The name says it all. Luscious Pear (Pyrus communis ‘Luscious’) was bred for its delicious flavor that has fresh-off-the-tree sweetness. In fact, it’s so naturally sweet that it’s classified as a “fresh dessert pear.” So instead of reaching for a sugary dessert, walk outside and pick a Luscious Pear from your own tree. You may want to take a napkin with you because these pears are also incredibly juicy!
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Luscious Pear is blanketed in stunning clusters of white flowers with purple anthers along the branches in early spring. It has forest green deciduous foliage. The glossy pointy leaves turn an outstanding deep purple in the fall. The fruits are showy yellow pears with a red blush, which are carried in abundance in early fall. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up.
This is a dense deciduous tree with a shapely oval form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Luscious Pear trees grow best in areas of full sunlight.
Watering and Fertilizing
After planting your Luscious Pear Tree, you should water it about once per week or more to allow the roots to become established. When your plant has gone through one or two growing seasons, it will need water about once every other week during the spring, summer and fall. However, you should be sure to not overwater your Luscious Pear or water it without considering how much moisture the plant has received from recent rainfall. Fertilizing for this plant is easy and should occur during early spring. When feeding, use a general-purpose fertilizer.
Planting Instructions
Dig a hole that’s only as deep as the root ball and two to three times as wide. When you set your tree into the hole, make sure the top of the root ball is at ground level; don’t bury your tree too deeply. Spread out the roots so they’ll begin growing faster. Backfill the hole with the soil you removed, and gently firm the soil around the roots. Make a rim around the planting hole that’s about 2 inches above the soil surface and at least 24 inches from the tree trunk to create a watering basin for the tree’s first growing season.
Fertilize according to the recommendations of a soil test. You can also apply a 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch around the tree to help suppress weeds and conserve moisture. Pull mulch about 6 inches away from the tree’s trunk. Give your newly planted tree a deep, thorough watering, making sure the water soaks in easily without leaving the tree standing in a pool of water.
Luscious Pear tree must borrow pollen from a nearby pear tree so its flowers can be fertilized to produce fruit. Plant a second tree that’s a different cultivar such as Parker, Bartlett, or Kieffer to lend its pollen to your Luscious Pear tree. It’s also a “pollen-sterile” tree, which means that it cannot lend its own pollen to fertilize another pear tree’s flowers. The best way to ensure a bumper crop of pears is to plant three different types of pear trees!
Pruning
As is true for many plants, it is best to prune your Luscious Pear Tree during the late winter and early spring months. During that time, you should focus on creating a strong and relatively symmetrical form for this plant, which will allow it to develop fruits evenly throughout the canopy. You should also prune with the goal of removing any branches that are clearly dead or damaged. It also helps to thin the canopy to promote air circulation and prevent overcrowding.
Pests and Diseases
One great benefit of growing the Luscious Pear Tree is that this tree has excellent disease resistance. In fact, this plant was initially developed with the goal of it having resistance to fire blight. The success of that cultivation means that you won’t need to worry much about warding off disease when caring for a Luscious Pear. Likewise, the pest issues for this plant are quite low as well, but they remain more possible than disease problems.
III. Uses and Benefits
Luscious Pear is a small tree that is typically grown for its edible qualities. It produces yellow oblong pears (which are botanically known as ‘pomes’) with a red blush and creamy white flesh which are usually ready for picking in early fall. The pears have a sweet taste and a juicy texture.
IV. Harvesting and Storage
- Harvesting
Unlike some other types of fruit, you’ll harvest Luscious Pears before they’re fully ripe. If you allow them to ripen on the tree, they’ll taste “gritty” or “mealy.” A general rule of thumb is to wait until a few pears fall from your tree, and then go ahead and pick the rest of them. Twist each fruit, tilt it horizontally, and gently pull; it should release from the tree easily. If fruits are still firmly attached, wait a couple of days and try again. Don’t force them from the branches by pulling too hard because you may remove the part of a branch that has the developing fruit buds for next year’s harvest.
- How to Store
Place newly harvested fruits in your refrigerator, where they will keep up to a month. When you’re ready to eat a pear, set it out at room temperature for several days so that it can finish the ripening process. (When you buy pears at the supermarket, they’ve already had a chilling period, and they’re ready to ripen at room temperature.) Gently press your thumb into the “neck” ‘– the narrow part near the stem end. When the area gives slightly to the pressure, your pear is ready to eat!
