Keith Weller, USDA/ARS
Family
Rosaceae
Botanical Name
Pyrus communis
Plant Common Name
Pear
General Description
The luscious, golden, often buttery-fleshed fruit of pears is a welcome late-season treat. These beloved deciduous fruit trees originate from Europe and Asia, and evidence shows their fruits were gathered and eaten in pre-history times. Broad cultivation of pears began in ancient Greece and Rome. Now there are over 1000 wonderful cultivated varieties available that differ in fruit color, size, flavor and texture. Like apples, peaches, cherries and plums, pears are in the king of the edible fruit families, Rosaceae, otherwise known as the rose family.
These upright, pyramidal, deciduous trees are quite hardy and thrive in most temperate regions. They tend to be medium-sized and quite long-lived. In spring, they produce five-petaled, white flowers that are fragrant and attract bees in droves. After pollination, the large, sweet, pear fruits can mature in 90 to 200 days (midsummer to late fall), depending on the selection. The succulent, sweet fruits may be rounded or elongated and pear-shaped and have yellow, green, tan or red-hued skin. Some newer cultivars are self-fruitful, but most require another plant for cross-pollination and good fruit set.
Pears harvested at the peak of ripeness taste the best, but don’t often have a long shelf life. The fruits can also be harvested when they are slightly firm, and almost ready to pick if they are to be transported or sold. If you purchase firm fruits, place them in a brown bag overnight with a couple ripe bananas and they will soften up in no time. Eat them when the skin gives slightly when pressed. Pears taste great with sharp cheese and also make superb cakes, tarts, brandy and butter.
Pears grow fruit best in full sun, though they can also tolerate partial sun. They prefer light, rich soils with good drainage but will tolerate heavier, clay-rich soils. Like most deciduous fruit trees, they require a chilling period for flower and fruit-set; generally 900-1000 hours of chilling are needed. Most pear trees are grafted onto rootstock, which may impart a variety of characteristics to include dwarfism, disease and pest resistance, and vigor. Plant pears as freestanding trees or train them into espaliered forms. They are sensitive to many pests and diseases, such as fireblight, so try to choose resistant cultivars.
