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ROOTSTOCKS FOR PEARS
DOMESTIC PEAR SEEDLING (Pear)
Standard rootstock for European and hybrid pears. Seed usually from Bartlett. Long-lived, vigorous trees reach 15-25 ft.; can control size with summer pruning. Relatively tolerant of wet soils and drought. Disease resistant; resistant to oak-root fungus. Durable, productive.
OLD HOME x FARMINGDALE 333 (OHxF 333)
For European and Asian pears. Trees dwarfed to 2/3 the size of standard, or about 12-18 ft.; easily kept smaller with summer pruning. Productive and precocious. Highly resistant to fireblight and pear decline and moderately tolerant of crown gall. Well anchored and does not sucker. Highly resistant to winter injury; widely adapted.
WINTER NELIS (WN)
Pear seeding rootstock for standard pears. Vigorous, relatively tolerant of wet soils, cold hardy. Resistant to pear decline and oak-root fungus. Unpruned trees on Winter Nelis can reach 15-25 feet in height, but can be held to any height with summer pruning.
Pears
Pears originated in Asia and Europe. The early varieties were nowhere near as tasty as our modern ones. Breeders in France and Belgium are mainly responsible for the present day pears.
Pear trees have a vertical growth pattern - Asian pears are very similar to European pears. When training your tree, it is possible to spread the branches in a more horizontal pattern by gently staking them. They also make excellent espaliers - see our section in “Apples” on espaliers. The leaves of the pear tree are a dark shiny green, somewhat smaller than the Asian pear. They produce white blossoms in the spring. Pears prefer well-drained loamy soil, but they can handle heavy soil better than most other fruit trees. Unlike most other fruit, pears do not ripen well on the tree. Pick them when they are full size but firm – the stem should snap off easily when you hold the pear horizontally to the ground. Store in a cool, dark place till ripe. Bosc, D’anjou, and Comice should be in cold storage (32 to 40 degrees) for a month and then left to ripen at room temperature.
“Fireblight”, a bacterial disease, can be a problem for pear trees. If the problem is prevalent in your area, try to pick a resistant variety, such as Moonglow. When you spot the symptom – the leaves look seared, as though burned in a fire - cut the branch one foot below the infected area. Be sure to sterilize your tools with an antiseptic after pruning A little bleach sprayed around the area of infection can be helpful.
The ideal pear is smooth and buttery. Slices of a Comice or Seckel pear served with wedges of a creamy Brie or Camembert cheese make a delicious and easy dessert. Pears can be canned, poached in red wine, even dried They can be used in cakes, muffins, and pies.
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