Concorde
Pyrus communis Concorde is without doubt one of the best pears for the UK. It is a fairly new variety, but combines the strengths of two classic 19th century varieties. From Conference it inherits reliability, cropping potential, and excellent suitability for the UK climate. From Doyenne du Comice it inherits top quality flavour. The result is a pear that has both an excellent flavour and yet grows well in the sometimes marginal conditions of an English summer.
The fruit is very similar to Conference in appearance, tall and pear shaped with extensive russet. The skin colour is variable, normally a yellow-cream color but it may sometimes be flushed from exposure to sunlight.
Concorde pear trees for sale
RF12-year bare-root
tree
on Quince Eline rootstock£47.95
Mature height: 2m-3.5m after 10 years
Can be grown on as a dwarf bush-trained fruit tree.
Available next season
RF21-year bare-root
tree
on Quince A rootstock£38.25
Mature height: 2m-3.5m after 10 years
Can be trained on as a large bush-trained or half-standard tree, or a large fan or espalier.
Available next season
RF32-year bare-root
tree
on Quince A rootstock£47.50
Mature height: 2m-3.5m after 10 years
Can be grown on as a large bush-trained fruit tree.
Available next season
RF41-year bare-root
tree
on Pyrodwarf rootstock£40.50
Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
Can be trained on as a large pear tree, or half-standard pear tree.
Available next season
RF52-year bare-root
tree
on Pyrodwarf rootstock£49.00
Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
Can be trained on as a large pear tree, or half-standard pear tree.
Available next season
RF61-year bare-root
tree
on Pyrus c. Kirchensaller rootstock£28.25
Mature height: 5m-7m after 10 years
Can be trained on as a 'standard' pear tree, no staking required, suitable for a traditional pear orchard.
Available next season
Growing and Training
Concorde produces a compact upright tree.
Like all pears it can be difficult to tell ripeness on the tree, but if you lift and twist gently and the fruit comes away then it will be ready to pick. However leave the pears in a fruit bowl for a few days, until they become a golden yellow colour - at this point they should be ripe and ready to eat.
Concorde is particularly suited to organic growing regimes, as it has some scab resistance.
Concorde is usually considered self-fertile, but in practice it performs much better if there is a compatible pollinator nearby. It is typically in peak flower 2-3 days after Conference.
Recommended pollinators for Concorde pear trees
Concorde is partially self-fertile, so you do not need another variety to pollinate it to produce fruit.
However you will get a better crop if you plant any of the following pollinator varieties nearby.
If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us.
More pollinators >
BethAn easy and reliable early-season pear, with a very good melting flavour.
Beurre SuperfinA traditional French 19th century pear, widely considered one of the best for flavour.
GinA rare English perry pear variety with good disease resistance and medium acid and tannins.
GorhamA reliable early 20th century American pear, with a sweet creamy flesh.
ObeliskA useful dwarf pear tree for small gardens, it grows with a tidy upright habit and is self-fertile.
Santa ClausAs the name suggests, Santa Claus is a late ripening dessert pear which keeps until Christmas.
History
Concorde was developed at the East Malling Research Station in the UK, in the 1970s. It is a cross betweeen Conference and Doyenne du Comice.
Concorde characteristics
- Gardening skillBeginner
- Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
- Self-fertile?Partially self-fertile
- Pollinating othersAverage
- Pick seasonLate - October
- Picking periodearly October
- Keeping2-3 weeks
- Food usesEating fresh
- Country of originUnited Kingdom
- Period of origin1950 - 1999
- Fruit colourGreen - light
You might also like these varieties
BethAn easy and reliable early-season pear, with a very good melting flavour.
ConcordeA marriage of Conference and Comice - Concorde is easy to grow, heavy crops, excellent flavour.
ConferenceConference is a popular and reliable English pear, well-suited to the UK climate.
WilliamsWilliams is a classic English pear, also known as Bartlett, with good flavour and quite easy to grow.
More about pear trees
The modern dessert pear with its refined flavours and melting flesh evolved in the 19th century, and with some exceptions almost all the pears we know today were developed at that time.
Unlike apples, which often helpfully come away in the hand when they are ripe, if you let pears ripen on the tree you will find they are overripe inside. Instead pears need to be harvested before they are ripe - then ripened in a fruit bowl. This just takes practice, and after a few seasons you will soon know the tell-tale little signs that your pears are ready for picking.
