In China, Korea and other Asian countries, unusual pear trees, called Nashi in Japanese, grow. Few people know, however, that in Poland it is possible to cultivate this species that produces unusual exotic fruits.
Until recently, Asian pear trees outside Asia were neither more widely known nor cultivated.However, the unusual taste of the fruit meant that from the second half of the twentieth century, they began to be imported on a larger scale to the countries of Europe, America and New Zealand.There was also interest in breeding them. The first cultivation trials showed that this species grows well and bears fruit also in other climatic conditions.
In Poland, the cultivation of Asian pears is still in its infancy, as it is still a little-known species, which is a novelty on the fruit market.Currently, research is carried out in our country to identify the most useful varieties for cultivation.A characteristic feature of Asian pears is the spherical shape of their fruit, which makes them more like apples than typical ones known in Poland pears.
For this reason, sometimes their name is incorrect - apple pears. The flesh of these exotic fruits is unique.When the pears are ripe for harvest, they become very sweet and extremely juicy.The taste is often noticeable with a delicate vanilla note. The crispness of the flesh is also mentioned as a special feature, because the fruit is extremely fragile.
For this reason, you must handle the fruit with extreme care so as not to damage it. Therefore, in shops you can often find pears covered with a mesh to prevent crushing. The fruits store quite well and will easily survive for several weeks at home.
In their homeland, the Asiatic pear fruit has a wide range of uses. They are eaten raw, and are also used to make jams, cocktails and as an addition to baking. Pear wines and juices are also appreciated. Due to their delicate flesh, they are a common ingredient in fruit salads and ice cream.
As Asian pear trees naturally grow in areas with milder winters, it should be remembered that in some summers plants may suffer from severe frosts. When planting trees, try to choose places sheltered from winter winds.During the growing season, trees are attacked by practically the same diseases and pests that threaten native pear trees.In the vast majority of years, Asian pears do not need protection against disease, and pests rarely appear.
Important in growing
The Asian pear is a foreign species.In order for the flowers to pollinate, pollen from other pear trees is needed.These may be our native varieties, e.g. 'Conference'. Often, however, Asian pear trees bloom earlier, so for safety, we should plant two varieties of this species in the garden.
Checked varieties
There are already many varieties of Asian pear available in Poland. The most useful are cultivars derived from the sand pear Pyrus pyrifolia. In our country, the best known varieties are 'Chojuro', 'Hosui', 'Nijisseiki' and 'Shinseiki'.The vast majority of varieties bear medium-sized spherical fruit with very juicy flesh and a characteristic russet skin.The trees are fertile and in favorable summers the branches even bend under the weight of the fruit.
- 'Nijisseiki' is an old Japanese variety, included in the group of the best varieties.Unlike others, the flesh is devoid of stone cells. Fruits with yellow peel are considered by many to be the tastiest. They can also be stored longer.The trees do not grow strongly, and thanks to the average flowering time and fruit ripening, they are suitable for cultivation in Polish conditions.
- 'Shinseiki' is a very fertile Japanese variety, the fruit of which we usually harvest in October. The variety is easy to recognize by its fruits, because they have a characteristic yellow-green skin, while the flesh is juicy and tender.
- 'Chojuro' is a very valuable variety that has long been cultivated in many countries.The fruit is medium-sized, flattened, with a brown, dry and rough skin.The trees start fruiting quickly and yield annually, often very abundantly.
We start harvesting at the end of September or October.
