16 



RECOMMENDED PEAR CULTIVARS FOR THE NORTHEAST 



Francis C. Del lamano 



Cooperative Extension Association of Oswego County 



Mexico, New York 



To make a profit when growing pears it is necessary to produce high 

 yields (500 + bu/acre) of large fruit (preferably greater than 2 1/2 inches 

 in diameter bit 2 3/8 inches at a minimum). Unfortunately, nearly 10 years 

 is usually required to obtain .3 profitable crop, but the use of dwarfing 

 rootstocks an good cultural practices can reduce this period to 7 years. 

 The following are brief descriptions of the pear cultivars which can be 

 grown profitably in the Northeast. 



BARTLETT is the most widely planted and best known variety for Fresh con- 

 sumption and canning. Adequate, early pollination and good cultural prac- 

 tices are necessary to obtain good yield and size. If the trees are in good 

 vigor they may not respond well to thinning with NAA. If harvested at l8 to 

 21 lbs firmness and cooled quickly, fruit will store well. By delaying har- 

 vest a week and beginning to pick at 16 lbs., size and yield will be 

 increased by at least 10^; howev;r, shelf life will be reduced. 



BOSC is a good variety which is increasing in importance, because increased 

 knowledge of Bosc culture has resulted in the ability to produce fruit 2 1/2 

 inches and larger. Generally, t:he Northeast can produce high quality Bosc 

 fruit with prices varying from 30 to 100? higher than Bartletts. If you are 

 purchasing Bosc trees, select only those which are virus-free. Because of 

 sensitivity to cold winter temperatures (southwest trunk injury) trunks 

 should be painted with white latex paint. Good fertility must be main- 

 tained, particularly for potassium, because Bosc trees are sensitive to low 

 potassium levels. Thinning is accomplished easily with NAA, and hand 

 thinning is seldom needed. Fruit should be harvested at approximately the 

 same time as Mcintosh apples. \ields can exceed those of Bartlett by 2S+%- 

 (Note: Bosc is not the best pollinator for Bartlett, since it blooms during 

 the last half of Bartlett bloom in most years.) 



CLAPP pears are harvested 2 to 3 weeks prior to Bartletts, and it is a good 

 variety for its season. The tree is winter hardy, productive, and a good 

 pollinator. Fruit which are 2 1/2 inches or larger are obtained easily with 

 adequate thinning. Fire blight is a problem with Clapp trees, and the fruit 

 decays internally prior to softening. 



SECKEL is a small, sweet pear harvested just prior to Mcintosh apples. 

 Because of low prices from 1950 to 1975 pear growers moved away from Seckel, 

 but the demand presently exceeds the supply and now the prices are good. 

 Thinning chemicals do not work on Seckel, so it is difficult to produce 

 fruit larger than 1 3/k inches. 



SPARTLETT trees produce fruit which are 50% larger than Bartletts. They can 

 develop a red cheek and have a nice appearance but are not as high quality 

 as Bartlett. The trees have poor crotch angles and weak wood which can 

 break with a crop load. Fruit set is generally poor but can be improved 

 with daminozide (Alar^), 



