Santa Fe Botanical Garden

Common name: 'Harrow Delight' pear

Family: Rosaceae (Rose)

Distribution: Cultivated

Hardiness: USDA Zone 5 (-20 to -10 °F)

Life form: Deciduous tree

Occurrence in New Mexico: Cultivar

Growing Conditions: For maximum fruit production, fruit trees should not be planted in low areas where cold air accumulates. They can be planted in protected areas, such as near buildings or within enclosed walls but may be affected by temperature extremes near west facades. Trees can be planted on a north or east slope or on the north side of a building to delay flowering, but full sun is needed during the growing season for fruit production. ‘Harrow Delight’ needs a cross-pollinator. Bare root or dormant trees should be planted in winter in compost-amended soil with the graft union 2- 5 inches above soil level. Wrapping or painting the trunks with diluted white latex exterior paint or kaolin clay reduces winter sunscald. In New Mexico, pear trees appreciate nitrogen fertilizer in early spring. Staking can provide stability to a young tree, but should not interfere with its natural capacity to resist wind. During the first year, water often enough to keep the soil moist, but avoid over-watering and soggy soil. After the first year, water less frequently but increase the volume. Pruning of pears is only necessary for removing suckers, thinning small branches to improved sunlight penetration, or to control height of the tree. Most trees produce heavily every other year; thinning improves annual bearing.

Description: The ‘Harrow Delight’ pear has strong, vertical branches. The lanced-shaped leaves have smooth margins and are slightly creased in the center. Fragrant, white, sometimes pink-tinged flowers grow in clusters of five. Each flower has five petals and many stamens. This tree blooms early midseason to mid-season and is an early ripening pear. The 'Harrow Delight' cultivar produces a yellow-green fruit that sometimes has a blush of red. Its white flesh is juicy and sweet. Pears should be harvested when physiologically mature, and then refrigerated for 5-7 days to allow even ripening; if they are picked when they start to feel soft on the tree, they will be soft brown gritty mush. The semi-dwarf tree at SFBG is on OHxF333 rootstock and will reach about 2/3 the standard size if not pruned. It takes 2-3 years after planting until it produces fruit, but is a heavy-bearing tree. ‘Harrow Delight’ is resistant to fire blight.