Why does my pear tree have blossom but no fruit?

Walter Lowther, by email

Stefan says: You say your pear is ‘Doyenné du Comice’, which, I think, is the queen of all pears. As its name suggests, it’s a French variety, and an old one at that, having first fruited in 1849 and then brought to England in 1858.

It’s fairly late fruiting. I pick it at the beginning of October from when it will keep for a couple of months: a short but glorious season. In common with all pear varieties, however, ‘Doyenné du Comice’ must have a pollinator variety and I’m sure this is where your problem arises as there may be no other pear trees nearby.

In my garden, ‘Comice’ is pollinated by ‘Conference’, although it is rather earlier flowering and ideally, starting afresh, I think I would opt for the newer variety ‘Concorde’, which is actually the offspring of ‘Conference’ and ‘Doyenné du Comice’.