North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Elizabeth Hilborn <ehilborn@mebtel.net>]

I have the same observation with my pears here. I have harvested all but 
the Keiffers.  I also have apples falling off the trees with fully brown 
seeds that normally ripen in September.

However, it has been slim pickings this year because squirrels have 
discovered my orchard. I am still planning my defensive strategy.

Betsy Hilborn
7a Central NC

On 8/14/2011 11:53 AM, nottke1 wrote:
> Bird pecks appeared on the pears about two weeks early this year, Aug 11 vs a 
> "normal" Sept 1.
> So yesterday I harvested all my pears.  Ayers, Asian pears (all varieties), "apple 
> pears", and Bartlett types all had dark brown to black seeds.  Only Kieffer still 
> had pale colored seeds and were still very hard.
> The damaged pears were pared and sauteed - only took about 15 minutes for all 
> to get soft, so they were ready to be harvested.
>
>
>
> Jim Nottke
> Zone 7
> Pfafftown, North Carolina