Joséphine de Malines

‘Joséphine de Malines’ is an old Belgian variety regarded as one of the finest winter pears for gardens and traditional orchards.

The fruit is generally small to medium-sized, rounded, slightly flattened and sometimes irregular in shape. Its fairly thick skin is initially green, turning lemon yellow when ripe. It is extensively dotted and mottled with brown russet, sometimes with a light bronze or reddish blush on the side exposed to the sun.

After several weeks in storage, the flesh develops a pinkish-white to pale salmon colour. It then becomes exceptionally fine, melting and particularly juicy. Its flavour is richly sweet and delicately aromatic, with a pleasant floral note reminiscent of rose.

Harvest takes place during the second half of October. The fruit should not be eaten immediately: it gradually develops its full quality in storage and ripens from December to February, sometimes remaining in good condition until March under excellent storage conditions.

The tree has moderate vigour, with flexible, drooping branches. Cropping is moderate, and the fruit is often borne at the tips of short fruiting shoots, which should be preserved when pruning. Very hardy and only slightly susceptible to scab, this variety is particularly well suited to northern climates. It can be grafted onto quince, but growth and cropping may remain weak; a compatible interstem or a vigorous pear rootstock is preferable.