Growing Pears

GROW YOUR OWN PEARS

Pears are one of the most versatile fruits out there.Biting into a succulent, perfectly-ripe pear is one of the joys of autumn. you can even grow them in containers. Pears are similar to apples from a growing point of view, except that they flower earlier. There are two basic types : dessert pears for eating, and cookers, as the name suggests, for cooking. The pear is valued for its flavor as well as its myriad of nutritional benefits.You can enjoy your home grown juicy pears by planting pear trees in your own garden.

Planting And Growing

• Prepare the ground by removing all weeds and loosening the soil with a fork. Dig a hole easily big enough to accept the roots. Place the plant in the planting hole, spread out the roots and refill the hole with soil, firming to prevent air pockets. 
• Tie the tree and water in well. If you want to train your pear tree it pays to choose the right root-stock to plant up.
• If you want to grow a pear in a container you must choose one that has been specially grown for it.Choose a container that is 45-50cm (18-20in) in diameter. 
• When planting, place some crocks (small pieces of broken concrete, clay pots, or polystyrene) in the bottom of the containers to retain moisture. 
• Use a good-quality compost (John Innes No 3 is ideal), or multi-purpose compost mixed with one-third by volume of grit.Once established, pears require very little care throughout the year.
• Water them during dry spells and from when the fruit starts to swell, particularly if they are newly planted or in containers.
• In early spring, sprinkle a balanced general fertilizer (such as Grow-more around the base of the plant, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Pears should be pruned every year to get the best crop. Timing and method of pruning depends on the type of pear you are growing.

Harvesting And Storage

• Harvest pears just before they are fully ripened. They should be firm and swollen, with a subtle colour change to their skin.
• Test early varieties by tasting one of the fruit for sweetness, yet firmness. Later varieties should part easily from the tree when lifted and gently twisted.
• Pears benefit from storage or a period of ripening before eating: early cultivars usually need a week or so until they become softer, while later ones can need months before being ready for eating.

Few Health Benefits Of Pears

• Osteoporosis Prevention-Pears contain high level of boron. Boron helps the body to retain calcium, thus prevents or retards osteoporosis.
• Acne-Pears for acne are often recommended due to their high levels of vitamins and minerals. Drinking pear and other fruit juices helps to introduce these nutrients easily into the bloodstream. Minerals are helpful in neutralizing skin acids and regulating the pH balance of the skin. This is beneficial in preventing and treating acne. Fresh fruit juices help to destroy bacteria in the body and also aid in the proper digestion of protein and fat. This helps to cleanse the body and prevents toxins from building up.
• Healthy Pregnancy-In order to avoid birth defects, it is important for a pregnant women to consume enough folic acid. Pears contain 10-20 mcg (about 5% of the RDA) of the natural form of folic acid, folate, and they should be included in a healthy prenatal diet.
• Fiber- Pears are an excellent source of natural dietary fiber. One pear will give you 24% of your recommended daily allowance of fiber. Fiber contains no calories, and is a necessary element of a healthy diet as it helps sustain blood sugar levels and promotes regularity.

Baked pears With Cinnamon Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 Bartlett pears
•  1 cup of apple cider (or apple juice)
• 1 cup of orange juice
•  1 tsp cinnamon
•  1/2 tsp cloves
• dash of nutmeg
• 1/4 cup cranberries
• 1/4 cup raisins

Directions

•  Preheat oven to 400°F. wash the pears thoroughly and slice each of them in half, removing the seedy core from the middle. place cut side up in a large baking dish.
• In a bowl, whisk together the juices and spices and pour over the pears.
• Sprinkle the raisins and cranberries over the top of the pears and cover with tinfoil.
• Bake until tender with a fork, about 45 minutes. serve with ice cream and enjoy!