Gute Graue

Taste

Susceptibility & resistance

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

Juicy and melting, richly balanced sweet-tart with a fine noble aroma. A refined summer dessert pear.

Growth

Very vigorous, bushy growth; the trees become very old. Without fruit thinning the bushy habit tends to produce small fruit.

Yield

Cropping starts late, usually not before the 10th year. Then a heavy bearer at a high level; over-heavy set brings a tendency to alternate bearing.

Notes

For larger gardens (including higher elevations) and orchard meadows. Versatile, thrives on almost any non-dry site; recommended up to over 350 m. Tree-ripe early September, eating-ripe early to mid September. On the NRW list of recommended old orchard varieties.

Care

Thin the fruit to avoid small fruit and alternate bearing. Remove affected fruit under persistent brown-rot pressure.