Table pears, cider pears, cooking pears - summer pears, autumn pears, winter pears - there are so many types of pear trees that choosing one for your own garden is not easy. A small guide for the hobby gardener.
What types of pears are there and what are they used for?
There are different types of pears such as table, cooking, cider, summer, early autumn, autumn and winter pears, which differ in ripening time, intended use and taste. It is recommended to plant several varieties for fertilization and a longer harvest time.
The different ripening times and uses
If you thought pears were pears, let us prove you wrong. Pears come in many varieties. Each has its own location and care needs.
Some pear varieties ripen early, others are not ripe until late autumn. That's why pear tree species are divided into summer, autumn, late autumn and winter pears.
Early pears taste best fresh from the tree and cannot be stored for long. Cooking pears, on the other hand, are ideal for preserving or for dishes with pears. Late autumn and winter pears are the best varieties for winter supplies. They can be stored for several months.
table pears
Table pears are all types of pears that are suitable for raw consumption. These pears are usually quite large and smooth and have a typical pear shape. Depending on the base, the aroma can be weak to strong. Table pears mainly taste sweet, but there are also sour types.
Cooking pears
Cooking pears are, as the name suggests, inedible when raw. They need to be cooked so that they become soft. The aroma only really develops when heated. Cooking pears are ideal if you want to make compote from the pears or preserve them in preserving jars. There are many cooking pears, especially among the old pear varieties.
Most pears
Most pears are often grown in orchards. The fruits are usually quite small and can look a bit wrinkled. Cider pears do not taste good raw. They are preferably used for the production of pear cider. Cider pears are also kept on large areas for wine production. Cultivation is only worthwhile on a large scale. Cider pears are rarely planted in home gardens.
Summer pears
The first summer pears are ripe in July. However, you harvest most varieties of summer pears in August and September. They must be used immediately because storing them will not benefit them. They are also not suitable for preserving.
The most famous summer pears include:
- Colorful July pear – yellow-red striped fruit, very sweet
- Yellow Williams Christ – golden yellow, spotted fruit, very sweet
- Red Williams Christ – yellowish to dark red fruit, sweet
- Early from Trévoux – red-dotted fruit, very juicy
Early Autumn Pears
You can harvest early autumn pears between September and October. They are usually not as sweet as summer pears. The taste is often very aromatic. These types of pears store slightly better than summer pears.
Well-known early autumn pears
- Gute Luise – yellow-green to brown-red fruit, sweet and sour
- Good Gray – gray-brown fruit, sweet and juicy
- Gellert's butter pear - yellow-brown fruit, juicy
- Double Philips pear – yellow to slightly reddish fruit, sweet, juicy
Autumn pears
They ripen between October and December depending on the weather conditions. However, in unfavorable locations the fruits do not always ripen. Autumn pears should therefore only be planted in very protected areas, preferably in front of house walls.
Well-known autumn pears
- Club dechants pear – orange-red to brownish fruit, sweet and sour
- Delicious from Charneux – pale red fruit, very juicy, ideal for preserving pears
- Conference – light green fruit, juicy, sweet, aromatic
- Alexander Lucas – yellow fruit, sweet, juicy
Winter pears
Winter pears are not ready to harvest until December. It often takes until January before they can be harvested. Winter pears are therefore not suitable for unfavorable locations with early frosts. They do not ripen in time and freeze to death on the tree. An exception is the pastor's pear, which can be harvested from September to January if conditions are favorable.
Well-known winter pears
- Pastor pear – green fruit, sweet-sour, juicy
- Countess of Paris – greenish-yellow fruit, delicately aromatic, sweet
- Nordhäuser winter trout – yellow to light red fruit, juicy, sweet, very spicy
- Big cat's head - green-red fruit, only edible when cooked
New pear varieties every year
New varieties of pears come onto the market almost every year. It's worth asking at the tree nursery. New varieties are often resistant to mildew and robust against pests.
Preserving old pear tree varieties
Unfortunately, old pear tree varieties are increasingly being forgotten. An exception is Clapp's Favorite, a variety still commonly found in gardens today.
Some hobby gardeners are dedicated to preserving the old species. Through grafting and propagation, they ensure that the old pear varieties do not completely disappear from the gardens.
If you are interested in old pear tree varieties, it is worth visiting alternative tree nurseries or the allotment garden colony in the city. Old varieties are still often grown there. Most hobby gardeners are happy to cut scions from their old pear trees and help you propagate almost forgotten pear varieties.
Tips & Tricks
Plant several types of pears in the garden. Since pear trees are not self-pollinating, they need another tree to pollinate. If you grow pears with different harvest times, you can constantly pick fresh pears from summer to fall.
