Plant family: Rosaceae
Plant origin: Europe, China.
Fruit description: Pears have a small central core the same as apples, with a few seeds. Hood and Flora Home varieties are low chill or “tropical”, they do not require frost to set fruit so are very suitable for cool, warm, or hot climates.
Flora Home Pear fruit can be eaten firm when they are still green and hard. Ripe Flora Home Pear fruit have a light green smooth skin. The flavour is very sweet, with a soft, juicy flesh when fully ripe.
Hood Pear fruit can be eaten firm when they are still green and hard. Ripe Hood Pear fruit have a round shape and a smooth yellowish-green skin. The ripe flesh is fragrant, smooth in texture and the flavour is sweet.
Flowers: Pear flowers are large, soft, white blossoms, produced in early Spring.
Growing conditions: The Hood and Florda Home Pear trees are hardy, deciduous, and frost tolerant, they grow to 5 metres. Pear leaves are about 6cm long and are serrated, shiny green on top and pale beneath. Pears are a beautiful garden specimen, in Autumn and winter, the leaves turn from green to orange, to a magnificent dark burgundy colour, before they fall for winter dormancy. Pears are suitable for a small garden. Plant Pear trees in well-drained soil, enriched with well-rotted compost or other organic material. Water well before and after planting. Shelter the tree from strong winds. The tree needs plenty of sunshine to grow well and fruit profusely. Water the tree all during the growing season. Pears can be grown in a pot. For good growth and fruit, pears need plenty of nitrogen. The tree should be fertilised with general plant food, animal or poultry manure twice a year in July and December. Mulch the tree annually. Prune the tree to a vase shape, a central “leader” stem, or to an espalier shape. Prune the tree immediately after flowering to within a few buds near the base of each major branch to ensure the fruit is a good size and the branches bearing the fruit are strong. Pears fruit on new wood so, after fruiting, prune back the branches where fruit was borne to promote new growth for the next crop.
Uses: Eat pears fresh. You can also add them to salads, fruit salads and savoury dishes. They go well in a garden salad with cheese, walnuts or pecans. They make excellent jam, sauces or chutney and can be preserved in syrup. Pears go well with ginger or with chocolate in desserts, or include pears in tarte tatin. Pear juice can be fermented to make Perry.
Medicinal uses: Pears are high in dietary fibre and vitamin C, especially in the skin.
Pollination requirements: Plant one Hood and one Flora Home Pear so they Pollinate each other.
Harvest time Hood and Florda Home Pears ripen in early Summer. Pears continue to ripen at room temperature after they are picked. For excellent flavour, pick the fruit when ripe and use it within a couple of days or store them in the refrigerator for up to a week. Check the flesh around the stem, if the pear is ready to eat it will give slightly when gently pressed. Very ripe fruit loses its crispness, and becomes very soft and juicy.
Plant relatives Pears are related to nashi, quinces and apples.
Special features: Wood from a pear tree is used to make kitchen tools that will not warp in water, also for wind instruments and fine furniture.
Grown by method: Grafted Pot size: 6 litre
Plant growing Height and Width for pots or in the ground planting: Grows to 3 metres high by 2 metres wide if Planted in a Pot. Grows 5 metres high by 4 metres wide if Planted in the Ground.
Shipping plant pot or planter bag size: 6 litre
