Doyenné du Comice Pear

History: Doyenné du Comice was obtained from a garden in Angers in the 1840s as a sapling. In 1848 it bore its first pears which were quickly noted for their excellent flavour. Throughout the 1850s this variety reached other countries such as the UK and US, and in 1894 it was deemed "the best pear in the world" by the London Horticultural Journal. Whether or not it lives up to that much praise, it is still commonly grown, particularly in France. 

Why We Grow It: It is certainly enticing to grow and eat what is considered one of the finest dessert pears. The fruit is medium in size with pale yellow skin and juicy, pale yellow flesh. It needs to ripen off the tree for about one month.

Canadian Hardiness Zone: 5

Soil Preference: Sandy loam, loam, clay loam. Prefers average to moist conditions with well-drained soils, avoid planting anywhere that floods for more than two weeks in the spring. Does not like too much sulphur.

Growth Habits and Disease Resistance: Vigorous with an upright and spreading growth pattern, slow to start bearing fruit and prefers warm locations for bearing moderate and reliable crops, spur-bearing. Somewhat susceptible to scab, susceptible to stony pit, and very susceptible to mildew and fireblight, but somewhat resistant to coddling moth

Sun/Shade: Full sun (approx. 8-10 hours of sun daily)

Pollination: Requires a pollinator of a different pear variety (European or Asian) that blooms around the same time  

Flowering Time: Middle

Ripens: Early October, needs to ripen about a month off the tree

Storage: Keeps until January when stored in cold storage

Recommended Use: Fresh eating

Size including roots:

• 100-200 cm whip, 1 year grade
• 100 cm+ with 3 or more branches, 30 cm or more, 2 year grade
• 50-80 cm, B-grade