{"title":"Best Pears for Winter Storage","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 6 varieties in our catalog that scored 8 or higher out of 10 for keeping. Scored on how long the fruit holds its quality in ordinary storage after harvest.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn 8 is Very good on the adapted Beach (1905) grade, a 9 is Very good to best and a 10 is Best. Varieties that scored 6 or 7 are genuinely good at this too, and you will find them under the matching Shop by Use group.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery score in this list is sourced. Nothing is here because it is popular, and nothing is here on our word alone. The full evidence, including what each variety scored for every other use and why, is in the use guide.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"cold-snap-pear","title":"Cold Snap® Pear","description":"\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eOriginally bred as \u003cem\u003eHarovin Sundown\u003c\/em\u003e in the 1970s by H. A. Quamme, this variety was licensed to the Vineland Innovation and Research Center, which began selling trees in 2015.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eWhy We're Growing Cold Snap\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eAlthough this is our second year growing \u003cem\u003eCold Snap\u003c\/em\u003e, we were enticed by its breeding for Ontario’s cold climate and its strong disease resistance. Hardy down to -40°F, these pears will thrive across much of Montana—except in some of the more brutal areas east of the Divide. If you're in a spot that regularly sees temps colder than -40°F, we recommend going with one of the Russian pears grafted onto Ussurian pear. (We have several of those for Spring 2027, including Krazulya, Larinskaya, Krasnobokaya and Vekovaya.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eRootstock and Tree Sizes\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eThese \u003cem\u003eCold Snap\u003c\/em\u003e pears are grafted onto OHxF87 rootstock, which is also hardy to -40°F to -45°F. Trees come in two sizes (same age but one grew better in the nursery):\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eCurrent-year bare root stock: 2-3 ft. tall\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\"\u003eCurrent-year bare root stock: 3-5 ft. tall\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 2-3 ft.","offer_id":45125070782530,"sku":null,"price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45125070815298,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/cold-snap-pear-on-tree.webp?v=1789019810"},{"product_id":"red-beurr-danjou-pear","title":"Red d'Anjou Pear","description":"\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eA sport of the green D’Anjou pear—meaning one of the limbs naturally mutated to produce red fruit and that limb was then propagated—\u003cem\u003eRed D’Anjou\u003c\/em\u003e carries many of the same taste characteristics as its green counterpart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eIt’s one of the few sports we grow because the flavor holds up to the original. (A lot of sports out there, we find, don’t come anywhere close.) The main difference here is the color—everything else is right on par.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eFlavor and Ripening\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eRed D’Anjou\u003c\/em\u003e has excellent flavor and keep-ability. It’s subtly sweet, firm, and fine-textured. The bright green flesh ripens in early October and is great for fresh eating and storage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eCold Hardiness and Growing Zones\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThis variety has been just as cold hardy for us in Montana (Zone 4) as the green Beurré D’Anjou. These trees are hardy down to –35°F, so they’re best suited for the warmer valleys like Missoula, Flathead, Mission, and Bitterroot. We don’t recommend them much outside those areas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eTree Size and Production\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" style=\"white-space: pre-wrap;\" data-rte-preserve-empty=\"true\"\u003eThese trees are one year older and are roughly 4-5 ft tall.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"OHxF97 Semi-Standard: 4-5 ft. (1 year older)","offer_id":42503707131970,"sku":null,"price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/red-danjou-pear-on-tree.webp?v=1789020871"},{"product_id":"taylor-apple-pear","title":"Taylor Apple Pear","description":"\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaylor Apple Pear is an Asian pear selected for extreme cold tolerance and Taylor stands out as one of the hardiest, if not the hardiest Asian pear that we know of. While the flavor is apparently very good, we have not yet tasted this variety firsthand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOrigin \u0026amp; History\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaylor Apple Pear circulates as a named cultivar in the cold-climate fruit nursery trade and has been marketed as an “Asian pear” or “apple pear” due to its round shape and crunchy texture. Some nurseries describe it as an introduction associated with Green Barn Nursery, but we couldn't find any credible published breeding record that documents a specific cross or named parents. For that reason, it is most accurate to treat Taylor Apple Pear as a named selection with an unpublished pedigree rather than a formally documented breeding-program cross.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFruit \u0026amp; Uses\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFruit are commonly described as round, green to yellow-green with a light blush, ripening in the late season (often late September into October depending on climate). The defining characteristic is texture: firm, crisp, and juicy. It is best used fresh—sliced and chilled—and it also holds up well for fresh culinary uses where you want crunch rather than softening.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowth Habit \u0026amp; Spacing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFruits are more compact than many European pear trees, with heavy spring bloom followed by firm, waxy-skinned fruit. As with pears generally, early training and annual pruning for structure, light, and airflow are key to keeping the canopy productive and reducing disease pressure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe offer Taylor Apple Pear on Ussurian pear full-size rootstock. A practical spacing range for this would be roughly 18 ft. depending on site, vigor, and how intensively you plan to prune for size control. If you want a large, low-maintenance tree, lean wider; if you plan regular pruning to keep the canopy tighter, the lower end of that range can work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePollination\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaylor Apple Pear is commonly described as at least partially self-fertile, but pears typically set heavier and more consistently with cross-pollination, so the safest recommendation is to plant a second pear nearby that overlaps bloom at your site. Any of our Russian pears would work for pollination, including Krazulya, Larinskaya, Vekovaya, Kraznobokaya, and Bolshaya.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCold hardiness\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaylor Apple Pear is one of the most cold-hardy Asian-pear-type cultivars in circulation, with some sellers claiming -40°F-class hardiness. In our own Montana network, we obtained scionwood from Les McCartney, who has grown this successfully in Bozeman, Montana, and whose his site reached -45°F, with minimal to no winter injury for this variety. Based on that real-world Montana experience, we consider Taylor Apple Pear at least hardy to -45°F in the right conditions, while noting that duration of cold, acclimation timing, wind exposure, and site microclimate strongly influence winter injury outcomes. To be safe, we are listing it as zone 3a hardy, and protected zone 2b sites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImage courtesy of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.whiffletreefarmandnursery.ca\/?srsltid=AfmBOoqYvQ5NfaQy0wrTxdopZAfs-fvHRR-YydsUsGM8V0XmnKQ8hGej\"\u003eWhiffle Tree Nursery\u003c\/a\u003e in Ontario Canada\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Ussurian Pear Full Size: 2-4 ft.","offer_id":42505032761410,"sku":null,"price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ussurian Pear Full Size: 3-5 ft.","offer_id":45135421243458,"sku":null,"price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ussurian Pear Full Size: 3-4 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":45135421276226,"sku":null,"price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ussurian Pear Full Size: 4-6 ft.","offer_id":45135421308994,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ussurian Pear Full Size: 4-6 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":45135421341762,"sku":null,"price":74.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ussurian Pear Full Size: 5-7 ft. (One Year Older)","offer_id":45135421374530,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/taylor-apple-pear-on-tree.png?v=1789021268"},{"product_id":"concorde-pear","title":"Concorde Pear","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eNew Variety. Description Coming Soon!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 2-4 ft.","offer_id":45178208813122,"sku":null,"price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/MontanaFruitTreeCoPhotoComingSoon_ac5a8a33-4847-4a1b-b828-890777efb9cc.png?v=1788905202"},{"product_id":"danjou-pear","title":"D'Anjou Pear","description":"\u003cp\u003eAlthough we have grown D'Anjou in the past, we did not have it on our online store in 2026. We are updating our description for it but it is back!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eD'Anjou is one of those pears that are pretty good typically from the grocery store. However, I tree ripened D'Anjou really is something else. They do well  in the warmer valleys of Western Montana even though they are originally from the more temperate Belgium\/France. Likely not hardy, however, for areas that can see temperatures below -35F. Still, it is a solid zone 4a even possibly 3b pear if it is in a protected spot and out of where frost settles.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45181089742914,"sku":null,"price":64.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. (Larger \u0026 More Branching) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45181089775682,"sku":null,"price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/danjou-pear-in-hand.jpg?v=1789019810"},{"product_id":"golden-russett-bosc","title":"Golden Russet Bosc Pear","description":"\u003cp\u003eAlthough we have grown Bosc in the past, we have not grown the bud sport of it here, which is the Golden Russet Bosc. Similar to our description of D'Anjou, Golden Russet Bosc is super tasty when tree ripened. This is how these are meant to taste. It's roughly the same in hardiness as D'Anjou, as these have done well in the warmer valleys of Western Montana. Likely not hardy below -35°F, these are however a solid zone 4 tree, and even zone 3b in protected sites that are out of where frost settles.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. (Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping)","offer_id":45181105242178,"sku":null,"price":64.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"OHxF 87 Semi-Dwarf: 5-7 ft. (Larger \u0026 More Branching) Pruned to 5 ft. for Shipping","offer_id":45181105274946,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/MontanaFruitTreeCoPhotoComingSoon_92bca286-0775-496c-9b01-1fa74c652727.png?v=1788980169"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.montanafruittrees.com\/collections\/best-pears-for-winter-storage.oembed","provider":"Montana Fruit Trees","version":"1.0","type":"link"}