Rogue Red is blooming again for the second year in a row. Let’s hope we set some fruit this year. Blooms are unremarkable.
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What is the parentage? Thinking its a red version of Comice.
I have a nice collection of red pears, but still need this one.
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PI 541252 - COR - Pyrus communis rogue red
Rogue Red. Originated in Medford, Oregon, by F.C. Reimer, E. Degman, and V. Quackenbush, S. Oregon Experiment Station. Introduced in 1969. Comice x [Seckel x Farmingdale seedling 122]; cross made in 1947; selected in 1955; tested as 5-235. Fruit: similar in shape to Comice; skin is covered with 60% to 80% red blush; flesh quality excellent; late winter variety to supplement Anjou, Packham’s Triumph and El Dorado; harvest period coincides with Comice and Bosc, but may be ripened any time up to May; following cold storage, variety is ripe and ready to eat after 7 to 10 days at room temperature; storage scald has not been observed, and virtually no bruises or skin abraisions appear. Tree: unusually upright; vigorous; productivity moderate, but regular; foliage light green and rolled; compatible with French and quince rootstocks; moderately susceptible to fire blight; symptoms of stony pit have been found when grafted on infected trees; blooming period overlaps Anjou and Bartlett; pollen of Bartlett, Bosc, and Comice twice as effective as Anjou. --Brooks and Olmo Register of Fruit and Nut Varieties.
A promising pear variety, ‘Rogue Red,’ was released March 28, 1969, by Oregon State University. The variety originated from an original cross by F.C. Reimer and a second cross in 1947 by E. Degman and V. Quackenbush, of the Southern Oregon Experiment Station in Medford, Oregon. ‘Rogue Red’ [Comice x (Seckel x Farmingdale sdlg #122)] was first harvested and evaluated in 1955. This selection has been tested each subsequent year with respect to harvest date, storage and shelf life, color, and dessert quality. This high quality, attractive red pear appears promising for the late winter market. Also, ‘Rogue Red’ could be used to extend the gift box market after Comice season. Although this new variety cannot be expected to replace any existing variety, it could supplement the varieties now grown in Oregon. Trees of ‘Rogue Red’ are vigourous, upright in growth, with foliage light green and rolled. Bark is red on year-old shoots, but brown-gray on older wood. Trees are moderately productive and bear regularly. Fruit is large, 3 1/2 inches long, 3 inches wide, obovate-acute-pyriform, with a moderately long tapering neck. Uniform in shape; stem is 3/4 inch long, woody and curved, fleshy at the base. Skin is thick, smooth except for russet markings, dull greenish color, becoming greenish yellow, with a conspicuous reddish blush covering 60-80 percent of the fruit surface. Flesh is white, fine grained with some stone cells, melting, tender, very juicy under proper storage, very sweet with a distinctive flavor, and very good dessert quality. As a scion, ‘Rogue Red’ is compatible with P. communis and Cydonia (quince) rootstock. The young shoots of the variety are susceptible as Comice to fire blight. Stony pit symptoms have been found on the fruit when grafted on trees infected with stony pit virus. The bloom period falls between that of Anjou and Bartlett, overlapping both. However, Bartlett pollen is more effective than Anjou in setting fruit. ‘Rogue Red’ is ready for harvest when a Magness-Taylor pressure tester (5/16 in. plunger) registers 13-15 lbs. on pared fruit. this harvest period coincides with that of Comice and Bosc. At maturity the juice of the ‘Rogue Red’ pear contains 15-20% soluble solids and 170-240 mg. of titratable acids per 100 ml., which is as high as other winter pear varieties. The ‘Rogue Red’ pear ripens after cold storage in 7-10 days at temperatures of 65-70 F. However, unlike many winter pears, cold storage is not required preceding the ripening process. Harvested fruit take about 15 days to ripen at room temperature without previous cold storage. Storage scald, a physiological surface break-down of the fruit, has not been observed. Almost no bruises or skin abrasions appear on the fruit after normal handling… --P. Lombard, M. Thompson and Q. Zielinski. 1969. Fruit Varieties and Horticultural
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I like the source your using, they give a lot of valuable info.
Aside from it’s Comice ancestry (which I love), it does not need the fridge to ripen. How many late season pears can say that? For sure need it now!
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Rogue red does have a couple of fruitlets this year.
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Any fireblight issues so far Clark?
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Thanks Clark!
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Only place I see selling rogue red is cummins and they are only selling scion. I will contact them about getting a personal graft they mention but they have mentioned soonest they can get me a grafted tree is in 2024.
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Rogue red is very rare its shocking its for sale. Thi a was my plan that year i researched them
It looks like Cummins Nursery is wanting to graft onto Provence Quince rootstock. What are your thoughts on that rootstock for pears in zone 5?
Comice is a fireblight disaster in my location, as are most pears. Currently trialing Seckel propagated by Felix Gillet Institute, promising so far.
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More blooms on rogue red! This pear flowers very early after grafting it. It is much more vigorous than comice.
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Any idea how far north it will grow? It would be best for me if it doesn’t grow this far north.
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Don’t know a lot about it yet. It is a Comice x (Seckel x Farmingdale) cross. That makes me think it is somewhat cold hardy.
People will just have to test it for hardiness.
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Mine has been kind of slow growing. Interested to see how close it is to regular Comice.
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You are zone 6 so we know it hardy to at least zone 6. Comice is hardy to zone 5 at least so we know it to be pretty hardy zone wise. The interesting part will be if it is a tasty pear like a Comice, Magness or Warren that is fireblight resistant like a Warren or Magness.
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Clark- How’s this pear doing for you? Taste it yet?
Looks like Fedco of Maine sometimes offers it.
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