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Pears, picking

Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,502
in Fruit & veg

Hello image

I have a pear tree, Invincible, and the weight of the pears are pulling its limbs and centre stem out of shape.

It survived the winds last night with arms intact but I was wondering if I should take some of the pears off? I have a vague idea they are supposed to be picked whilst hard but how will I know when they're 'done'?

Any advice would be much appreciatedimage

Wearside, England.
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,146

    Monty Don talked about ripening pears on GW last night.

    And this may be of interest http://www.chrisbowers.co.uk/product/pear-invincible/

    If you're worried about them I think I'd take a few of those that look the most ripe and put them in a bowl indoors and see what they're like in a few days.

    We're growing Concorde as an espalier and we have our first crop of four fruit this year - don't think they're ready yet.  


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,502

    Thanks Doveimage

    I'll check out GW on catch up. To be honest I don't normally watch itimage

    When I looked up images online my pears don't seem big enough yet, Invincible seems to be quite a large pear? 

    I might take a pear off to try, I'm more concerned about the tree, it was extremely gusty last night.

    Last edited: 10 September 2016 08:46:24

    Wearside, England.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,146

    Can't remember whereabouts you are Victoria image  Here in Norfolk we had some gusty wind last night, but it seems to have passed - then we've got rain later today and following that another week of warm and dry - should be good for fruit ripening image

    It's been so dry here I've been giving our pear a session with the sprinkler when I've watered the beans, and I think that's helped swell the fruit. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,502

    In the east also, north of Durham...

    I'll keep an eye on the worst branch and if it looks dodgy take the fruit off. It would be a shame to lose a limb for the sake of a handful of pearsimage

    Wearside, England.
  • PalaisglidePalaisglide Posts: 3,414

    Pears should be thinned in August, leave one fruit on a cluster if the crop is very heavy or two fruit if it is light. Pick as soon as you see a change in skin colour, lift and twist the fruit it should come away easily then will take a day or two to ripen, if the stalk twists and breaks then leave for a few days. The fruits will all ripen at different times so you pick as they change colour. If left to ripen on the tree the centre will start to go brown. One other thing Pears like Nitrogen fertiliser so in spring put down a mulch containing some granular fertiliser around the base of the tree not touching the trunk, pruning is normally done about now too.

    Frank.

  • Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,502

    Thanks Frank.image I think there is too many on a cluster then.

    I will thin out in future. I assume when you say change colour you mean the brown mottling?

    They don't come off very easily so I think they are not quite cooked.

    Wearside, England.
  • Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,502

    Thanks Verdunimage sorry, only just seen your reply.

    I will thin in future years, although perhaps it will not matter as much when the tree is bigger.

    Not sure what I will do with all the pears, eat them I supposeimage

    Wearside, England.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,146

    This is a fantastic recipe, particularly if the pears are a little bit under-ripe

    https://www.rivercottage.net/recipes/mulled-pears 

    My espaliered Concorde pear is only four years old, and has three tiers - this year each branch on the two lower tiers flowered and set lots of fruit - however it obviously knew exactly what it was doing because in the June Drop it only retained one fruit per branch i.e. four pears in total - ideal for such a baby tree image

    Looking forward to them ... 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,502

    That does look a nice recipe, I've taken a screen shot, thank youimage

    I like the idea of using them with something savoury too, because of that sweet fuzzy texture they have.

    I've looked at some preserving jars on Amazon and might see what I can conjure image 

    Wearside, England.
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