How Long Do You Wait to Pull Off Pears From a Pear Tree?

General Guidelines

• As a general rule, pick pears when they reach the mature stage, which means they are firm but fully developed. At this stage, they snap off the tree with ease when you lift them up. Every rule has an exception though. "Bosc" pears (Pyrus communis "Bosc") do not snap off the tree, even when they are mature. Color can sometimes determine ripeness. "Bartlett" pears (Pyrus communis "Bartlett") mellow from green to yellow as they mature. Other European pears do not change color.

Variety

• When to harvest pears depends in part on the variety. European pears (Pyrus communis), which grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9, are always harvested at the mature stage, or while they are still firm. Of the European pears, "Bartlett" pears mature in late summer, while "Bosc" and "Comice" pears (Pyrus communis "Comice") don't mature until late October. "D'Anjou" (Pyrus communis "D'Anjou) and "Seckel" (Pyrus communis "Seckel") pears mature in early fall.
  Asian pears (Pyrus serotina) ripen more like apples. Asian pears grow in USDA zones 5 through 9, and have growing requirements similar to European pears, but they have a crisp, applelike texture. They are best harvested by taste. The pears are ripe when they are juicy, sweet and still crunchy. "Chojuro" (Pyrus serotina "Chojuro") ripens in midsummer, while most other Asian varieties ripen from late summer to early fall.

Growing Conditions

• Pears vary in their ripening times, depending on the growing conditions in your area. In cold, northern climates, pears ripen later than they do in warm, coastal areas. Although ripening times remain fairly consistent from region to region, an unexpectedly cold or wet spring or summer can delay harvest.

Care and Storage

• Picking pears at the right time is only the first step in ensuring high-quality fruit. After you've picked European pears, they need a chilling period of one to two days. Commercial growers store freshly picked pears at 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Your refrigerator probably isn't quite this cold, but should be cold enough for chilling pears. Once chilled, store the fruit at room temperature for up to one week to ripen it. Pears are ripe when they give slightly to the touch. Asian pears are ripe when you harvest them and can be stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature.