You may not have tried a Minnesota grown pear, but you will not be disappointed. A few years ago I had a Summercrisp Pear from a Minnesota orchard and was blown away by how good it was. Crisp, juicy and sweet. Unfortunately there aren't many place to buy them, which means there's a great opportunity to grow them yourself. Pears are easier to grow organically than apples because they have much less disease and insect pressure.
This year we are offering bare root dormant pear trees. Bare root trees need to be planted within a day or two of when you pick them up from us so they don't dry out. The advantages to bare root trees are that they don't experience transplant shock when they are planted, they are easier to transport, and we can offer them at a lower price than potted trees. The trees are two years old and are 4 to 6 feet tall with multiple branches.
Our pear trees are semi-dwarf and will grow to around 10-15 feet tall. These will need to be staked (supported) for the first two years. (We do offer metal posts and tree ties for purchase here.) Pear trees do need a second variety for pollination. All three of the varieties we are offering will pollinate each other.
These trees will be available starting Friday, May 9th for pickup at the farm. We are sorry but we are unable to ship trees. We are offering the following variety of pears this year.
Juicy Jewel (Asian Pear): This is a brand new release from the University of MN and is the first Asian Pear variety they have released. Unlike European pears, which ripen to a soft, creamy texture, Asian pears are known for their crisp, apple-like texture. The tree produces attractive oval to elliptical fruit with yellow-green skin and the occasional orange-pink blush. Juicy Jewel fruit is sweet with mild tropical overtones. It can be picked ripe and eaten right off the tree. Ripens in Mid-August.
Parker: Medium to large, yellow-bronze fruit ripens in September. Popular for its fine-grained, tender, juicy flesh. Fruit is best picked before fully ripe and then ripened off the tree. Was released by the University of MN in 1934.
Summercrisp: Has a firm, crisp, texture with a sweet mild flavor. This is my favorite pear! The fruit is best picked slightly underripe while it is still firm and crisp. Ripens mid-August and was bred by the University of Minnesota to be a cold hardy pear for Minnesota.