Blake's Pride pear tree

Pyrus communis 'Blake's Pride'

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• Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
• Pollination group: 3

Blake's Pride is a modern disease-resistant pear variety, ripening mid-season, about a week after Bartlett.

The flavor is sweet, similar to Bartlett, but with a bit more depth.

The skin of Blake's Pride has a reputation for toughness, and you might want to peel the pears - but that tough skin is one of the reasons for its good disease-resistance.

As with all pears, Blake's Pride should be picked before it is ripe and then allowed ripen indoors in a fruit bowl. At this point they have a surprisingly old-fashioned appearance - golden-yellow, flecked with lenticels and patches of russet.

Blake's Pride pear trees for sale

You can pre-order now for spring 2025

• Semi-standard 1-year bare-root tree $37.95
  Mature height: 10ft-16ft after 10 years
  OHxF 87 rootstock
  

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How to grow

Like most pears, Blake's Pride is not self-fertile. However it cross-pollinates with most other varieties that are in bloom at the same time - including Bartlett.

Advice on fruit tree pollination.

History

Blake's Pride was developed in the 1990s at Ohio State University, and named after Roland Blake, who led the university's pear breeding program in the 1970s. It is distantly related to a very old American variety, Seckel, which is known for its natural resistance to fireblight. Bartlett and Comice are also part of the ancestry.

Blake's Pride characteristics

• Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
• Pollination group3
• Pollinating othersAverage
• Country of originUnited States
• Period of origin1950 - 1999
• Flesh colourCream
• Fruit colorGreen / YellowRusset

Similar varieties

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  Seckel
  Seckle is one of the ancestors of Blake's Pride, and confers its natural fireblight resistance.