Pear – Varieties For Making Preserves

Q: I would like to plant a pear tree. Could you tell me the variety of pear that is so prevalent throughout the South and makes great preserves?

A: You’re probably thinking of ‘Kieffer’ pear. The flesh is somewhat gritty and holds together nicely when cooked to make preserves. Several pear varieties grow well in Georgia, excluding ‘Bartlett’. I have a list of good pear varieties at bit.ly/GApear.