In article <4881936C.C4C5D26F@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
sherwindu <sherwindu@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>JS wrote:
>
>> I have few asian pear trees on my backyard (Hosui and 20th
>> century).According the information I found on the internet, the harvest
time
>> for the fruits is mid-August,Does this mean they become totally ripened
at
>> that time? or it is time to pick them up, and bring insidethe house -
to
>> prevent insect damage ? I have noticed last year that insects destroyed
>> several fruits. Does this mean I picked them too latein the season?
Thanks in
>> advance, JIMMY
>
>Jimmy,
>
>Pears are a fruit that should be rippened off the tree. After they start
>to feel a bit soft at the stem, take them inside and let them ripen off
>the tree.
Asian pears, unlike European pears, are crisp when ripe and don't need
to be ripened off the tree like European pears. They don't develop the
woody granular structures (sclerids) that European pears do, nor do they
develop the melting, buttery texture that has been standard in European
pears since the 18th century.
The best way to figure out when your pears are ripe is to try fruit at
different stages and decide which you like best. Ripening dates are an
average for a particular region, and weather and microclimate can make
a substantial difference. Your backyard is probbly quite different in
microclimate from a commercial orchard.
Another poster suggested that the damage was due to birds not insects.
You can get plastic bird netting at garden centres to drape over your
trees if they aren't too large. In Japan, where people are willing to
pay amazing amounts for perfect, pesticide-free fruit, growers bag each
fruit individually to protect it from damage as it grows. The bags are
made of that light ****ous row cover material, or light cloth. This may be
practical for a few backyard trees. Don't use plastic bags, or you'll
cook the fruit!
Enjoy your harvest!
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