When do I pick my pear?

[Sprogonthetyne]

After a two and a half year wait, the tree I planted has produced a single solitary pear. When do I pick it? I don't want to get over eager pick before it's ready, but if it fall/ gets eaten by something, then I've lost the whole harvest.

Pears are vexing. I estimate approximately 28 minutes between it being rock hard and rotten!

Gently lift it sideways to 90 degrees. When it's ready for picking it will just come away. Take it indoors to ripen further before eating - that's the most difficult thing to judge and I haven't cracked it yet.

As Monty says, but also tie a net/bag/hammock under it now so that you don't lose it if you miss the 10-minute picking window and it falls off.

As long as you’re checking it every day, you’ll be able to pick it up off the ground before it rots, and you’ll then have a day or two to eat it. So not a complete loss if it falls

I’m having a similar dilemma. We inherited a beautiful well established pear tree when we bought our house last year.

I have no idea when to pick though, loads have fallen so assumed they were ready, but I’ve picked some and even after a week inside they’re still like rocks.

You clearly don't have the wildlife we do. They don't generally seem to touch fruit on the tree, but once it hits the ground it is covered in - and being chomped by - slugs and woodlice within minutes.

My puppy is fond of a pear 😂. They don't last long on the ground around here.

I managed to get it before he got to the centre and the pips!

I picked my bumper harvest last year and they were a couple of weeks before they were juicy and soft.
Be mindful that just because some have fallen, it doesn’t mean the rest on the tree are ready to pick though. I went out and lifted mine the 90 degrees today (and gave my apples a tentative wiggle because they are being eaten on the tree!) and they still aren’t ready for picking despite a few already dropping off.

Argh this is a high stakes game, with just the one fruit!

I gave it a 90° turn, and no movement yet. Is this alright for the net/hammock? Or dose it need to be underneath not over the it?

Yes, that's a perfect catcher.

It's inside safely! Went out after a windy night and it was sat in the net. Now just need to wait for the 2 day window between it been rock hard and mush.

You think you'll have as long as two days?

The neck shows signs of softness first.