3 Essential Pear Harvesting Techniques You Need To Know
Most people have tried canned pears or a diced version in syrupy fruit cups, but eating a fresh pear is an entirely different experience. Pears are less common in your local grocery store than other fruits, but you should take advantage of the opportunity when you see them available for purchase. If you don’t have access to fresh pears unless you grow them yourself, check out these essential pear harvesting techniques you need to know to become the best possible home gardener.
Determine When They’re Ready for Picking
Most pear varieties are ready to come off their trees in August and September, but there are a few signs you should look for before picking them.
- Color—Pears will change color slightly right before they’re ready to harvest. You can expect them to change from a bright green to a yellow or soft green color.
- Texture—Pears will give a little if you squeeze gently. If you wrap your hand around the fruit and give it a soft squeeze, it’s ready to come off the tree if it feels firm with a slight give.
- Separates easily—Pears that are ready to come off the tree will separate easily. If it resists separation, leave it on the tree and check again every day or two.
Remove Them From the Tree Gently
Once you notice the common signs your pears are ready to separate from the tree, you should remove them gently. After all, pears are relatively fragile during this stage, and you can damage them by pulling them from the branch with force. If you believe your pears are ready for harvest, lift each individual pear and roll it up on its stem; this should be enough to separate them from the branches. If the pears require more force, they probably need a few more days.
Allow Them To Ripen Off the Tree
Many other fruits are table ripe right off the tree, but that’s not the case for pears. Even though they may be ready to come off the branch, they’re probably not quite ready to eat. Leaving them on the tree longer might be your first instinct, but this can cause the pears to become over-ripened. After harvesting your pears from the trees, they’ll need three to five days in room temperature conditions to become fully ripe.
After learning the essential pear harvesting techniques you need to know, you can look for pear trees for sale to add to your property. There’s nothing better than enjoying fresh, homegrown fruit, and having pear trees in your backyard is an excellent way to boost the environment while gaining unlimited access to a unique fruit.
