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 little guide for the hobby gardener.

The different maturation times and uses

If you previously thought that a pear was a pear, you will be proved wrong. Pears come in many varieties. Each has its own needs for location and care.

Some varieties of pears ripen early, while others don't ripen until late autumn. That is 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 storage. They can be stored for several months.

table pears

All types of pears that are suitable for raw consumption are referred to as table pears. These pears are usually quite large and smooth and have a typical pear shape. Depending on the substrate, the aroma can be weak to strong. Table pears mainly taste sweet, but there are also sour types.

cooking pears

As the name suggests, cooking pears are inedible when raw. They need to be cooked to make them soft. The aroma really develops when it is heated. Cooking pears are ideal if you want to make compote from the pears or boil them in preserving jars. There are many cooking pears, especially among the old pear varieties.

cider pears

Cider pears are often grown in meadow orchards. The fruits are usually quite small and can look a bit wrinkled. Most pears don't taste good raw. They are mainly used for the production of pear must. Most pears are also kept on large areas for wine production. Cultivation is only worthwhile on a large scale. Most pears are rarely planted in the home garden.

summer pears

The first summer pears are already ripe in July. However, most varieties of summer pears are harvested in August and September. They must be used up immediately, because storage doesn't get them. They are also not suitable for preserving.

The best-known summer pears include:

  • Colorful July pear - yellow-red striped fruit, very sweet
  • Yellow Williams Christ - golden yellow dotted fruit, very sweet
  • Red Williams Christ - yellowish to dark red fruit, sweet
  • Early from Trévoux - red-lined fruit, very juicy

Early Autumn Pears

Harvest early fall pears between September and October. They are usually not as sweet as the summer pears. On the other hand, the taste is often very aromatic. These pear varieties store a little better than summer pears.

Well-known early autumn pears

  • Gute Luise - yellow-green to brown-red fruit, sweet and sour
  • Good gray - grey-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

Depending on weather conditions, they ripen between October and December. In unfavorable locations, however, the fruits do not always ripen. Autumn pears should therefore only be planted in very sheltered areas, preferably in front of house walls.

Known autumn pears

  • Vereinsdechantsbirne - orange-red to brownish fruit, sweet and sour
  • Delicious from Charneux - pale red fruit, very juicy, ideal for preserving
  • Conference - light green fruit, juicy, sweet, aromatic
  • Alexander Lucas - yellow fruit, sweet, juicy

winter pears

Winter pears are not ready for harvest until December. It often even lasts until January before they can be harvested. Winter pears are therefore not suitable for unfavorable locations with early frosts. They don't mature in time and freeze to death on the tree. An exception is the pastor's pear, which can be harvested from September to January under favorable conditions.

Known winter pears

  • Parson's pear - green fruit, sweet and sour, juicy
  • Countess of Paris - greenish-yellow fruit, finely aromatic, sweet
  • Nordhäuser winter trout - yellow to light red fruit, juicy, sweet, very spicy
  • Large cat's head - green-red fruit, only edible when cooked

New pear breeds every year

New pear varieties come onto the market almost every year. It is worth asking at the nursery. New breeds are often resistant to mildew and robust to pests.

Preserve old pear tree varieties

Unfortunately, old pear tree varieties are increasingly being forgotten. An exception is Clapp's Darling, a variety that is still commonly found in gardens today.

Some hobby gardeners have dedicated themselves to preserving the old species. By grafting and propagating, they ensure that the old pear varieties do not disappear from the gardens entirely.

If you are interested in old varieties of pear trees, a visit to alternative tree nurseries or the allotment colony in the city is worthwhile. Old varieties are still often grown there. Most hobby gardeners are happy to cut scions from their old pear trees and help them propagate almost forgotten pear varieties.

tips and tricks

Plant several varieties of pears in the garden. Because 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 autumn.

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Trees