Red Pear VS Red Fig?

[TC_Manhattan]

Are these two different cultivars, or the same one with different names?

Most places list either one or the other, and describe both as very old heirloom varieties.
Trade Winds Fruit lists both.
Red Pear described as having a sharp flavor, while Red Fig described as classic sweet cherry tomato flavor. Both are described as heralding back to the 1700's.

I've grown neither and am curious to find out whether there are different seeds out there.

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts, experiences and opinions.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by TC_Manhattan

Are these two different cultivars, or the same one with different names?

Most places list either one or the other, and describe both as very old heirloom varieties.
Trade Winds Fruit lists both.
Red Pear described as having a sharp flavor, while Red Fig described as classic sweet cherry tomato flavor. Both are described as heralding back to the 1700's.

I've grown neither and am curious to find out whether there are different seeds out there.

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts, experiences and opinions.

This should clarify it for you

http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Red_Fig

WWWeaver was looking in an old herbal and saw what he thought was a long necked red pear,he SSE Listed it and whatever,but as Tania says,you cannot ID anything like that from just a picture.

I did grow both once and saw no difference except the longer neck that of the faux fig one. And for others,with the same seeds that WWW was SSE listing,they didn't get the long neck at all.

Summary? IMO stick with Red Pear, which BTW I consider to be much better than Yellow Pear, the former is a bit smaller but has much better taste IMO.

Carolyn

[KarenO]

There is a red multiflora called "red cluster pear"" that I have grown. large sprays of blossoms and small red pear shaped tomatoes. I have seed if you are interested.

KarenO

[imp]

Karen, where did you get that one? I try to keep an eye out for the varieties of the little pears, we always grew them, several colors, and my Mom and I would make tomato jelly and tomato preserves out of many of them.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by KarenO

There is a red multiflora called "red cluster pear"" that I have grown. large sprays of blossoms and small red pear shaped tomatoes. I have seed if you are interested.

KarenO

This one Karen?

http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/w...b=General_Info

Makes sense you would have it since the only place listing it is Solana Seeds and they,like you,are in Canada.

Carolyn

[TC_Manhattan]

Originally Posted by KarenO

There is a red multiflora called "red cluster pear"" that I have grown. large sprays of blossoms and small red pear shaped tomatoes. I have seed if you are interested.

KarenO

Sounds interesting. What do you think of this variety? Taste? Productivity? Have you grown it more than once? How did it do for you?

[KarenO]

Originally Posted by TC_Manhattan

Sounds interesting. What do you think of this variety? Taste? Productivity? Have you grown it more than once? How did it do for you?

My original seed was purchased from Solana Seeds in Quebec, Canada.
The plant is a smaller indeterminate with large sprays of blossoms, 100+and produced cute little red pears in quantity although nowhere near the same number of fruit as blossoms. Flavour I would describe as OK. Nothing special but not bad. Shape is the reason to grow it as there are better tasting cherries for sure but it's pretty and rare.
KarenO

I grew it and every other multiflora I could find in 2011 but didn't make any comments other than it ripened its first fruits Sept 5.

I don't know when I'll grow multifloras again. This year the theme is "Early"

[KarenO]

Red cluster pear inflorescence.
KarenO

[TC_Manhattan]

Originally Posted by KarenO

My original seed was purchased from Solana Seeds in Quebec, Canada.
The plant is a smaller indeterminate with large sprays of blossoms, 100+and produced cute little red pears in quantity although nowhere near the same number of fruit as blossoms. Flavour I would describe as OK. Nothing special but not bad. Shape is the reason to grow it as there are better tasting cherries for sure but it's pretty and rare.
KarenO

Thank you for sharing this. Sounds like I will pass on trying it.

As for Solana, I have purchased seeds from them a few times, and their prices and service are very good, and they carry some unusual varieties I've not found elsewhere.
Added plus, I get the advantage of a favorable (for me) exchange rate, and their shipping charges are very reasonable.

So... I went back to their website and ran across a similar multiflora called Rose Quartz Multiflora. This one is described as having an aromatic, fruity flavor and amazingly productive. It's a round cherry, not pear-shaped, but sure sounds like a good one to trial! I'm glad they ship to us down here in the US of A.

Thanks again for your input. Helps a lot.