Pear Winter Nelis

A very old, late-season, long-storing, dessert pear, Pyrus communis Winter Nelis was bred in Malines, Belgium at the beginning of the 18th century. The fruit is no beauty, but has a marvellous flavour when grown in a warm, sheltered, sunny site or, better, trained on a warm wall. The pears are small and round with a dull green skin, turning yellowish and heavily russeted when ripe, and the creamy-white flesh is fine-grained, buttery, juicy and sweet with a very rich, sweet flavour and delicious, vinous aroma when grown on a warm site. The tree is not vigorous, and has an upright, pyramidal habit; there is some resistance to scab. Pear Winter Nelis is a spur-bearer, and is a heavy and reliable cropper; fruit size will be improved with thinning. Pick the pears when they are slightly under-ripe and store in a cool shed; they will keep well into the New Year.

Site: Sheltered, sunny, south-facing site; good trained on a warm wall
Soil: Fertile, deep, well-drained, neutral soil
Position: Full sun; avoid frost pockets
Pick: Late October
Keep: Two to three months
Hardiness: Hardy
Pollination: Not self-fertile; Pollination Group 4
Uses: Eating