Winter Nelis pear trees

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• Picking season: Late
• Self-fertility: Not self-fertile
• Flowering group: 4

Winter Nelis is a late-season dessert pear which keeps well through the winter. It is not perhaps the prettiest of pears, but with this is one you grow for flavour - few others come close.

The Belgian city of Mechelen - more commonly known in fruit-growing circles by its French name of Malines - was a focal point for the development of new pear varieties at the start of the 19th century. Winter Nelis was raised here in the early 1800s and is arguably the best-flavoured of Belgian pears - although its compatriot Josephine de Malines is also extremely good.

It was introduced to England in 1818, and rated by the Victorian fruit enthusiast Robert Hogg as "one of the richest flavoured pears".

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Growing and Training

Robert Hogg also notes one of the main drawbacks of Winter Nelis when grown in England - the flavour can fail to live up to is reputation. The main reason for this is lack of sunlight and warmth, and for this reason Winter Nelis is best grown in a sunny sheltered spot with a south-facing aspect. Wall-training on a south-facing wall would also be beneficial.

Winter Nelis also benefits from being grown on a semi-vigorous or vigorous rootstock to counter its weak-growing tendency.

Fruit size - and flavour - can be improved by thinning the fruitlets in early June.

History

Winter Nelis was raised by M. Jean Charles Nelis of Malines in Belgium at the start of the 19th century.

Winter Nelis characteristics

British-grown trees

Unlike many garden centres and online retailers, the vast majority of our fruit trees are grown in the UK. Find out more.

In addition, all our trees are certified under the Plant Healthy scheme, supervised by the Plant Health Alliance. Other stakeholders include Defra and the RHS. The scheme aims to improve UK biosecurity by setting standards for all growers and retailers involved in selling plants in the UK. Find out more

Guaranteed fruit trees

When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden whilst it gets established. If it doesn't grow successfully, we'll either replace it the following season or offer a refund - subject to some conditions. Find out more.