Pear

Pears flower two to four weeks earlier than apples and need slightly warmer conditions. They are very ornamental in flower, their branches often buried under a froth of white blossom. All pears are grafted on rootstocks which affect their size and vigour, and may be trained in a number of different shapes. Pruning depends on the tree form and vigour of the rootstock, and should be checked in a handbook. 'Conference' is one of the best-known varieties, with regular heavy crops of very juicy sweet fruit, green with a silvery russeted finish and perfect for eating in November. The Royal Horticultural Society have given it their prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).