist onto entire plants ensuring good coverage on blossoms. Can also ammend calcium into soil, but uptake is by far slower. Neither will save already afflicted fruit however :/
I do, always gives the clusters a better chance to grow.
I grew mine last year in the ground, this year in pots. Both years they seem to be very spindly, viney, few leaves compared to other tomatoes. Any idea?
I have one plant in a pot on the front porch and one in my hydroponics tub. I water the potted plant as needed and keep the tub plant tested for nutrients. The hydroponic plant has 19 pears started and the one on the porch has around 9. They were set as plants on the same day. I like both methods, though. Both a strong plants.
This type of tomato is very prone to split if there are watering fluctuations particularly heavy rains in the summer. I don’t like to grow it for that reason.
I have 22 tomato plants and I’m enjoying watching my small garden take shape. The yellow pear tomatoes I pray will do well. I want to share these with our church family.
Some are a little spindly but I have blooms. They love being watered alot and the soil is soft. I just staked them today. I use Miracle Grow and I’m hoping they will really perk up.
Should I put lime around them too?
My first year growing pear tomatoes and WOW do I have a bumper crop growing!!! They are in a 5 gal and they are hanging like bombs lol!!! One thing to remember, water at the same time consistently, this helps avoid some of the issues these plants normally seem to have.
How many can you put in a 12″ pot?
One and that may not be big enough. Theses are a true vine
My sons still kid me about one yellow pear plant. I stake my plants. We bought 15 ft stakes and I had so many yellow pear tomatoes on the vine that we had to use quick setting cement to hold the stakes up. we were using a ladder to harvest the tops of the plant. When the plant reached the roof line, the tops fell over and provided a shade. This was during an El Nino year and the wet conditions caused every person I knew to lose most of their crops to blight. My plants were hit with blight, but I babied them and did not lose any, but most were not like the YP. I gave away baskets of tomatoes and sold tons at a garage sale. I have never had another respond the same way although they are always productive.
Hello
This this is my 2nd year of growing them. I have 2 plants in a 10 gallon plant pot, that may have been a mistake, my 2 plants are LOADED with green toms. My neighbor brings me some red and huge yellow pears. My next door neighbor is bringing me different types of melons. The swap isn’t quite fair as far as size and quantity, but they don’t care, they love my Heirloom toms. Once it cools off here in NM I will overload them with my toms, especially since I have 2 plants going. They are antsy for some toms, me too!!
Mark
Where can I order the seeds from. I love the taste of these tomatoes.
These just grew in my yard, I never planted them. Glad to know they are edible. 4 big plants grew and they took over the side of my yard. I think I will try to save some seeds and plant them again this year
I have browish irregular spots on my fruit (yellow pear tomatoes) . Not on the bottom but sides.
What are these and is the tomatoes safe to eat.
What would cause the fruit’s texture to be mushy?
The sun leafs in the tomato keep browning and shriveling up. I have determined it isn’t root rot, and the the rest of the plant keeps growing well but I’m still worried. I use tomato tone and calcium rotating. Am I not providing enough nutrients?
Can yellow pear tomatoes and red grape tomatoes be planted side by side?