Many old varieties of pears are easy to grow in the garden. They are also tastier than many modern breeds.
That's why you shouldn't forget old pear varieties
Nowadays, many farmers are looking for a harvest that is as productive as possible and easy to store. In addition, there is the further development of the varieties due to the plant diseases, which one would like to avoid as far as possible with the newer varieties.
Unfortunately, the taste of the fruit is often lost in the course of this development. Not only are old pears easy to grow in your own garden, they often taste better too. The variety of traditional fruits is convincing.
If you want to grow them yourself at home, though, be aware of things like
- Climate
- Location of extension
- Soil and Nutrient Content
pay attention. Depending on the variety, old pear varieties are a little demanding in this respect. Typical diseases are, for example, pear rust and fire blight. The latter disease is even notifiable. Also, some pear trees tend to develop scab. Nevertheless, there are some old varieties that are worth growing in the garden.
The 15 Best Old Pear Varieties
Of course there are more than 15 old pear varieties. However, we name the best and explain what makes them special.
| Pear variety | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Lübeck Princess Pear | First cultivated in the middle of the 19th century, it is now very common in the Lübeck area. The trees are very productive, the pears convince with their fragrance. |
| Green Hunting Pear | Her other name is "Metzer Frying Pear". Its roots can be traced back to 1883. This is a pear that is mainly used to make must. The tree produces high yields. |
| Big French Cat Head | A dried pear from France, first cultivated around 1668. It is mainly used for cooking and cider making. Their taste is very rich. |
| Long Handlers | This old pear variety comes from Germany and has been cultivated since 1598. Their fruits are small and numerous. That's what she's forvery undemanding in terms of location. |
| Karcher Pear | A pear originally developed by accident in the mid-19th century. The trees are very strong. The pears take on a reddish color towards autumn. |
| Summer Blood Pear | This variety is particularly old and its genus dates back to 1675. The trees are undemanding, give a high yield. She originally comes from France. Striking: their flesh is colored red. |
| Duchess Elsa | A tasty table pear that was cultivated from 1879. If you like to preserve pears, this is perfect. Many farmers also use them to produce juice. In terms of location, it is undemanding. Important: In order to avoid aging, it must be trimmed or rejuvenated regularly. |
| Bavarian Wine Pear | Historically, it was first mentioned in 1906 and is now particularly widespread in southern Germany. Your trees deliver a high yield. It is ideal for drying and cidering, with its sweet and juicy taste proving to be an advantage. However, it needs a warmer climate to grow. |
| Clapp's Darling | It originally comes from the USA, where it was first cultivated around 1860. The trees yield many fruits, which are ideally harvested in a semi-ripe state. After a short storage they are very tasty. |
| Gellert's Butter Pear | She comes from France and was first bred around 1820. Many use them in the kitchen for preserving and drying. They have a high juice content and are perfect for growing in meadow orchards. |
| Petersbirne | Its origin dates back to 1794, it comes from Germany. It gained a particularly high level of awareness within Saxony and Thuringia and is easy to grow thanks to very adaptable trees. |
| Good greys | Another pear tree that thrives on the meadow orchard. Originally from France, it was brought to Germany in the 18th century. The fruits are delicious, but the trees grow very sprawling and tall. They can reach an age of up to 100 years. They tolerate frost well and are relatively unaffected by disease or pest infestation. |
| Kirchensaller Mostbirne | 1910 bred more by accident, this pear variety produces beautiful fruit. The trees are very hardy and thereforeeasy to grow. |
| Conference | A classic among the pear varieties that has been commercially available since around 1894. She is originally from England and is relatively well known. |
| Vereinsdechantsbirne | A variety that bears many fruits in autumn. The pear was developed around 1865 and is particularly something for gourmets. The trees only provide a small yield and are something for true enthusiasts. You can harvest from the end of October. The trees also prefer a warmer climate. |