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The most widely cultivated and best known pear, 'Bartlett', produces large yellow, blushed pears in late summer that are prized for their juicy, sweet, melting flesh.
Pears are deciduous fruit trees that originate from Europe and Asia. They are medium-sized, have upright, pyramidal habits and thrive in most temperate regions. In spring, they produce clusters of five-petaled, white flowers that are fragrant and attract bees in droves. The prolific pears of ‘Bartlett’ mature in by late summer. This cultivar sets more fruit if others are nearby for cross-pollination.
Usually picked before the peak of ripeness, pears can store well with refrigeration for extended periods. The fruits of ‘Bartlett’ are good keepers and great for canning. Firm fruits will soften more rapidly if they are placed in a brown bag with a couple of ripe bananas. Eat pears when the skin gives slightly when pressed. They taste great with sharp cheese and also make superb cakes, tarts, brandy and butter.
Pears produce best in full sun, though they can also tolerate partial sun. They prefer light, rich soils with good drainage but will tolerate heavier, clay-rich soils. Most require around 800 chilling hours to produce fruit. Pear trees are typically grafted onto rootstock, which may impart a variety of characteristics to include dwarfism, disease and pest resistance, and vigor. Therefore, final height is rootstock dependent.
Plant pears as freestanding trees or train them into espaliered forms. Avoid hard pruning and fertilization because they promote fast-growing twigs that are especially susceptible to fire blight, which can disfigure and even kill the tree.
Genus - Pyrus
Species - Communis
Common name - Bartlet Pear
Pre-Treatment - Required
Hardiness zones - 5 - 7
Height - 12'-40' / 3.70 - 12 m
Spread - 10'-20' / 3 - 6 m
Plant type - Tree
Vegetation type - Deciduous
Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Shade
Growth rate - Fast
Soil PH - Neutral
Soil type - Loam, well drained
Water requirements - Average Water
Landscape uses - Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Germination rate - 82%
Bloom season - Spring
Leaf / Flower color - Green / White
| Useful Info | |
| Germination | 1. Fill a plastic bag with moist peat moss. Bury the pear seeds 2 to 3 inches in the peat moss and close the bag. Place the plastic bag in the bottom crisper drawer of the refrigerator for up to three months, or until the last frost date has passed. Ensure that the peat moss stays damp but not soggy the entire time it is stored in the refrigerator. 2. Remove the seeds from the refrigerator and plastic bag when outdoor temperatures remain steady above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Soak the seeds in a bowl of warm water for two days to help soften the hard outer shell of the pear seeds. 3. Place biodegradable peat pots on top of a plastic water tray. Fill the peat pots 3/4 full with organic potting soil. Remove the pear seeds from the bowl of water and lay one pear seed on top of the potting soil in each peat pot. Cover the pear seeds with a 1/2-inch layer of potting soil. 4. Water the pear seeds until the soil is moist. Cover the peat pots loosely with plastic wrap to raise the humidity. Set the plastic tray and peat pots indoors in a warm location that receives plenty of indirect light. Keep the soil moist until the pear seeds germinate. The rate of germination will depend on which variety of pear seed you have. 5. Remove the plastic wrap when the pear seeds have sprouted above the soil line in each peat pot. Move the water tray and peat pots to an indoor location that receives brighter light, such as a windowsill. Continue keeping the soil moist for several months, or through the winter months. 6. Feed the growing pear seedlings a liquid houseplant fertilizer as directed on the package label. 7. Plant the pear seedlings in well-draining soil, in a location that receives full sunlight when the threat of frost has passed. Break up the soil in a planting area twice the size of the peat pot the pear tree is growing in and mix in organic compost. Dig a hole the same size as the peat pot. Trim off the top edge of the peat pot so it is even with the soil level inside. Place the peat pot into the planting hole and backfill with soil. Water the soil well. Space multiple pear seedlings at least 20 feet apart from each other to accommodate the growing root systems. (source: ehow.com) |
