They do taste pear-like, but peeling them is a pain.
I expect kieffer to ripen earlier than it has. It’s my last pear and later than anything I grow except Crippsi Pink apple. These things are nice sized and starting to get a red blush, but they are still rock hard. A few of them have fallen and they’ve spent a few days in the fridge. But don’t seam to show ripening signs like the yarrow pears.
When should I pick? How much longer will they hang?
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They will hang longer. it you can lift them up and they come off easily then pick them. You will have to store them for a while to get them to ripen correctly. They will soften up in storage in a few weeks. You should wrap each of them in newspaper to keep them from bruising.
I had a Kieffer pear tree for years. I moved to a different house and I just planted a Kieffer pear two years ago. I liked the pear.
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Not sure how I ended up on this old thread, but none-the-less good information for the ripening. I let mine hang until right before the first freeze (z5b). Then I pick them and put them in cardboard boxes or coolers with the lid cracked and set them on the floor of the attached unheated garage (by my fig trees!). Within 2-3 weeks they start to soften and yellow into something pretty dang sweet and juicy. Who knows, maybe they are improved Keiffer?
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@cis4elk … that has always been my experience with kieffer pears.
I doubt seriously any of the old homestead trees I have harvested from over the years were improved.
We always picked ours when they started dropping good… 5 gal buckets full. We put a bag over the bucket top and sit them in the basement…
We tried to catch ours after they had yellowed some but were still firm enough to process with our (apple corer pealer slicer) device.
It makes quick work of them. My wife knows exactly how to turn those kieffer pears into the most delicious pear preservs.
We give them to family and friends as extra Christmas presents.
TNHunter
Ps. I have a kieffer and improved kieffer pear trees in my orchard now… grafted them to callery a couple years back. I may add some grafts of Bell, Potomac, Ayers, Orient to them next spring.
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Excellent information here. In Georgia birds have been desperate since I picked all of my peaches and pruned the trees. Biggest problem I have is knowing the perfect time to pick the Kieffers which is not when they yellow but just before birds peck them to death. I could never wait until a few fall as a signal that time has come. Nor could I wait as long as long as Speedster1. Those are beauties but mine would be pecked to death before they looked like that. Thanks for all the tips on ripening them inside.
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Warrantone, welcome to this site. Lots of good advice and helpful people here.