So about 9 years ago, after we bought the property, we had the idea at the time (not so good later) to just put our fruit trees randomly around the property. It didn't really work as we had hoped, having to manually carry water to each one was just too difficult and care for them being so far apart from each other. One by one they died as we focused on the area behind the house where we have all of our fruit trees now.
But one survived, a "Kieffer" pear.
Here it is right after we planted it:
 |
| Kieffer pear tree |
It was maybe 4 feet tall at the time. When we started the orchard area we just left this one alone. It has never been watered or fertilized.
It just sort of grew...
 |
| Pear tree in bloom |
...and grew.
This was earlier this year. It's about 20 feet tall and has only been watered by Mother Nature. We noticed it was covered in blossoms and we thought "oh that's so pretty". We didn't give it much more thought until recently when we saw this:
 |
| Loaded pear tree |
It is COVERED in pears and we do mean covered...
 |
| Pears on tree |
...here is a close up of one section. I stopped counting at 50! Not sure how many we'll lose to birds as the tree is too tall to cover, but hopefully we'll have a bountiful (if not unexpected) harvest of pears.
No worries about our drought conditions, we are bringing it water, more in an upcoming post.
We've read up on this variety and in early Summer we are supposed to thin them so the branches don't get too heavy. They begin to ripen and are at harvest maturity in August/September when they change from hard to firm and slightly change color from green to yellow.
After that, we must ripen them at room temperature in a well ventilated area for one to two weeks and then refrigerate them until ready to use.
We have called this our "wild pear tree" since it's just sort of on its own. It reminds us of the stories of old homesteads in the country where fruit trees are still producing years after the homes are long gone.
Kieffers are supposed to be best for canning and baking and we're 100% OK with those options! Pear cobbler? Pear preserves? Pear chutney?
Nature finds a way!
I tried pears but the squirrels ruined crop after crop - just a bite or two when very green but enough to make the entire fruit rot. Only thing they seem to leave alone is citrus. My garlic crop didn't work either! Extension Service says to harvest, keep cool, and replant in September .... guess we will try that.
ReplyDeleteDo you know we have never seen a squirrel at the farm? Ever? Even the family that lives at the front and has for over 20 years said they've never seen a squirrel either. Maybe it's the lower one on the food chain out there, ha. Sorry about your garlic! Try again, our first couple didn't work either.
DeleteYou can make all kinds of delicious things with the pears plus sharing with others!
ReplyDeleteCaring is sharing, ha. Hmm.....pearing sharing? LOL!
DeleteIt's funny how much of nature does not need any help from us mere humans. That is a lot of pears. I hope you win against the birds/squirrels and have a huge harvest.
ReplyDeleteRight? They can just keep going without assistance from us. Now in this drought we are "helping" some just so the fruit keeps growing and gets juicy. Thanks!!
Deletethis reminds me of a story i read about a girl that lives on orcas island in the puget sound. i think it is orcas island, anyway the island used to have tons of fruit trees which for some reason, people just let go wild. she made a deal with the owners of the land they grow on to harvest them and she started a jam making business. long story but i see canning in your future. make some savory pear jam to use on a charcuterie board while you are at it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story!!! Used to know a lady in the old neighborhood that made jams and jellies from abandoned homesteads fruit trees. So cool. You know I've been wanting to do some big charcuterie boards, you're right that would be so good. Need to research some pear jam recipes, ha.
DeleteWhat a beautiful, allegorical tale.
ReplyDeleteMaybe one of those owl statues and a dozen or more rubber snakes would slow the birds down.
We are going to buy some rubber snakes and put them in the orchard. Just hope I don't scare myself, ha.
DeleteKeiffer's were developed especially to grow in the south as all the other varieties will fire blight which kills the trees and ruins the fruit. Sadly they are not very flavorful and will always have a gritty texture. My parents called them sand pears. They are wonderful for Pear Honey which is a jam.
ReplyDeleteYes, we had read that online, they aren't good for eating right off the tree like having a fresh pear but good for jams and things. Hey, if they are sweet we'll figure out something to do with them, ha.
DeleteOh yum! That tree is such a wonderful gift!! I am in PA and I am trying to grow a fruit tree, it's a pineapple guava. I don't have much hope but I will bring it in during the winter and I am praying it will fruit someday!
ReplyDeleteWe hope the best form your tree. I think growing our own fruits and of course veggies, is such a great reward. IN a way fruit trees (and bushes) are wonderful gifts for sure. Fingers crossed for you!
DeleteThat pear tree is a real survivor. And it didn’t just survive, it thrived! What a bounty of pears you have!
ReplyDeleteI like to eat pears when they are still crunchy, just like I do with persimmons – I prefer the crunchiness instead of the soft texture.
A lot of old homesteads in Texas have pear trees. They use pears just like you would use apples. Instead of apples for strudels, firm pears are used – you really can’t tell the difference.
My mom and grandma would can pears each summer with some sugar and then add a few bottled maraschino cherries to each jar. They were sooo good. She canned them when they were still firm.
It sort of came out of nowhere. I mean it's been growing but never really producing until now. Maybe it did and we just never noticed the fruit before it dropped or the wildlife got it. This year there is just a bounty for sure. Never thought about substituting for apples. Great idea. Pear strudel would be wonderful. I need to get some canning ideas, we hope anyway, ha. Love the thought of the maraschino cherries, I bet the jars were beautiful when finished.
DeleteLooks like a nice strong tree and the soil conditions where perfect for the tree to grow like that. Leave it to Mother Nature in blessing you with a lovely pear tree.
ReplyDeleteI noticed the grass at the base of the tree. When weed eating, to keep from hitting the bark of the tree, try using a tree ring ( don't get the recycled rubber kind. Get coconut fiber ring)to lay down around it, or a section of PVC pipe - cut open lengthwise and put around the trunk or use a heavy duty plastic container that you can cut a long slit down the side and wrap around, or lay a ring of bricks around the trunk; Anything so that you don't hit the bark of the tree with your weed wacker.
Enjoy your bounty of that wonderful fruit.
Received some thunder Sunday evening but no rain. :-(
Enjoy your day
It's definitely enjoying the location, finally ha. I never edge around it but you're with it would be a good idea to get something around the base just to be safe.
DeleteThey say lots of rain coming here but so far, at least here in Houston and at the farm, no real rain for any length of time. I think what has fallen evaporates ha.
Pear pie. Everything like an apple pie, but use pears. Delicious :)
ReplyDeletePear pie sounds wonderful. We'll look up some recipes. Or like you said, a good apple pie recipe would work and just swap out the fruit.
DeletePear Cordial https://2manytomatoes.blogspot.com/2011/11/pear-cordial.html
ReplyDeleteMmm, yummy!!! Wow, just checked the link and that looks like a fun project for sure. Thanks!!!
Delete