Topic: Bartlett Pears

[duh]

Pears do not ripen on the vine.  You have to harvest them and then they ripen.  Putting them in a paper bag with a banana really worked they were ripe in about 3 days. 

[bestofour]

never knew that.  I'm gonna try it.  Wonder if the deer know this.

[duh]

The deer haven't come up that close to the house yet.  So I can't tell you.  Now if rabbits could climb I'd probably have a problem.  Those little suckers eat a plant right to the ground. 

[bestofour]

The deer eat off our fruit trees all the time.  When the highway was being worked on they were everywhere.  It was so sad.  They were run out of their homes.  I haven't seen any lately though.

[Triss]

I have pulled ripe pears off my tree Tammy.  They were really yummy.

[Tina]

That may be a matter of different pear types? I don't know enough about pears.
Sometimes it is better to pick our stone fruits off of the tree before they tree ripen. Because the critters take more than their fair share. And they take bites out of the rest and leave them.

[bayou girl]

there is a variety of pear that never softens.  that is what i call a sand pear.  makes great cobbler, preserves and whatever.  but only kids like them raw... (well, and me, but i use a paring knife to cut pieces)

[Dianna]

I love sand pears with lots of salt...

[duh]

Well these bartlett didn't ripen on the tree but with the paper bag they ripened and were terrific.  I left them on until two fell to the ground so they werent going to get rip on the tree. 

I have deer they have been in the trees on the property most of the week.  I see them when I go out to do the gardening.  I'm hoping that the tree nets will help protect my fruit. 

[duh]

I gave my neighbor a pear last year and when she was over the other day she mentioned how great they were.  I'm glad she liked them.  They are always willing to share there harvest with me so it's nice to be able to pay back some.  I'm hoping for a really good year this comming growing season.

[bestofour]

I'll have to try the paper bag thing.  My pears are hard to eat straight from the tree.

[bayou girl]

sheri, do you have bartletts or do you have sand pears?  you know sand pears never get soft, right?

[bestofour]

No idea.

[bestofour]

Looking at pictures online Johnny and I have decided that we have Forelle pears.  They are supposed to turn red when they are ripe and I think we've been picking them way too soon so we get them before the deer or the Mexicans do.

[bayou girl]

i've never eaten one of those.  maybe you do need to do the paper bag thing.