Pears

[gullivar33]

I have a lovely crop of conference pears , now do i keep them on the tree or take them off ?, i took them off last year and they never got ripe what is the best answer please .

[ameno]

You mustn't leave them on the tree until they are fully ripe or else they will develop brown centres (they also won't keep at all and often fall off before fully ripe, anyway). But if you pick too soon you will have the problem you had last year.

Generally speaking, a pear is ready to pick if you can lift it to 90 degrees and the stalk just snap off. If you have to lift it any further or twist it at all then it's not there yet. The pears you pick should then be fully ripened at room temperature (or stored somewhere cool whilst still hard for later use).

[Jungle Jane]

Last year did you leave them a couple of days to ripen at room temp? Pears do come off the tree feeling hard & they soften at room temp unless picked too early when they’re still very green. They get a bit of brown colouration in their skin when ready. If unsure pick a few,leave them in the room,not fridge,to soften after about two days.

[Jungle Jane]

Generally speaking, a pear is ready to pick if you can lift it to 90 degrees and the stalk just snap off. If you have to lift it any further or twist it at all then it's not there yet.

Mine need a bit of pulling to come off,they’re not so easy to let go of the tree but still ripen in the kitchen really good

[Nicos]

Thanks for the heads up about this- I’ll check to see if mine are ready tomorrow,

[Nicos]

I’ve just come in with about a dozen pears! Thanks for the heads up Not ripe but easily twisted off.

Quite a lot which aren’t ripe yet ( three varieties)

[It never rains..it pours]

Thanks for ripening advice, picked couple on the advice. Not many this year as forgot to hand pollinate them.