Pitmaston Duchess
Pyrus communis Pitmaston Duchess is a traditional English pear, described by the Victorian fruit expert Robert Hogg as "A very handsome pear of the finest quality".
Although usually catalogued as a dual-purpose pear, its excellent flavour means it should be considered first and foremost a dessert pear.
It also has particularly attractive spring blossom.
Pitmaston Duchess pear trees for sale
RF11-year bare-root
tree
on Pyrodwarf rootstock£34.95
Mature height: 3m-5m after 10 years
Can be trained on as a large pear tree, or half-standard pear tree.
Available next season
RF21-year bare-root
tree
on Pyrus c. Kirchensaller rootstock£38.25
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
Pitmaston Duchess is a triploid variety - one of the reasons for its larger than average fruit size. However this means it will not pollinate other pear varieties, so you will need at least one other compatible pear tree nearby to pollinate it, preferably two.
The tree is vigorous, as might be expected, but to achieve exhibition quality fruit size make sure you thin the fruitlets in late May.
Recommended pollinators for Pitmaston Duchess pear trees
Pitmaston Duchess is not self-fertile and is also a poor pollinator of other varieties. Ideally you need two other different but compatible varieties planted nearby in order to produce fruit, or one compatible self-fertile variety.
The following varieties are good pollinators for Pitmaston Duchess.
If you are not sure about pollination requirements don't hesitate to ask us.
More pollinators >
Beurre SuperfinA traditional French 19th century pear, widely considered one of the best for 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.
GorhamA reliable early 20th century American pear, with a sweet creamy flesh.
History
Pitmaston Duchess was introduced in the 1840s by John Williams of Pitmaston in Worcestershire. It is a cross between two well-regarded European pears, Glou Morceau and Duchess d'Angouleme. Williams appears to have named it Pitmaston Duchess d'Angouleme, but the famous Victorian pomologist Robert Hogg decided to call it Pitmaston Duchess, and this is the name that has stuck.
Pitmaston Duchess characteristics
- Gardening skillAverage
- Self-fertile?Not self-fertile
- Pollinating othersPoor
- Pick seasonLate
- Picking monthOctober
- Picking periodearly Octobermid-October
- Keeping2-3 weeks
- Food usesEating freshCulinaryDual purpose
- Country of originUnited Kingdom
- Period of origin1800 - 1849
- Fruit colourGreen / YellowRusset
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.
