Questions You Should Know about Snow Pear in Bulk

Questions You Should Know about Snow Pear in Bulk

It’s a cozy cottage weekend—won’t you stop for a visit at my inspiring cottage? A hot cup of tea and a fresh dessert of some sort always awaits you! Today is all about Pears and the harvest season. Our cottage came with a mini orchard (of which we will be adding to in the future) and one of my favorite trees in the yard is an old fashioned pear. I am doing a fun Fall Harvest contest in which you could win a prize, so be sure to read the whole article so you don’t miss it! In this article I will also be sharing tips on identifying pear trees, how to know when it’s time to harvest, storing pears, etc.

For more information, please visit Snow Pear in Bulk.

The scent of a bunch of ripe pears is just divine! Although I haven’t yet experienced the smell of pear blossoms in the spring, I hear it’s equally enchanting. I eagerly await that experience. Let's stroll through my "Secret Garden" cottage gate and follow the brick path to the pear tree!

Currently, we have just one pear tree, but it’s quite large and incredibly productive. It's an old tree, and there's quite a bit of history tied to it, much like many other things at this cottage. Below, you'll find a photo of its early summer state when the pears were still growing:

Here is what the pear tree looked like at the end of September (closer to harvest time):

You might not be able to tell from the photos, but the tree was absolutely loaded this year, with pears hanging in clusters. One branch was so heavy with fruit that it nearly touched the ground. I’ve never seen so many pears on one tree before—granted, this is my first experience tending to fruit trees. It has truly been a bountiful autumn!

Identifying Pear Trees and What Type Ours Is

I’ve done extensive research to identify the type of pear tree we have. For those with a similar query, perhaps my findings might help. After my research, I identified our pear tree as a Winter Nelis. There are various methods to identify a pear tree by its characteristics. Observe the size, shape, color, and ripening time if you have an unidentified pear tree in your yard.

Harvest Timing for Pears

Winter Nelis pears typically do not ripen until October. I picked some pears a bit early (end of September) and discovered that they needed a couple more weeks to ripen fully. Winter pears like ours ripen later in the season and can be stored through the winter, sometimes until February. These pears are smaller than those typically found in grocery stores, often short and squat with a medium-sized stem. They might look bumpy and uneven but are delightful in taste.

Another telltale sign is their color. Our pears are mainly green with a few turning yellow when ripe. Many have a russet covering, which is a brownish tint you can see in the photos. Initially, I thought they were Bosc pears because of the russet, but the shape and size were noticeably different.

The Origin and Fun Facts about Winter Nelis Pears

Winter Nelis pears originate from Belgium in the early 1800s, raised from seed by Jean Charles Nelis. They were introduced to England by the London Horticultural Society and brought to America in 1823. They became popular due to their resilience to late frosts and long storage life.

I can attest from first-hand experience that they are extremely sweet, juicy, and aromatic. They also hold up well in cooking. I’ve enjoyed them both fresh and in various baked dishes.

Tips on Knowing When It’s Time to Harvest Pears

A key lesson learned is not to harvest pears when they are overly ripe as they can become too grainy and lose flavor. Ripe pears tend to fall off the trees by themselves, causing losses. Instead, pick them when they are still firm and a bit greenish. For Winter Nelis pears, they turn slightly yellow when ripe. A good indicator is if the pears can easily be lifted and twisted off the tree without much force.

Storing Pears

Pears need to ripen off the tree to reach their full sweet and juicy state. Generally, placing them in cold storage for 1-4 weeks (depending on the type) helps in their ripening. I’ve tried both countertop and cold storage ripening methods and found no difference in texture or flavor. Pears left on the counter ripened in about a week but only lasted a couple of weeks in the refrigerator. Those placed immediately in cold storage kept for over a month and will likely last several months. Simply leave them on the counter for a few days to ripen when ready to use.

Time for Some Fun! Fall Harvest Contest:

Thanks for visiting my cozy cottage and learning about pears in our mini orchard! Now, let’s play a game. Guess how many pears Matt and I picked off our tree this year and win a prize. This contest is for our Facebook community only, so head over there to participate.

How to Enter:

1. Like our inspired community Facebook page.
2. Leave your guess on our Facebook page or in the comments on one of our pear photos. Click here to enter your guess.
3. Optional Bonus: Share the game thread on Facebook to get an extra guess. Here's the game thread.

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Whoever guesses closest to the actual number of pears will win a surprise package filled with autumn-themed items, including chocolate! There are clues in this post to help you guess, such as the pear size and tree descriptions.

Have fun guessing!

~Rebekah