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Inspiring pears at RHS Garden Wisley

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Nigel Slater on...

Nigel Slater on...

Nigel writes on some of the best produce for growing and cooking every month

Inspiring pears

PearsWords: Mary Berry

Three visits to RHS Garden Wisley in spring, summer and autumn are part of my gardening calendar. These days are very special to me and are inspirational – I see what is doing well at Wisley and what is new so I can add plants to our garden at home.

Three years ago I saw a splendid cordon pear arch in the Wisley vegetable garden. I came home and found that we had an obsolete arch in the shed so in the autumn of that year I sought RHS advice and planted on one side 'Williams' Bon Chrétien' and on the other 'Concorde' – they were planted in a generous amount of our own compost. They were easy to train up the arch, we watered and mulched them in the spring.

They are doing well – 'Concorde' has the higher yield, it is the fist year of fruiting so I can’t wait to try them.

Related links

Poached pear in blackberry sauce

See Mary Berry's delicious pear recipes

See RHS Advice on choosing and growing pears

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