"Harrow Crisp is an attractive early-season pear. It ripens at the same time as Bartlett, and has a similar mild sweet flavor, but the fruit size is slightly larger and the yellow skin with red / orange blush is considerably more attractive than Bartlett.
It is usually eaten fresh, but can also be used for baking.
Harrow Crisp was developed specifically to be resistant to fireblight.
Harrow Crisp (also known as AC Harrow Crisp) was developed in the 1970s at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research station in Harrow, Ontario. As with many modern varieties the parentage is complex, but one of its immediate parents is Bartlett, and the other parent is also closely related to Bartlett. It can therefore be considered an improved Bartlett.
Harrow Crisp characteristics
Gardening skillAverage
Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
Pollination group3
Pollinating othersAverage
PloidyDiploid
Bearing regularityRegular
Fruit bearingSpur-bearer
WildlifeRHS Plants for Pollinators
Picking seasonEarly
UsesEating freshCulinary
CroppingGood
Keeping (of fruit)2-3 weeks
General resistanceGood
FireblightVery resistant
Cold hardiness (USDA)(5) -20F / -29C
Summer maximum temperaturesWarm (25-30C / 76-85F)
Country of originCanada
Period of origin1950 - 1999
Flesh colourCream
Fruit colorGreen / YellowOrange flush
Fruit sizeAverage
Harrow Crisp is in most respects an ideal backyard pear tree - easy to grow, productive, very cold-hardy, and resistant to fireblight.
Its one drawback is that (like most pears) it is not self-fertile. Furthermore, it will not reliably cross-pollinate with Bartlett or its many close relatives.