Gräfin von Paris

Taste

Susceptibility & resistance

Breeder

Fertault, Brie-Comte-Robert

Pollination

self-sterile – needs a pollinator variety

Given in thirds of a month (early / mid / late) for the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate; altitude and season shift them.

Fruit

Melting or half-melting, juicy-sweet with low acidity and typical spice. In poor-weather years only bland (turnip-like).

Growth

Medium vigour; for garden and traditional orchard.

Yield

Early-starting, high and regular yield; thinning advised with heavy set.

Notes

Dessert pear, but only in good years - variable fruit quality is the main drawback. Prefers very warm sites with fertile, moist soil, high heat need, up to 350 m. Pick late Oct to early Nov (fruit stays storm-firm until late harvest), eating-ripe Dec to Feb, keeps 2-3 months. Listed among recommended old orchard varieties in NRW.

Care

Thin deliberately when heavily laden and pick as late as possible since long storm-firm. Store cool and bring to eating ripeness over winter.