An update on the Eden pear trees planted in Apulia

In the third year after transplanting, the Eden pear plants are producing satisfactory quantities. The fruit is in the growth phase, waiting to start coloring in a few weeks. Harvesting will begin in the third decade of August.

Eden pears ready for harvest (from the end of August).

Nurseryman Uzi Cairo of Cairo & Doutcher (pictured at the side), the sole distributor of Eden plants for Italy, explains: "So far we have not encountered any phytosanitary, climatic or other difficulties that could have affected the cultivation, mainly due to the high adaptability of this pear variety to all soil types, its low cold requirements and its resistance to plant diseases. Mild winter weather conditions allowed for excellent flowering and fruit set, so much so that careful thinning had to be done. The fruits are now up to 40 mm in diameter."

There are two Eden orchards created by the Salento-based company, with a total area of 2.5 hectares. The first has a planting sixth of 4x1 m and with 2,500 plants/hectare planted, while the other is 2.5x1 m and 4,500 plants/hectare. "Both crops are covered with hail and bird nets. From January to April 2024, more than 30 new hectares were planted between Apulia, Calabria and some other regions in northern Italy. There is curiosity among farmers, but also skepticism after the many problems that have arisen in the pear sector in recent years. However, the positive results obtained in the field and on the markets allow us to approach new entrepreneurs. In 2023, we sold fruit of premium quality at 2.30 €/kg and 1.80 €/kg in the case of other grades. We are preparing for the second year of sales."

Current situation of orchards in the third year after transplantation.

The 3rd Field Days event organized by Cairo and Doutcher will take place on 22 and 23 August 2024. The event, which will be held at the Eden orchards in Apulia (Copertino - province of Lecce), is designed to allow everyone to see the progress of the plantations and answer questions about the agronomic and varietal characteristics that have emerged in recent years, in order to promote the defense and nutritional techniques necessary to optimize the results of the promising pear cultivar.