Almond-Leaf Pear Seeds

currently unavailable Extremely tough spur-type pear tree. Produces hard 1-2 inch tart pears that are impossible to eat fresh off the tree. When falling on the ground they remain good through December and even continue ripening in this state. The fruits are produced on short spurs all along the branches making the tree look like the cactus of pear trees. The extremely dense wood is hard for me to hand saw or prune even with good loppers.  To me this is one of the best tree-form pears I grow in my collection with no narrow crotch angles, so splitting of branches is non-existent even in heavy crop years. The issue with this species becomes what can be done with the fruit. The strong ascorbic flavor as well as its astringency in the skin make it limited in its culinary uses. So rather than the dumping ground of calling it 'wildlife' food or deer pear, I hope to experiment with it to see what will come out in processing. Certainly it must contain some healthy compound with a flavor profile like that! 

Trees can tolerate a wide range of soil types. Appears resistant to fireblight. No disease or insect issues. Plants go dormant early after fruit drop. Grows true to type from seed. Further selections could be made for fruit quality. There is some variation in the trees. Plants appear semi-dwarf compared to other pears with their compact stature. Could be used as a rootstock for pear as well. 

To germinate the seeds:  Fall plant seeds before winter and cover with 1/4 inch sandy soil inch. Space seeds about 1 inch apart in the row. Seeds will germinate in the spring.  Seedlings are quite frost resistant so not to worry for most frosts.   For refrigeration, store at 33-38 F in lightly moist Canadian peat moss for 90-120 days. Seeds will begin to sprout in the fridge after 60-80 days. After the full dormancy and you take them out they will sprout quickly within 1-3 weeks.  Lightly cover the seeds if you are growing them in pots to avoid damping off. Plants are ready to outplant in one year. This pear has a strong tap root too.