Howdy -
It looks like we're going to get our first 6 Seckel pears this year!! I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole pear thing tho - when to pick, which to store, how long to store, etc. I've got an OSU Extension circular that gives some general info, but I'm still a noob and am looking for more specifics. Info for Seckel is the immediate need, but I'm also looking for info for all the varieties we'll be harvesting - bosc, orcas, rescue, seckel & warren on the dessert side as well as 5 varieties of perry pears.
Any recommendations for resources to answer all our pear harvest & handling questions would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers!
Mitch
I checked my garden diary, I picked my Seckel on Oct 1 in 2014. Things seem about two to three weeks earlier this season though so maybe after first week of September. Pears are ripe to pick when the stem detaches as you gently lift the fruit in an arc. Another test would be to cut open and see if seeds are brown. Bosc ripens in October too. Watch the color changes too. Will see greenish background turn yellow.
Ripe apple flesh will give when you squeeze hard with your thumb. Try it on store-bought fruit. You'll feel it compress with a slight crunch as the outer layer collapses. Not sure if this works with pears.
I am following the OSU Extension instructions this year. My tree is a multigraft, I don't know what types. Some of the larger, more blocky pears, come off the stem when gently lifted. That seems early but a lot of the pears' lenticels are a little brown, so probably right. They are going into a spare fridge for 2 to 4 weeks, then we'll ripen per the OSU instruction.
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