Content
Pear "Victoria", zoned in the climatic conditions of the North Caucasus and the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine, obtained by hybridization. The variety is created on the basis of the winter Michurin "Tolstobezhka" and the French "Bere Bosk". The originators of the variety are a group of breeders of the Melitopol Experimental Station under the leadership of A. Avramenko. The description, photos and reviews of the Victoria pear corresponded to the characteristics declared by the authors, in 1993 the variety was entered into the State Register.
Description of pear variety Victoria
The culture belongs to the late summer period of ripening, the fruits reach biological ripeness in mid-August, early September. Early maturity pears "Victoria" is average, bears fruit after planting for 6 years. The flowering period occurs at a time when the threat of repeated spring frosts has passed. Weather conditions do not affect the formation of the ovary. The pear is characterized by a consistently high yield. Pear inherited frost resistance from Tolstobezhka variety, and high gastronomic assessment from Bere Bosk variety.
External description of pear "Victoria":
- The height of the fruit tree reaches 5 m, the crown is spreading, of medium density, roundly pyramidal in shape. The trunk and perennial branches are colored dark brown, young shoots are burgundy, after a year of growing season they acquire a common color with the central trunk.
- The leaves are dark green with a glossy surface in the shape of an elongated oval, tapering at the top. On young shoots, the leaves are brown with a red tint; as they grow, they take on the color of the main crown.
- The growing season and flowering period is the second half of May. It blooms profusely, with white flowers, collected in inflorescences on ringlets. Flowers completely remain on the fruit tree, do not fall off. Ovary formation - 100%.
Fruit characteristics
Due to its taste, juiciness and aroma of fruits, the Victoria pear belongs to the dessert varieties. It is one of the few crops that produces a large number of parthenocarpic (seedless) fruits. The pear variety ripens at the end of summer, the fruits are stored for a long time. The structure of a pear is loose, it is rarely used for preservation for the winter, and is often consumed fresh.
Description of the fruits of the pear "Victoria" (shown in the photo):
- the shape is symmetrical, regular, pear-shaped;
- the peduncle is curved, short, thin;
- dominated by large, weighing about 260 g, there are average size 155 g;
- the peel is smooth, at the stage of technical ripeness green with brown blotches, by the time of ripening it acquires a yellow tint, the dots darken;
- solid red pigmentation (blush) covers one side of the pear;
- the surface is not bumpy, even;
- the pulp is oily, loose consistency, juicy, without granulation, aromatic;
- the taste is sweet, the concentration of titratable acids is minimal;
- the fruits are well fixed on the stalk, not prone to shedding.
Pros and cons of the variety
Pear of the elite dessert variety "Victoria" is grown for personal consumption and for commercial purposes. The variety has the following advantages:
- stable fruiting, good yield;
- high gastronomic appreciation;
- presentable presentation;
- frost resistance;
- the ability to do without watering for a long time;
- stable immunity against scab and garden pests;
- long-term storage.
The conditional disadvantages include a decrease in glucose in the pear with a deficiency of ultraviolet radiation. The fruit will taste more sour.
Optimal growing conditions
The fruit crop was bred for cultivation in the North Caucasus region, in Ukraine, cultivation in Belarus is allowed. Pear "Victoria" belongs to the southern varieties. The ability to withstand frost is not great enough to grow a crop in a temperate climate.
The variety produces a stable yield, provided that the tree is located correctly on the site and the soil requirements are met. For full-fledged photosynthesis, Victoria pear needs a sufficient amount of ultraviolet radiation. In a shaded place, fruits grow with a small mass and sour taste. Young shoots are weak, elongated, abundant flowering, but some of the flowers will fall off.
The optimal part of the site is the southern or eastern side, protected from drafts.
Soil for pears "Victoria" is preferable neutral, sandy loam, loam is allowed. If there is no choice and the pear will have to be planted in acidic soils, neutralization with dolomite flour or lime is carried out in the fall. The variety tolerates water scarcity more easily than waterlogging of the soil. Pear "Victoria" should not be placed in lowlands where precipitation accumulates, as well as in an area with closely lying soil waters.
Planting and caring for Victoria pear
The Victoria pear is planted in spring or autumn. The crop is intended for cultivation in warm climates, so the spring planting method is rarely used. A pear is determined for a permanent place of growth 3 weeks before the onset of frost, approximately in mid-October.
Planting material is chosen for annual, with a well-developed root system. Dry and damaged fragments are removed before planting. The bark on the seedling should be smooth, dark in color, without mechanical damage, with a pronounced compaction located above the root.
Landing rules
The planting pit (90 * 80 cm) is being prepared a week before the planned work. A fertile mixture is prepared, consisting of the top layer of soil, sand and organic matter in equal proportions. A potassium-phosphate-based agent is added to the mixture. The root of a pear seedling is dipped for 3 hours in a solution of "Epin", which stimulates growth.
Sequence of planting works:
- To fix the seedling, a stake is driven into the recess.
- At the bottom of the pit, pour ½ part of the mixture in the form of a cone.
- Place the seedling, evenly distributing the root over the pit. If the planting material was in a container, the fertile mixture is poured in a layer, the root, along with the earthen lump, is placed in the center.
- The remaining mixture and soil are poured on top.
- Fix to the support, tamp the root circle.
- Water abundantly.
Watering and feeding
Pear "Victoria" is not a fast-growing variety, the first harvest gives in the sixth year of growth. After planting, feeding the crop is not required. In dry summer, the pear is watered once a month. If the season runs with periodic rainfall, additional watering is not required.
The pear is fed at the time of flowering with nitrate or urea. Before the formation of fruits, use "Kaphor K", during the ripening period - magnesium sulfate. In autumn, the soil near the tree is loosened, weeds are removed, organic matter is introduced, mulch. Acidic soils are neutralized with lime (once every 4 years).
Pruning
Trimming pear "Victoria" is carried out next spring after the autumn planting. The shoots are shortened by 1/3. Subsequent pruning provides for the formation of the crown in the third year of the growing season:
- The lower branches are straightened to a horizontal position, fixed. They will go to the first circle of skeletal branches.
- The next spring, they are shortened by ¼ of the length, the tops are broken by autumn.
- The second skeletal circle is formed from two branches; they should be shorter than the previous circle.
- The last tier consists of three annual shoots, they are shortened according to the previous scheme.
By the age of five years of growth, the crown of a pear looks like a rounded cone, cardinal pruning is no longer needed. Every spring, they carry out sanitary cleaning, remove excess shoots, dry branches, cut off young shoots near the root.
Whitewash
Whitewash pear "Victoria" in spring and autumn about 1 meter from the ground. Use lime, acrylic or water-based paint. The event is of a sanitary nature. In the bark of the tree, larvae of insect pests and fungal spores overwinter. After processing, they die. Whitewashing protects the wood from UV burns.
Preparing for winter
Pear "Victoria" grows in regions with a warm climate, it is genetically embedded with sufficient resistance to frost, which is enough for the culture to winter safely. The young tree is not covered. With a shortage of seasonal rainfall, the pear is watered abundantly, mulched with dry sawdust, old leaves or peat.
Pollination
Pear variety "Victoria" blooms with female and male flowers. A self-fertile crop can do without pollinators. The yield will be higher if varieties of the same flowering time as "Victoria" grow nearby on the site. As pollinators suitable pear "Viennese Triumph" or "Williams red".
Yield
When a pear blossoms, all the flowers remain on the tree, do not crumble. The variety does not lose part of the ovaries, they ripen completely. If the tree is grown in an open, sunny area, the yield is about 160 kg. Increased rates (up to 180 kg) are observed if the summer was hot and not rainy.
Diseases and pests
The most common fungal infection on fruit crops is scab, but Victoria pears are resistant to infection. Diseases affecting the variety:
- Moniliosis. It manifests itself as dark spots on the fruits, causing their subsequent rotting. Sick pears do not fall from the tree and infect the rest. To prevent the infection from spreading, the damaged fruits are harvested.
- Powdery mildew covers the whole tree in the form of a gray bloom. To combat the disease, damaged dry areas are removed, and the crown is treated with "Sulfite", "Fundazol".
- Black cancer, is rare, the primary focus of infection appears on the bark of a tree in the form of corrosion. Without treatment, the infection spreads to the crown. The culture is sprayed with preparations containing copper. In autumn, foliage and dry branches are burned.
- Parasitic insects on the "Victoria" variety a little. The brown fruit mite is removed in the spring with "Oleocubrite", "Nitrafen". In summer, the pear is treated with "Akartan" or colloidal sulfur. Leaf gall midges get rid of "Zolon", "Nexion", "Karbofos".
Reviews about pear Victoria
Conclusion
The description, photos and reviews about the Victoria pear will help to form an overall picture of the variety, the data fully correspond to the declared characteristics. Drought-resistant variety with excellent gastronomic qualities, good immunity to fungi, practically not affected by pests. The fruit tree is undemanding to care.
