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Tasting notes and identification advice for apples, pears, plums, cherries and other orchard varieties.

Winter Nelis pear

Pyrus communis
/ 1 see reviews
Winter Nelis
A very highly regarded late-season dessert pear from Belgium, with an excellent sweet flavour. The fruits keep well.

Also known as

  • French Seedling

Winter Nelis pear identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

  • Winter Nelis
  • Winter Nelis

USDA identification images for Winter Nelis

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

  • USDA watercolor image of Pyrus communis: Winter Nelis
  • USDA watercolor image of Pyrus communis: Winter Nelis
  • USDA watercolor image of Pyrus communis: Winter Nelis
  • USDA watercolor image of Pyrus communis: Winter Nelis
  • USDA watercolor image of Pyrus communis: Winter Nelis
  • USDA watercolor image of Pyrus communis: Winter Nelis

Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

Visitor reviews

  • 25 Apr 2024  Alan Marzé
    Small, with bitter, tough and slippery skin and uninteresting, watery flesh.

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United Kingdom

Netherlands

Australia

  • Evan in Launceston, TASMANIA

Spring blossom records for this variety

2022 season

  • 4th May  2022  - tree owned by Cheuk in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.


Origins

  • Species: Pyrus communis - Pear
  • Originates from: Mechelen / Malines, Belgium
  • Introduced: 1818
  • Developed by: M. Jean Charles Nelis
  • UK National Fruit Collection accession: 1973-319

Identification

  • Country of origin: Belgium
  • Period of origin: 1800 - 1849
  • Fruit colour: Green / Yellow
  • Flower colour: White
  • Leaf colour: Green
  • Annual cycle: Deciduous

Using

  • Picking season: Late
  • Keeping (of fruit): 1-2 months
  • Flavour quality: Very good
  • Cropping: Heavy
  • Fruit persistence: Normal ripening
  • Food uses: Eating fresh
  • Picking period: early November
  • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators
  • Rootstock size class: Standard
  • Rootstock % of standard: 100%
  • Rootstock % of standard: 105%
  • Rootstock compatibility: European pear
  • Rootstock compatibility: Asian pear

Growing

  • Gardening skill: Experienced
  • Flowering group: 4
  • Pollinating others: Average
  • Ploidy: Diploid
  • Vigour: Weak growing
  • Precocity: Slow to start bearing
  • Bearing regularity: Regular
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile

Climate

  • Climate suitability: Temperate climates
  • Climate suitability: Warm climates
  • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
  • Summer average maximum temperatures: Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)

Other qualities

  • Disease resistance: Poor
  • Scab (Apple and Pear): Some resistance
  • Powdery mildew: Some susceptibility
  • Fire blight: Very susceptible
  • Pear blossom blast: Some resistance
  • Crown Gall: Some resistance
  • Root suckers: Many
  • Root lesion nematode: Some susceptibility
  • Honey / Oak root fungus: Some resistance
  • Black end / Hard end: Very resistant
  • Pear decline: Some resistance
  • Pear Psylla: Some resistance

Where to buy trees

The following tree nurseries offer Winter Nelis pear trees for sale:



References

  • Fruit Expert
    Author: Hessayon
  • The Book of Pears (2015)
    Author: Morgan
    258
  • The Fruit Manual
    Author: Hogg

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