Packham's Triumph pear trees

Pyrus communis

Growing and Training

As might be expected of an Australian pear variety, Packham's Triumph likes a sheltered position, a dry climate, and plenty of sun. If these requirements are met it is easy to grow and a heavy and reliable cropper.

Whilst it is usual to pick pears in the slightly under-ripe and let them ripen in a fruit bowl, you may want to experiment with letting Packham's Triumph ripen on the tree.

Fruit size can be slightly small if the tree is allowed to set too heavy a crop - if this happens, thin the fruitlets in June.

Packham's Triumph is particularly suitable for cross-pollination with Josephine de Malines, and also the Asian pear variety Nijisseiki.

History

Packham's Triumph was developed by Charles Packham of Molong, New South Wales, Australia, in the 1890s. Packham was a commercial grower and this was a period of dramatic expansion of the New South Wales orchard industry. The new variety's reliable cropping and good keeping qualities made it an immediate success.

Packham's Triumph inherits its flavour from the well-known and high quality Williams Bon Chretien pear (also known as Bartlett).

Its other parent is a rare variety called Uvedale's St. Germain which was found in England in the 17th century, although it may have been imported from France. This pear, primarily used as a culinary variety, appears to have contributed long-keeping and reliability to the mix.

Packham's Triumph characteristics

• Gardening skillAverage
• Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
• Flowering group3
• Picking seasonLate
• Season of use1-2 months
• Food usesEating fresh
• Summer average maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
• Chill requirementLow-chill
• Country of originAustralia
• Period of origin1850 - 1899
• Fruit colourGreen - light