Pear Tree "Conference"

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The Pear Tree 'Conference' (Pyrus communis 'Conference') is the most popular European pear, renowned for its reliability, heavy crops, and excellent flavor. 

Essential Characteristics 

Fruit: Distinctively long, slender, and bottle-shaped. The skin is a greenish-yellow, often covered in patches of brown russeting (which is edible). The flesh is fine-grained, exceptionally sweet, buttery, and very juicy when ripe.

Use: An excellent dessert pear for fresh eating. It can also be used for cooking when firmer. Unique in that it can be eaten when crunchy and unripe, or soft and juicy when fully ripened off the tree.

Pollination: Self-fertile (will produce a crop on its own), but yields are significantly improved with a nearby pollination partner (like 'Williams' or 'Beurré Hardy').

Yield: Very heavy and reliable cropper, often one of the first fruit trees to begin producing fruit (precocious).

Growing Information 

Size: Highly dependent on the rootstock. On a semi-dwarfing rootstock (like Quince A or OHxF 87), it typically reaches 4–5 meters (13–16 feet) tall. Dwarf options are suitable for containers. 

Sunlight: Prefers a warm, sheltered spot in full sun  to ensure the best fruit development.

Soil: Needs fertile, well-drained soil. It dislikes waterlogging but appreciates consistent moisture, especially when the fruit is swelling.

Ripening: Harvest the fruit in September when it is still firm and green. Pears must be ripened off the tree in a cool, dark place (like a garage) for a few weeks to develop their best flavor and texture.

Pruning: Prune during the dormant season in late winter/early spring. It naturally has an upright growing habit. 

Hardiness: Very hardy and a relatively good choice for beginners due to its reliability. It has some resistance to common diseases, but may be moderately susceptible to Fire Blight.