pears

PEAR TREES

We are proud to offer a good selection of pear varieties for northern climates like ours, where the standard commercial varieties will not survive.

Marked varieties (+) are St. Lawrence Nurseries introductions, either found by us or brought to our attention by other sharp-eyed plantspeople.

Use the pear table below to choose individual pear varieties, or take advantage of our special price pear package. For more information about pear trees, such as rootstock, hardiness, spacing and pollination, scroll down past the pear table.

Price — 2 to 4 ft. trees $22.00 each

Special Price Pear Package — 4 pear trees— $72

1 each of Chazy River, Hudar, Savignac, Waterville
Four great eating pears for one low price!

Interested in feeding wildlife, or in making pear wine?

See our Wildlife and Wine Pear Package below — a great bargain!

newly listed variety back in the catalog

available separately or as part of
Special Pear Package

* indicates old variety

Variety Hardiness Ripens Description

Buerre Gifford* V-M Early August A large (up to 2.5 inch) pear with crisp, tender, melting and juicy flesh. Very high quality for fresh eating. Should be picked when under-ripe and ripened inside. Precocious, early-fruiting.

Cabot E September Medium size fruit. Extremely winter hardy. Flesh is melting, sweet, aromatic and good for fresh eating.

Chazy River+
In Special Pear Package V Early to mid Sept. The parent tree is a seedling growing near Mooers, NY. It is probaably about 200 years old. Fruit is small to medium size, good for fresh eating and canning. Precocious bearer. Thinning will increase fruit size.

Clark+ E Early Sept. Fruit is small, good for canning, fair quality eating when ripe. Ripens all at once; not a keeper. Tree vigorous, fireblight and scab resistant.

Dempsey*
V
October
Developed by P.C. Dempsey of Trenton, Ontario in the 1890's. A cross between Bartlett and Duchess d' Angouleme. Similar in appearance to Bartlett; sweet and juicy with a rich flavor.

Ely+
OUT OF STOCK FOR 2012
E
October
The parent tree has been growing in Ely, MN for a least 100 years. Grought to our attention by Sandy Okstad. Small, sweet, good for canning and processing. This tree has to be hardy...if you know anything about Ely!

Flemish Beauty* V Late Sept. A very good quality eating pear, Flemish Beauty has been around since the early 1800's. Flesh is firm, becoming melting as it ripens. Susceptible to fireblight.

Herman Last+ V Mid Sept. Medium to large-size fruit ripens on the tree. Good for eating and cooking. Resistant to fireblight.

Hudar+
In Special Pear Package E-V Late July, Early Aug.
Originated on the Hudar farm in Hammond, NY. Early and productive, one of our best eating pears; also good for canning. Yellow with sweet, juicy flesh. Jon Busch in Aspen, Co, (8000 ft elevation) says his Hudar fruits every year and produces a prodigious crop. Size a bit smaller than Bartlett.

Leonard V Late Sept. A medium-size, hard, green pear which ripens yellow to a smooth, melting, flavorful fruit. Brought to our attention by Clarke Nattress.

Luscious V Mid to late Sept. Large, very juicy, sweet and firm yet melting pear. Ripens in storage 7-10 days after harvest and remains excellent for fresh eating for about 2 weeks. A South Dakota E31 X Ewart cross, Luscious has proven hardy in many northern states.

Manning-Miller V Early to mid Sept. Firm flesh is sweet when green or ripe. Texture is a bit coarse, but pleasant; stands up well to processing. Tree grows strongly and yields abundant crops. Self-fertile.

Nova+ V Mid Sept. One of our best pears, named after our daughter, Nova. Large, round, melting and juicy. Can be used green or ripe. Hangs well without premature drop. Precocious and self-fertile.

O'berg+ V September This medium to large pear ripens to a smooth, very fine quality fruit. Excellent canned. The original tree grew just south of Ogdensburg, NY for 50 years.

Patten E Late Sept. Very large fruit with excellent eating quality...one of the latest-ripening pears. Should be picked about 1 week before ripe and then allowed to ripen in cool storage.

Savignac+
In Special Pear Package V Sept. Very sweet juicy pear with few grit cells. Originated near Quebec City, Canada, in a very cold area. Brought to our attention by Henri Bernard.

Southworth+ V Mid-late Sept. Good-flavored, Bartlett-sized sweet pear with juicy flesh that is firm becoming melting. Self-fertile. Tree is a strong, vigorous grower. Originated in Northern NY. Our tree produced bushels this year--yum!

Stacey+ E-V Mid-August A profuse producer with medium size fruit. Should be picked in mid-August before fully ripe then allowed to ripen in a cool storage space. The original tree is at least 250 years old and is growing near Stacyville, ME. Very vigorous grower...the sturdiest pear in the orchard. Brought to our attention by Clarke Nattress.

Summercrisp V Mid Aug. Introduced by the Univ. of Minnesota. This pear can be eaten green as a crisp juicy fruit similar to the Asian pears. When ripe it is sweet and fine-textured. Tree vigorous and a good pollinator for other pears. Our second earliest pear.

Tyson* M Early Sept.
Known since 1794, Tyson is a medium-sized conical pear. Fruit quality very high, especially for fresh eating. Keeps only a short time in storage. Tree is large, vigorous and productive.

Waterville V Sept. Large and juicy with a slightly coarse but very sweet flesh. The tree is an extremely vigorous grower. Originated in Waterville, VT. Brought to our attention by David Fried of Elmore Roots Nursery..

Variety	Hardiness	Ripens	Description
Buerre Gifford*	V-M	Early August	A large (up to 2.5 inch) pear with crisp, tender, melting and juicy flesh. Very high quality for fresh eating. Should be picked when under-ripe and ripened inside. Precocious, early-fruiting.
Cabot	E	September	Medium size fruit. Extremely winter hardy. Flesh is melting, sweet, aromatic and good for fresh eating.
Chazy River+ In Special Pear Package	V	Early to mid Sept.	The parent tree is a seedling growing near Mooers, NY. It is probaably about 200 years old. Fruit is small to medium size, good for fresh eating and canning. Precocious bearer. Thinning will increase fruit size.
Clark+	E	Early Sept.	Fruit is small, good for canning, fair quality eating when ripe. Ripens all at once; not a keeper. Tree vigorous, fireblight and scab resistant.
Dempsey*	V	October	Developed by P.C. Dempsey of Trenton, Ontario in the 1890's. A cross between Bartlett and Duchess d' Angouleme. Similar in appearance to Bartlett; sweet and juicy with a rich flavor.
Ely+ OUT OF STOCK FOR 2012	E	October	The parent tree has been growing in Ely, MN for a least 100 years. Grought to our attention by Sandy Okstad. Small, sweet, good for canning and processing. This tree has to be hardy...if you know anything about Ely!
Flemish Beauty*	V	Late Sept.	A very good quality eating pear, Flemish Beauty has been around since the early 1800's. Flesh is firm, becoming melting as it ripens. Susceptible to fireblight.
Herman Last+	V	Mid Sept.	Medium to large-size fruit ripens on the tree. Good for eating and cooking. Resistant to fireblight.
Hudar+ In Special Pear Package	E-V	Late July, Early Aug.	Originated on the Hudar farm in Hammond, NY. Early and productive, one of our best eating pears; also good for canning. Yellow with sweet, juicy flesh. Jon Busch in Aspen, Co, (8000 ft elevation) says his Hudar fruits every year and produces a prodigious crop. Size a bit smaller than Bartlett.
Leonard	V	Late Sept.	A medium-size, hard, green pear which ripens yellow to a smooth, melting, flavorful fruit. Brought to our attention by Clarke Nattress.
Luscious	V	Mid to late Sept.	Large, very juicy, sweet and firm yet melting pear. Ripens in storage 7-10 days after harvest and remains excellent for fresh eating for about 2 weeks. A South Dakota E31 X Ewart cross, Luscious has proven hardy in many northern states.
Manning-Miller	V	Early to mid Sept.	Firm flesh is sweet when green or ripe. Texture is a bit coarse, but pleasant; stands up well to processing. Tree grows strongly and yields abundant crops. Self-fertile.
Nova+	V	Mid Sept.	One of our best pears, named after our daughter, Nova. Large, round, melting and juicy. Can be used green or ripe. Hangs well without premature drop. Precocious and self-fertile.
O'berg+	V	September	This medium to large pear ripens to a smooth, very fine quality fruit. Excellent canned. The original tree grew just south of Ogdensburg, NY for 50 years.
Patten	E	Late Sept.	Very large fruit with excellent eating quality...one of the latest-ripening pears. Should be picked about 1 week before ripe and then allowed to ripen in cool storage.
Savignac+ In Special Pear Package	V	Sept.	Very sweet juicy pear with few grit cells. Originated near Quebec City, Canada, in a very cold area. Brought to our attention by Henri Bernard.
Southworth+	V	Mid-late Sept.	Good-flavored, Bartlett-sized sweet pear with juicy flesh that is firm becoming melting. Self-fertile. Tree is a strong, vigorous grower. Originated in Northern NY. Our tree produced bushels this year--yum!
Stacey+	E-V	Mid-August	A profuse producer with medium size fruit. Should be picked in mid-August before fully ripe then allowed to ripen in a cool storage space. The original tree is at least 250 years old and is growing near Stacyville, ME. Very vigorous grower...the sturdiest pear in the orchard. Brought to our attention by Clarke Nattress.
Summercrisp	V	Mid Aug.	Introduced by the Univ. of Minnesota. This pear can be eaten green as a crisp juicy fruit similar to the Asian pears. When ripe it is sweet and fine-textured. Tree vigorous and a good pollinator for other pears. Our second earliest pear.
Tyson*	M	Early Sept.	Known since 1794, Tyson is a medium-sized conical pear. Fruit quality very high, especially for fresh eating. Keeps only a short time in storage. Tree is large, vigorous and productive.
Waterville	V	Sept.	Large and juicy with a slightly coarse but very sweet flesh. The tree is an extremely vigorous grower. Originated in Waterville, VT. Brought to our attention by David Fried of Elmore Roots Nursery..

Wildlife & Wine Pear Package — 4 pear trees — $64 David, Jubilee, Olia, Pepi

These four pears are Ussuriensis crosses. (Pyrus ussuriensis X Pyrus communis) They are hardy, productive and fireblight resistant, but lack eating quality. Too astringent for most people, but great for deer and other wildlife, and high tannins for pear wine!

Rootstock

The rootstocks we use for our pear varieties are Pyrus communis (for European-type pears) and Pyrus ussuriensis (for ussuriensis crosses). These are hardy and vigorous growers which produces a ``standard'' or full size tree.

Spacing

Plant pear trees about 20 feet apart.

Hardiness

E — Extremely hardy, to -50^oF or colder.
V — Very hardy, to -50^o F with occasional winter injury.
M — Moderately hardy, to -40^o F with occasional injury.
P — Hardy only to -30^oor -40^o F. May need protection.

Pollination

Most pear varieties need to be cross-pollinated by a different variety in order to produce bountiful crops, although a few are self-fruitful. To be safe, unless otherwise noted in the description, it's best to order at least 2 different varieties of pears to insure good pollination.

Approximate age of bearing

A pear tree from our nursery, if planted in good soil and maintained adequately by its new owner (rabbit protection, mulching with manure, attention to pests), should yield its first fruits in 3-5 years.

PEAR TREES

Price — 2 to 4 ft. trees $22.00 each

Special Price Pear Package — 4 pear trees— $72

1 each of Chazy River, Hudar, Savignac, Waterville