Triomphe de Jodoigne

Origin and History

Triomphe de Jodoigne is a Belgian pear raised by Simon Bouvier at Jodoigne, Belgium, in 1830, and fruited for the first time in 1843.

Tree

The tree is very vigorous, very hardy, and very prolific. According to The Horticulturist (1856), the tree is "exceedingly robust, but does not come into bearing so early as many other sorts." Young wood is short-jointed, dull grayish brown (Downing). On the pear stock it grows as freely as the Jargonelle and makes large extended espaliers; on the Quince stock it will grow well but makes rather a straggling pyramid (Herefordshire Pomona).

Fruit

Size: Large, weighing from ten to twelve ounces according to The Horticulturist, which calls it "extra" in size.

Form: Obovate to oval-pyriform, tapering markedly toward the stem. The Horticulturist describes it as "obovate, slightly pear shaped, terminating obtusely at the stem." Downing gives "obovate ovate obtuse pyriform." Hedrick gives "oval-pyriform, tapering markedly toward stem." The Herefordshire Pomona describes it as "obovate, regular and handsome." The surface is uneven (Downing, Hedrick).

Skin: Sources differ on coloring. The Herefordshire Pomona describes the skin as yellow, covered with numerous small russety dots and patches of thin brown russet. Downing describes it as pale greenish yellow, shaded and mottled with crimson in the sun, with patches, nettings, and traces of russet, and thickly sprinkled with brown and green dots. Hedrick gives green becoming lemon-yellow. The Horticulturist describes it simply as green, with occasional traces of russet.

Stem: Rather long, about an inch and a quarter (Herefordshire Pomona), a little inclined, curved, stout, woody, fleshy at its insertion by a ring (Downing, Hedrick). The Herefordshire Pomona notes it is inserted without depression, while Downing describes a small cavity at the insertion.

Cavity: Small (Downing).

Calyx: Open (Downing, Hedrick) — the Herefordshire Pomona also describes the eye as open. Segments short and stiff (Downing). Set in a slight depression (Herefordshire Pomona).

Basin: Small, uneven (Downing, Hedrick). The Herefordshire Pomona describes it as a slight depression.

Flesh: Whitish to yellowish white, rather coarse, juicy, half melting, sweet. The Herefordshire Pomona describes it as "yellowish white, rather coarse, melting, juicy, sugary and brisk, with an agreeable musky perfume." Downing and Hedrick both give "whitish, coarse, juicy, half melting, sweet." The Horticulturist describes it as "melting, rich sub-acid, good." There is a notable disagreement: The Horticulturist calls the flavor "rich sub-acid" while Downing and Hedrick call it "sweet," and the Herefordshire Pomona calls it "sugary and brisk" — these may reflect differences in growing conditions or ripeness at tasting. Quality rated good to very good (Downing, Hedrick); The Horticulturist rates it simply "good."

Core and Seeds: Not described in any source.

Season

October (Downing, Hedrick). The Horticulturist gives November.

Cultural Notes

The Herefordshire Pomona notes that Triomphe de Jodoigne "is a very excellent pear when grown on soil that suits it, but on very heavy or indifferent soils it is apt to be coarse in flavour."