The 'Schweizerhose' pear variety is often referred to as a lover's variety. We'll tell you why and what you can do with this special pear.
The first thing that catches the eye is the striped skin of the 'Swiss trousers' pear. Due to its appearance, it is particularly popular as a decorative bulb. This variety is less likely to be found in commercial crops or on supermarket displays. Because of its robustness and the high ornamental value, the variety is suitable as an eye-catcher for the home garden.
Pear 'Swiss trousers': Profile
| Synonyms | Early Melon Pear, Cucumber Pear, Swiss Bergamot |
| Fruit | Medium; yellow, green and red stripes |
| Flavour | Moderately good, juicy and sweet |
| Yield | Mid-high, swaying |
| Harvest time | From September |
| Maturity for pleasure | End of October to November |
| Shelf Life | Until the end of December |
| Growth | Initially strong, later medium strong |
| Climate | Widely cultivable, warm locations improve fruit quality |
| Diseases and Pests | None known |
Swiss trousers: history and origin
The 'Swiss trousers' were already mentioned several times in Switzerland around 1800 and it is believed that their origins even go back to the 17th century. Various assumptions say that this variety is already around 400 years old and that it is a mutation of the 'Long Autumn Pear' from France. Different stripes can also appear in other pear varieties due to mutation, but these often disappear again due to reverse mutation - but not in the 'Swiss trousers'. Their special name 'Swiss trousers' comes from the also striped trousers of the Swiss Guard in the Vatican. The 'Swiss trousers' variety, which has become rare, has been made public again in the last decadefew trees propagated. As a result, it is now becoming increasingly available and was even voted pear variety of the year in Switzerland in 2011.
Appearance, taste and characteristics of the 'Swiss trousers' pear
The most striking thing about the 'Swiss trousers' pear is its fruit. These are small to medium-sized and bulbous. Their shell, which is actually light green, has yellow-green or red vertical stripes. These stripes run from the stem to the calyx. In addition, fine shell points are visible. The flesh is very fine-celled and juicy. The taste of the 'Swiss trousers' is rated as only good enough by gourmets - with this fruit the appearance is more important than the taste. Due to the striking stripes and the shell dots, the 'Swiss trousers' pear is a popular decoration in the house and is not eaten directly as a table pear. The ornamental value is therefore in the foreground with this variety.
Tip: Not only the fruit, but also the young wood of the 'Swiss trousers' is striped lengthwise.
Swiss trousers pear: cultivation and care
The growth of the 'Swiss pants' tree is initially strong, later only medium strong. A rather medium-sized and moderately branched crown with thin shoots forms here. Regular pruning when young is necessary for the crown to build up. Older trees may require more severe pruning of the crown.
The 'Swiss trousers' pear is undemanding and hardy as far as its location is concerned. It can be grown up to medium altitudes, but here it needs a wind-protected location. However, if the 'Swiss trousers' are grown in milder or warmer locations, this has a positive effect on the taste of the fruit. This can then also be sweeter and more aromatic than in cooler locations. This variety also has no special soil requirements and can therefore be grown on normal as well as loamy or sandy soils.
The half-stem and high-stem are the most common types of training for the 'Swiss trousers' pear. It is also suitable for the garden in a trellis or as a bush tree. By grafting on rather slow-growing rootstocks such as 'Pyrodwarf®', the cultivation of 'Swiss trousers' is then also possible in smaller gardens. It also proves feasible to use quince as a base, for example the weak-growing oneQuince C
The white blossoms of the 'Swiss trousers' pear can be seen between April and May. The 'Williams Christ', 'Conference' and 'Clapps Liebling' come into question as pollinators. The yields of the 'Swiss trousers' are medium-high and fluctuate annually.
The 'Schweizerhose' pear is usually not affected by pests or diseases, as the variety is considered to be very robust or at least not known to be susceptible.
Harvesting and Using Swiss Pants
The 'Schweizerhose' pear is an autumn pear and reaches maturity between September and October. The fruits remain sessile until just before harvest, but then fall and should therefore be harvested in good time. After harvesting, the pears can be kept for several weeks - but the pears taste best straight from the tree. If you don't want to eat the 'Swiss trousers' pear directly, you can also process it into juice or use it as a nice decoration.
We will tell you how to plant your pear tree in the garden and what needs to be considered.