mullethunter Posted September 22, 2017 Share Posted September 22, 2017 This year my pear tree has 2 perfect looking pears. They look perfect, but they're rock hard. Do I pick them while they're hard, or wait for them to soften? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 it partly depends on the variety as to when they need to be picked. as their still on the tree then they will be picked when hard and need to be stored until their edible which can be days weeks or months again depending on the variety I know of at least 2 that don't get picked until late October early November one isn't edible til Christmas cooked and it'll keep til February when it's soft enough to eat as is. t'other one mainly a cooker can still be rock hard in March and I've known it keep til late June (not in a fridge) and was still edible, the main 2 or 3 varieties in UK gardens are Conference , Doyenne du Comice ( also known as Comice Pear) and Concorde which should be ready to pick October time. first 2 show period of use as Oct-Nov Concorde Oct- Feb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 Pears will ripen off the tree so I'd be tempted to pick earlier rather than later, because an overripe mealy mushy pear is horrible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted September 23, 2017 Author Share Posted September 23, 2017 Thanks both. I think it's Concorde. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 The local orchard is selling all varieties of pears right now, cooking and hand pears. Think you can safely pick them now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 The guy over the back of me has a pear tree and most of his pears have fallen off now. All wasted Sadly I can't quite reach them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted September 23, 2017 Author Share Posted September 23, 2017 I was wrong it's Conference. The guy over the back of me has a pear tree and most of his pears have fallen off now.All wasted I hate seeing things like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mars Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 About two weeks ago I collected about 7 kilos of pears, put them in a bowl, they were stone hard, after a week they were very delicious, I am not sure of the variety, the only thing I know it is not conference " I cut the conference because of poor disease resistance" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
