Pear (Pyrus) Beth 12L

Beth is one of the most dependable dessert pears you can grow and a holder of the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It's hardy, reliable and quick to start cropping, often producing fruit within a few years of planting. Clouds of white spring blossom, loved by bees, are followed in early to mid-September by generous crops of small, yellow-green pears. They have creamy white flesh that is sweet, juicy and melts in the mouth, with a flavour to rival any dessert pear. As one of the earliest pears to ripen, Beth gets your pear season off to a delicious start.

Beth forms a neat, upright, compact tree that suits smaller gardens. It is not self-fertile, so it needs another pear nearby to crop. Conference, Concorde or Doyenné du Comice all make ideal partners. Pears need more warmth than apples, so plant in full sun in a sheltered spot, in deep, fertile, moist but well-drained soil that isn't too acidic or chalky. Like all pears it flowers early, so avoid frost pockets. Thin heavy clusters to one or two fruits after the natural early summer drop, and pick the pears while still slightly firm, then ripen them indoors for a few days for the best flavour and texture. Prune in winter to keep an open shape and encourage fruiting spurs. Fully hardy (RHS H6).

Supplied in a 12-litre pot.

Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.

Available from Pengelly Garden Centre.