‘Harvest Queen’ (it's pear fruit is the 'European pear type')(This cultivar is also known as 'PI 541203', and as HW-602).
The quality of it's fruit is '8 out of 9'.
Thinning will improve fruit size, thinning will prevent biennial bearing helping to insure a sizable crop every year. The fruit of 'Harvest Queen' starts to ripen early August to early September, depending on climate. The fruit of 'Harvest Queen' starts to ripen about a week or two before 'Bartlett', about a week before 'Harrow Crisp', and about a week later than Harrow Delight. The fruit of 'Harvest Queen' can be ripened on the tree, does not drop early like 'Harrow Delight' does. It's fruit has a thin skin. 'Harvest Queen' has white blooms from March through June. Two or more cultivars are recommended to ensure proper pollination. 'Harvest Queen' can be paired with 'Anjou', ‘Beurré Bosc’, 'Harrow Delight', 'Moonglow', and 'Seckel', yet it's not compatible with 'Bartlett'.
2 to 3 years to first fruit (precocious). It's medium to large fruit are slightly smaller than ‘Bartlett’, yet when grown on 'OHxF 333' root stock the fruit size of the 'Harvest Queen' pears are even smaller in size. It's fruit resembles 'Bartlett' in shape, in color, in texture and in outstanding flavor. It's fruit is just like a buttery, very juicy 'Bartlett' pear meets candy, only way better, the little crunchy bits in it's white sweet flesh make the fruit even more enjoyable, it's pears have an outstanding wonderful aroma, it's fruit can be dehydrated in to an addictive pear candy. The fruit quality of this cultivar does not vary much, it does not oxidize after being cut, it's superior in taste, and in texture (in comparison to 'Bartlett'), often way less gritty than 'Bartlett'. often grit free. The fine flesh of it's fruit has a complex taste while it's juice is simple/syrupy. The texture of it's flesh is a '2 out of 9'. The skin of it's fruit is bright yellow or yellowish-green with a pink over-color.
It's fruit russets at the stem end, amount of russeting is 3 out of 9, fruit skin lenticels quantity '3 out of 9', fruit skin lenticel size '1 out of 9'.
The fruit of 'Harvest Queen' is better than the fruit of 'Harrow Delight'. It's fruit will keep for about a month when stored in cool/humid conditions.
The Upright-spreading vigorous tree is very productive, it's bloom Density is '5 out of 9'. It's serrated leaves are oval in shape, they narrow at the end, sometimes to a point. 'Harvest Queen' is graft compatible on quince, on 'OHxF 87', and on 'OHxF 333', yet 'OHxF 333' reduces the size of the fruit. 'Harvest Queen' grows up to a height of 13 feet, of provided with full sun, and moderate moisture. Has a strong resistance to 'rust disease', to damage caused by fruit scab '2 out of 9', to damage caused by 'pseudomonas' '3 out of 9', to damage caused by 'blister mites' '7 out of 9'. Very resistant to mildew and fire blight, it's resistance to fire blight is similar to 'Kieffer's' resistance to fire blight, yet it's fire blight resistance is somewhat weaker than 'Harrow Delight's' fire blight resistance.
An ideal planting spot would have approximately '8-10 hours' of sun daily, loam soil, would rarely have flooding 'for more than two weeks strait in the spring'.
'Harvest Queen' was introduced for early fresh-market and home garden use in 1982. The cultivar was selected in 1972 from a cross that was made by L.F. Hough, and Catherine H. Bailey. That cross was made between Michigan 572 (Barseck x Bartlett) x Bartlett. The hybridization was done at the 'Harrow Research and Development Center' in Harrow, Ontario, Canada. 'Harvest Queen' was also grown and tested at 'Rutgers University' in New Jersey, USA, there it was tested under the name HW-602.
Hardier than 'Bartlett', Hardiness Zone 4 - 8.
Flowering group: 3, or 4 or 5
