mark wrote:
: I have masses of commice pears this year. I've picked a few, but they're
: rock hard, and if left in the fruit bowl they just go 'spongy' not ripe .
: any suggestions?

How about the obvious Leave 'em on the tree until they are ripe?

When did they ripen in previous years? I have an old unnamed pear tree
whose fruit ripens in October. Some are even later.