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Descriptions, photos and reviews of the Bere Bosc pear are of interest to owners of private gardens from different countries. This is an old variety originally from France. Tests were carried out on Russian territory, after which it was entered into the State Register in 1947. The Bere Bosk pear is recommended for cultivation in the Transcaucasian republics, gardens of the Stavropol Territory and in the Crimea.
Description of the Bere Bosc pear variety
A vigorous tree characterized by active growth in 1-2 years of life. The spreading crown consists of long, massive branches covered with rough gray-brown bark. It is quite rare and asymmetrical. In mature trees it takes on a broad pyramidal shape.
Lentils are small and often found on shoots. Spears and ringlets are the places where fruits are formed. The petioles of the leaves are short, slightly more than 1 cm. The surface of the leaf plates is smooth, painted dark green. The shape of the plates is elongated, ovoid, the edge is solid.
The Bere Bosk variety is an autumn variety, late, so the buds bloom when the threat of return frosts has passed. Blooms profusely. The flowers are large, white, grouped into voluminous inflorescences, 1 can contain more than 10 pieces. 1-6 ovaries are formed in the brush.
Winter hardiness level pear varieties Bere Bosc is low. In some frosty winters, severe freezing of trees in Crimea was observed. The frost resistance of Bere Bosk is not enough even for gardens in the Krasnodar region. Drought resistance indicators are low.
Characteristics of pear fruits
The peculiarity of the Bere Bosc pear is the fruits of various shapes (bottle, elongated pear-shaped). It varies within 1 tree. This corresponds to the varietal description, as can be seen in the photo. Bere Bosc fruits are medium to large in size.
The weight of an average pear is 180 g, but it can vary from 150 to 250 g. The fruit is covered with a thin, slightly rough skin. The main color is yellow-brown, with rusty spots visible on most of the surface. During storage, the color becomes golden yellow, almost bronze.
The fruits hang tightly on thick, slightly curved stalks. They do not crumble even with strong gusts of wind. The funnel is not pronounced, the calyx type is open, the shape of the seed nests is bulbous. The seeds are small, dark in color.
The taste of Bere Bosc fruits is delicious. It is sweet and has spicy notes and a hint of almond. The pulp may be pure white or have a faint creamy tint. It is juicy, has a delicate, slightly oily texture. Its chemical composition:
- 14.7% dry matter;
- 9% sugars;
- 0.2% titratable acids.
Bere Bosk fruits are stored for no more than 40 days, and they tolerate transportation well.Their taste deteriorates when stored in the refrigerator. They lose their juiciness. The structure of the pulp changes, it becomes dry and crispy. Some of the fruits taken from the tree are unripe. Their ripeness occurs in 2-3 weeks.
Pros and cons of the Bere Bosc pear variety
The advantages of the variety include the large size of the fruits and the yield, which increases with age. Pear is undemanding to the composition of the soil. With regular watering, it bears fruit abundantly on light (sandy, sandy loam) soil. Bere Bosc pear is resistant to scab and most fungal diseases.
Disadvantages of the variety:
- low winter hardiness of young trees;
- low drought resistance;
- does not like drafts or wind;
- heterogeneous fruit shape;
- uneven ripening of the crop;
- The crown needs formative pruning.
Optimal growing conditions
The variety is warm and moisture-loving. The root system of Bere Bosk goes deep, so the distance to groundwater should be 2-2.5 m. Heavy and depleted soils are not suitable. Pear grows best on loose, light soils that allow water and air to pass through well.
Low-lying places where rain and melt water stagnate for a long time are not suitable for Bere Bosc pears. The area should be well lit by the sun. If it is protected from northern winds and located in the southern (southwestern) part of the orchard, then the seedlings will feel great.
Planting and caring for Bere Bosc pear
You need to buy 1-2 year old Bere Bosk seedlings. They adapt faster. Pears are grown in the southern regions, so planting is done in the spring before the buds swell or in October. No time is spared in preparing the land:
- the site is dug up;
- remove the roots of perennials weed;
- add humus and mineral fertilizers;
- sand is added to improve the structure.
Landing rules
An adult tree has a wide pyramidal crown, so seedlings are planted at a distance of 3-4 m from buildings, trees, and fences. The holes are dug deep (1 m) and wide (0.8 m). The pear root system is powerful and requires nutrients for its formation.
When purchasing a seedling, it is assessed. Signs indicating its quality:
- there is no damage to the bark, it is smooth and even;
- the length of the roots is at least 25 cm, the number of main roots is at least 3-5 pcs.;
- the roots are not overdried, they do not break when bent, and are white when cut.
A stake is driven into the center of the hole, and garden soil mixed with sand, humus, superphosphate, and ash is poured into a mound. A seedling is placed on it, its roots are straightened and covered tightly with soil, leaving the root collar outside. There should be at least 5 cm from it to the ground level.
The trunk is tied to a support in 1-2 places. It should be located on the south side of the peg. A one-year-old seedling is shortened to 0.8-0.9 m. In two-year-olds, all skeletal branches are shortened by ⅓. Reduce the length of the central conductor. Its crown should be 20 cm higher than the top tier of branches.
Seedlings in the first 2 years of life require special attention. Mandatory measures for their care:
- regular watering;
- cleaning the tree trunk circle from weeds;
- feeding;
- loosening the soil;
- preventive treatments against pests and diseases.
Watering and fertilizing
The pear tree loves watering. The fruit-bearing Bere Bosk tree is watered up to 5 times per season. If it is hot in the summer and there is no rain, then the amount of watering is increased. Water consumption when watering at the root is 30 l/m². In arid regions, drip irrigation is organized, and the soil is mulched to reduce evaporation.
The feeding schedule is based on the age of the tree. For the first 2 years, the pear does not need fertilizer. The fertilizers that were placed in the hole during planting are sufficient. Starting from the 3rd year, the tree is fed:
- in the spring, spray with a solution of complex fertilizer (“Nitrophoska”, “Ammophos”);
- humus is added to the soil annually - 6-10 kg/m²;
- In the fall, ash is added to the tree trunk circle.
An approximate scheme for root feeding of Bere Bosk is shown in the table.
| Period | Fertilizer type | Quantity |
| Spring | Urea | 200 g per 10 l |
| Summer (June) | Urea | 30 g per 10 l |
| Summer (July, August) | Superphosphate | 30 g/m² |
| Potassium salt | 30 g/m² | |
| Autumn | Superphosphate | 30 g/m² |
| Ash | 1 tbsp. |
Trimming
In the spring, mandatory sanitary pruning of pear trees is carried out. All shoots that have wintered poorly and have been damaged by disease or pests must be removed. The first 4 years the crown is formed every autumn. In the future, asymmetry is eliminated by shortening particularly long branches. The branches of the lower tier of Bere Bosk are not touched, they are allowed to grow.
In the root zone of the pear, basal shoots grow. It is cut out in the fall. Pests hibernate in it. All cuts on the tree are smeared with garden varnish.
Whitewash
The trunk and skeletal branches are whitened in the fall. In early spring, whitewashing will protect the bark from bright sunlight. You can prepare it yourself or buy it in a store. DIY recipe:
- water – 1 bucket;
- clay – 1.5 kg;
- lime – 2 kg.
The mixture is applied to the lower skeletal branches and trunk in the area from the ground to the lower tier.
Preparing for winter
In autumn, the tree trunk circle is cleared of fallen leaves and weeds. During shallow digging, mineral fertilizers are added to the soil. Before the onset of frost, the last (moisture-charging) watering is carried out.
The tree trunk circle is covered with mulch.Use peat mixed with humus or rotted sawdust. To prevent the roots from freezing, the thickness of the mulch layer is made at least 15 cm. After the onset of frost, young seedlings are wrapped with covering material.
Pollination
This is a bee-pollinated variety. To get a good harvest, several Bere Bosc trees or other varieties of pears are planted in the garden:
- Williams;
- Bon Louise;
- Bere Napoleon.
Productivity
The variety stands out for its productivity. 1 mature Bere Bosc tree produces 150-250 kg of fruit. The amount depends on the structure of the soil, its moisture and weather conditions. Pears begin bearing fruit at the age of 5-7 years.
This variety is used in industrial gardens. A record figure of 300 kg of pears from 1 tree was recorded in the Krasnodar Territory. Fruit harvesting begins in the first ten days of September.
Diseases and pests
The variety is resistant to fungal and bacterial infections. But there is a possibility of illness in Bere Bosk. When using dirty garden tools, bacteria can enter wounds in the tree during pruning, causing fire blight. Symptoms in the form of blackened young pear branches and leaves appear in early summer. Treat the tree with antibiotic solutions:
- ziomycin;
- penicillin;
- agrimitin.
Wet, warm weather can cause the development of scab, a common fungal disease of leaves, fruits, and shoots. The affected areas are covered with a gray or brown-green coating. Sick trees are sprayed with a urea solution, and the soil is watered with a fungicide.
In rare cases, Bere Bosk suffers from other diseases of pears and apple trees:
- fruit rot;
- ulcerative cancer;
- cytosporosis;
- phyllosticosis.
The gall mite poses a danger to pears.You can find out what drugs need to be used to combat it from the video:
Reviews of Bere Bosc pear
Conclusion
Descriptions, photos and reviews of the Bere Bosc pear explain the secret of its long-term popularity. Having a powerful tree in your garden that bears fruit for 50 years or more is very convenient. An adult tree does not take much time to care for. Every year Bere Bosk pleases gardeners with a stable harvest. Pear trees rarely suffer from diseases and pests.
