$39.00
BISCAMP PEAR
| USDA Hardiness / Recommended Zones | Zones 8 to 9 (some sources say 8A–9A) |
| Chill Hours | ~ 400 chill hours (i.e. cumulative hours of cold needed in dormancy) |
| Pollination | Self‐fruitful (i.e. it does not strictly require another variety to pollinate), though having other low-chill pears nearby may improve fruit set.PINEAPPLE AND SPAULDING WOULD PAIR WELL WITH THE BISCAMP. |
| Spacing / Mature Size | One nursery lists a mature size of about 18–20 ft height and 12–15 ft width, spacing 12-15 ft. Another source suggests spacing of 15–20 ft. |
| Soil / Site | As with most pears, good drainage and moderately fertile soils are beneficial. Avoid waterlogged soils. For pears generally: deep, well-drained soils, pH near 6.5, sites with air drainage to avoid late frosts. OSU Extension |
| Disease / Pest Resistance | One of the breeding goals was improved insect and disease resistance. Some anecdotal reports call it “fire-blight resistant,” though that may be hopeful or regionally tested. |
| Time to First Fruit | Like many fruit trees, Biscamp may take several years (often 3–5 or more) before producing a usable crop, depending on conditions. |
According to one nursery listing, Biscamp pears are ready from late summer to early fall.
Local growers in Southeast Texas (Galveston County, etc.) report that the tree tends to bloom and fruit in the warmer climates, and that in some years heavy fruit loads occur by late summer (e.g. August) in that region.
In those reports, when picked “hard” (i.e. not fully soft), the pears can then soften off the tree with little grit.
The harvest window may depend heavily on local climate, weather, and how quickly fruit matures in your conditions.
Best suited to milder, warmer climates where chill hours aren’t extremely high and winters are not severely cold (zones 8–9). In colder climates, it may struggle or fail to fruit well.
Because its chill requirement is moderate (~400 hours), it might not be reliable in very warm milder-winter areas (if chill is too low) or very cold climates (if winter damage or low hardiness).
In humid regions where fire blight or other bacterial diseases are prevalent, having a cultivar with some resistance is a plus, though local conditions will still challenge the tree.
Expect several years before full production.
The flavor profile is appealing: a dessert pear with softness and sweetness, rather than a hard or gritty cooking-only type.
