How to Tell When Pears Are Ready to Harvest

Pears are ready to harvest before they’re ripe. Learn when to harvest pears and how to ripen them off the tree.

"There are only ten minutes in the life of a pear when it is perfect to eat." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

While the quote above may be an exaggeration, it does serve to highlight the fact that many growers struggle to figure out the proper ripening and eating times for pears. In this post, we will teach you everything you need to know for picking, ripening, and enjoying homegrown pears.

The Nature of Pears

Did you know pears don't ripen on the tree?
Unlike many other fruits that reach peak ripeness while still attached to the plant, European pears must be harvested before they ripen. If left on the tree too long, pears begin to ripen from the inside out—and by the time they feel soft on the outside, the interior may be overly ripe or have a mealy texture.

Signs Pears Are Ready to Pick

To avoid overripe fruit, you’ll want to harvest pears when they are mature but still firm and not yet fully ripe.

So, how can you tell when pears are mature enough to pick?

Touch isn’t reliable — mature pears will still feel firm
Color varies — depending on the variety, pears may be green, yellow, or even have a blush tone when mature
The best test — gently lift the pear in your hand and tilt it horizontally. A mature pear will easily separate from the branch. If it resists, leave it a few more days.

This tilt test is the most reliable indicator of harvest readiness.

How to Ripen Pears Off the Tree

Once harvested, pears typically need about a week to ripen at room temperature (65–72ºF). Here are a few ripening tips:

Store at room temperature until the neck of the pear yields slightly to gentle pressure
Place in a paper bag to speed up ripening by a few days
Add an apple or banana to the bag to release ethylene gas, which accelerates ripening
Be cautious — too much ethylene gas can cause internal breakdown, so monitor pears daily if using this method

Pro tip: Check the neck, not the body, for ripeness. Press gently near the stem—if it yields slightly, the pear is ready to eat.

Pear season is coming! In a typical year, it starts in August for those of us in zones 5 and 6. If you are growing your own, make sure you are prepared!

The information above applies to European Pears. Asian Pears tend to ripen just fine on the tree.