Valley climate suitable for pears
: Can you recommend some varieties of pear trees suited for the climate in Las Vegas? I am interested in pears that you can eat after picking as opposed to the type that are better for cooking.
A: Pears do quite nicely in the Mojave Desert. This includes the common Bartlett as well as the red Bartlett. Monterrey pear does very nicely here as well. I would put them up against pears grown elsewhere, anytime. The flavor, texture and sweetness are excellent as long as they're picked at the right time.
The major difference you will see between these pears and pears grown in more mild climates like the Pacific Northwest is in their visual appearance. Pears grown here are not as smooth on the outside, having more bumps when grown organically. I do not find this to be a drawback.
Another category of pears normally not discussed include what I call the salad pears. These are the pears that can be used fresh in salads or grilled. Absolutely one of the best in this category, which does fabulous here, is the Keiffer pear. A Keiffer pear is very firm with a texture similar to jicama. And, like a jicama, it can be sliced and used fresh in salads.
A local chef showed me that they're quite good for grilling as well. At the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Orchard in North Las Vegas we refer to this tree as our Nevada jicama pear. Trees produce fruit abundantly with individual, beautiful red-blushed fruits easily attaining the size of a softball. It is also an excellent small landscape tree.
Bob Morris is an associate professor with the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Direct gardening questions to the master gardener hot line at 257-5555 or contact Morris by e-mail at morrisr@unce.unr.edu.
