Pears other than Luscious that should be hardy in Iowa's Zone 4 are Honeycrisp (an Asian type from Univ. of Minnesota), Lincoln, Parker, Patten (selected in Iowa), and Golden Spice (an old.
Here are the Iowa Extension Service recommendations for northern Iowa:
Pears (Most pears are self-unfruitful.)
Asian Pears Asian pears are relatively new to the United States. Asian pears differ from the common or European pears in that they can be eaten while still firm like an apple, or allowed to fully ripen like European pears. Generally Asian pears are not as winter hardy as European pears and exhibit little resistance to fireblight. Until more is known about variety adaptability, any planting of Asian pears should be on trial basis. Gardeners in southern Iowa may wish to try Chojuro and Twentieth Century.
In addition, here are the pears that the Univ. of Minnesota Extension Service recommends for Zone 4:
Other reputedly hardy pear varieties may be available through various mail-order sources, but have not been tested by the University of Minnesota. Grow untested varieties on a trial basis only.
Finally, Jung's Nursery in Randolph, Wis., offers Jung's Hardy Wisconsin pear (which is in reality the 'Ewart' cultivar).
And Nursery, near Eau Claire, Wis., recommends these:
CLAPPS FAVORITE - Though zoned from 5-8, there are many reports of good results in zone 4. Clapps is a large early season pear, lemon yellow with red cheeks. An annual bearer, fruit is fine textured, juicy and delicately flavored.
FLEMISH BEAUTY - Commercially grown in West Central Wisconsin, fruit is large, highly flavored and very tasty. Skin is cream yellow and lightly blushed with bright red. Trees are generally vigorous and highly productive.
HARDY - Zones 4-7. Large greenish-yellow fruit with bronze russett. Very sweet, juicy and aromatic. Ripens 1 to 2 weeks later than Bartlett. Excellent cross pollinator.
LUSCIOUS - Zones 4-8. Juicy, sweet, medium to small bright yellow fruit. Blooms in early May. Ripens mid September.
PARKER - Zone 4-8. An introduction of the University of Minnesota in 1934, it is an open pollinated seedling of Manchurian pear. Produces large, yellow-bronze fruit that is fine grained, tender and juicy. Upright and vigorous, it is an excellent pollinator for Luscious.
PATTEN - Zone 4-8. Patten is one of the best pollinators for most other pear trees. Trees also produce fruit of very good size and quality, tender and juicy.
SUMMERCRISP - Zone 4-8. Fruit is medium size, yellow in color with white, juicy flesh. Ripens in late August. A good selection for canning or eating fresh. Tree is upright and vigorous, Fireblight resistant.
Hope this helps. -- Sam Brungardt, St. Paul, Minn. (USDA Zone 4b).
-----Original Message-----
From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Douglas Woodard
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 3:19 AM
To: North American Fruit Explorers
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] a pear for Iowa zone 4
I doubt that any pear in the Van Well catalogue would suit your climate
with the *possible* exception of Flemish Beauty, and then I might be a
little doubtful about the rootstock if you ever have open winters.
Flemish Beauty is a very high quality pear for fresh eating, not so good
for canning I hear. It is prone to fireblight and pear scab.
Luscious would be hardy with you and is of good quality, originated in
South Dakota I believe.
Have a look at St. Lawrence Nursery http://www.sln.potsdam.ny.us
Do your shade tree pears bloom enough for pollination? If not you might
need two kinds. I also wonder a little about the timing if they are of
another species.
Doug Woodard
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Toni Pralle wrote:
> I'm in the process of ordering my peaches from www.vanwell.net
> <http://www.vanwell.net/> . Playing phone tag with the salesman for
> two days..........and reading the fine print in the catalog. I'll have
> to pay $5 for a less than $25 order SO I may as well order another
> tree to bring my total up ;-) I'm thinking about a pear. The two pears
> I have are shade trees. After reading speculation/facts here, I am
> sure they will always be shade trees. I thought I might order a pear
> from Van Well to go with my peaches. Do I have any choice for this
> growing area? I remember as a kid there was a pear tree next door. I
> think it had pears every year. That makes me think it's possible.
> Spring can come so late and winter so early, I don't know how to
> choose one. North Iowa zone 4. Help!
>
> --
> Toni in zone 4 Iowa USA
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