Kieffer Pear is a vigorous, productive pear tree known for its large, firm fruit and dependable performance in the South. The yellow-green pears often develop a golden color with a light red blush as they mature. The flesh is crisp, firm, and slightly coarse, with a mild sweet-tart pear flavor. Kieffer pears are especially popular for canning, preserves, baking, poaching, and other homemade recipes. The fruit can also be eaten fresh after it has been picked and allowed to soften and ripen indoors. Kieffer is a good pear variety for North Florida and the Florida Panhandle because it handles summer heat and requires fewer winter chill hours than many traditional European pears. It normally blooms later than many Southern pear varieties, which may help protect some blossoms from early spring freezes. Plant Details • Botanical name: Pyrus communis ‘Kieffer’• Plant type: Deciduous fruit tree• Mature height: Approximately 15–20 feet• Mature width: Approximately 10–20 feet• Sun requirements: Full sun, preferably six or more hours daily• USDA zones: Approximately Zones 4–9• Chill requirement: Approximately 350–400 chill hours• Bloom season: Late winter to early spring; often late March in North Florida• Harvest season: Usually mid-August through September in North Florida• Fruit color: Yellow-green to golden yellow, sometimes with a reddish blush• Fruit texture: Firm, crisp, and slightly coarse• Flavor: Mild, sweet-tart pear flavor• Best uses: Canning, preserves, baking, poaching, cooking, and fresh eating after ripening• Pollination: Generally considered self-fruitful in Florida, but another compatible pear may help increase production Pollination Information Kieffer Pear does not normally require another pear tree to produce fruit in North Florida. However, planting another pear variety with an overlapping bloom period may improve pollination and help produce a heavier, more consistent crop. Baldwin or LeConte may be helpful pollination partners where their flowering periods overlap. Bees and other pollinating insects are still needed to move pollen between the flowers. North Florida Growing Note Plant Kieffer Pear in a sunny location with well-drained soil and enough room for good air circulation. Pears grow upright when young and benefit from light training to create strong, well-spaced branches. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer or severe pruning, which can encourage tender new growth and increase the chance of fire blight. Pears should be monitored for blackened blossoms, curled branch tips, leaf spot, and other signs of disease. Pick the pears while they are mature but still firm. Allow them to finish ripening at room temperature for better texture and flavor. Local Pickup, Shipping and Wholesale Local pickup is available at Advanced Nursery Growers in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Kieffer Pear is a good choice for home orchards, homesteads, farms, wildlife plantings, and edible landscapes throughout North Florida, the Florida Panhandle, South Alabama, and the Gulf Coast. Limited shipping may be available for select smaller trees. Please contact us before ordering if shipping is needed. Shipping charges are calculated separately. Wholesale availability may be offered depending on current inventory and quantity needed. Contact us for current sizes, availability, and wholesale information. Contact Information Advanced Nursery Growers1911 McLeod RoadDeFuniak Springs, FL 32435 Phone: (850) 391-2228Email: [email protected]
Related
Related
Related
Related