A neighbour has grown some Jesuit Pears from seed.
They are about 4.5′ tall. He just informed me that he’s going to dig them up and throw them out. Since they are considered a fairly rare heirloom pear I’ve dug them up and healed them in at my place and am trying to find good homes for them.
Any thoughts on who or where might be interested?
I’ve currently got calls into RBG in Burlington and the Toronto Botanical Garden… as well as the Etobicoke Horticultural Society. I think they need to be re-homed soon so that they can come out of dormancy in their situation.
Thanks. – Andy Brokenshire (647-309-2680)
Thanks for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners about your young Jesuit Pear trees. I was interested to discover through this article from “Orchard People” that these trees have a long history, in particular in the Windsor-Detroit area where they were originally established by Jesuit missionaries and French settlers in the 17th and 18th centuries. While there are only a few remaining trees (and these are descendants of the originals), some are as much as 200 years old.
This type of pear is quite different from most pears grown today. The trees are very large compared to most standard pears (and therefore difficult to pick), and the fruits are smaller (and therefore less commercially viable) and rounder than typical pears. The flavour is also said to be unique – spicy, with hints of honey and vanilla. The Jesuit Pear has been recognized as significant by Slow Food Huron Valley and has been entered into their Ark of Taste. It seems that the types of pears we label as Jesuit Pears are, in fact, genetically diverse. They are difficult and slow to grow from seed and are usually grafted instead. It would be useful to get more information from your neighbour about the genesis of their trees.
As you are obviously aware, this particular type of pear is worth preserving. The contacts you have already mentioned may well be useful. The Toronto Botanical Garden planted 2 trees grown from the seed of a very rare individual located in Scarborough (far away from their usual area). An article in The Star from 2019 mentions this. As you note, early spring is the best time to transplant fruit trees.
The Slow Food Huron Valley source mentions that some preservation work related to these trees is being done in Canada. You may wish to contact Agriculture Canada with information about your trees for their Gene Bank. Apparently, work is also being done by Harrow Research Centre and by the Horticultural program at St. Clair College, Windsor. You may wish to contact them as well.
Best of luck with your preservation project!