Vicar of Winkfield

History and description of Vicar of Winkfield

Despite what appears to be a typically English name this old variety originates from France. Vicar of Winkfield pear was found as a wild seedling growing in a wood near Villers-en Brenne, France c 1760. It was named after Rev Rham of Winkfield, Berkshire who first introduced the variety to Britain.

Large, long calabasse shaped fruit. Smooth, green to yellowish green skin. Slight brownish flush and some russet patches. Dry, pale yellow flesh. Quite sharp with little flavour in the autumn. Best used for cooking but can also be used as a dessert pear in the winter.

Vigorous, quite attractive, spreading tree often with contorted branches. Good cropper but with a tendency to drop its fruit before they are ready to be picked. A triploid therefore ineffective as a pollinator.

Characteristics of Vicar of Winkfield pear trees

Use	Culinary
Colour
Flavour
Fruit size	Large
Picking time	Oct
Season of use	Dec-Feb
Tree vigour	Vigorous
Tree habit	Spreading
Fruit-bearing	Spur-bearer
Cropping	Good
Pollination date	13
Pollination group	C
Self-fertility	Self-sterile triploid
Pollinators	Pollination partners