Pear tree Pyrus communis "Selija"

• Type: late-autumn to winter pear tree
• Botanical name: Pyrus communis "Selija"
• Height and spread: semi-dwarf, compact crown; height depends on rootstock
• Fruit: large, yellow with brownish-red blush, very juicy, sweet with pleasant acidity
• Ripening and storage: pick in late September, keeps until January
• Light: full sun, sheltered from wind
• Soil: fertile, deep, well-drained
• Hardiness: very good; resistant to scab and fruit rot
• Pollination: plant another pear variety flowering at the same time nearby
• Use: fresh eating, winter storage, home orchards
• Size: potted tree

Planting. Plant in spring or autumn (until the end of September) in a sunny, sheltered spot free of standing water and frost pockets. Dig a hole 60–80 cm wide and 50–60 cm deep and add compost. Keep the graft union above the soil and stake the tree.

Watering and feeding. In the first summer water deeply once a week in dry spells (10–20 l per tree). Feed in spring with compost or fruit-tree fertiliser; stop nitrogen from late July so the shoots ripen before winter.

Care. Shape the crown in spring before bud break: keep 3–4 strong main branches and remove inward-growing and crossing shoots. The variety thins its own fruit, so hand thinning is rarely needed.

Gardener's tip. Wind may shake the fruit off before picking, but the pears are not damaged and still store well. Pick in late September and keep them in a cool cellar – they reach their best flavour as they ripen in storage.