Content
Thumbelina pear was obtained by hybridization at VSTISP in Moscow. By pollinating hybrid No. 9 and several southern varieties, we developed a fruit crop for autumn ripening. The originators of the variety, N. Efimov and Yu. Petrov, handed over the pear for experimental cultivation in 1995. The fruit tree was zoned in the central part of the Russian Federation, and in 2002 the crop was included in the State Register. The description of the variety, photos, reviews of the Thumbelina pear from gardeners who cultivate this plant will help you find out more.
Description of the Thumbelina pear variety
The culture belongs to the medium-late period of ripening. Pears reach biological ripeness by mid-September, the timing is focused on the central part of Russia and the Moscow region. The variety is adapted to temperate climates. Characterized by high frost resistance. Tolerates temperatures down to -38 without freezing of the root system and shoots0 C. The pear produces a stable harvest regardless of weather conditions. The taste of fruits is not affected by an insufficient amount of ultraviolet radiation.The Thumbelina pear has an average early fruiting period; it produces its first harvest after 6 years of growing season. The fruit tree blooms late and is not afraid of returning spring frosts. This factor is the key to high yield.
External description of the Thumbelina pear:
- It reaches a height of up to 1.7 m, the crown is dense and spreading. Branches of medium volume, upright, slightly drooping. The color of perennial trunks is brown, young shoots are dark burgundy, after 1 year of growing season they acquire the same color as the central branches.
- The leaves have a smooth, glossy surface, medium size, oval, narrowed, with numerous small teeth along the edge.
- The flowers are white, collected in inflorescences. Rings are formed along the branches, where inflorescences are formed, then fruits. The variety blooms profusely, the percentage of flower shedding is low, the ovaries are formed in 95%. The variety is self-fertile, the flowers are bisexual.
Fruit characteristics
Thumbelina pear with small fruits, category of dessert varieties. The composition is dominated by glucose, the concentration of titratable acids is insignificant. Photosynthesis does not require a large amount of ultraviolet light, so the taste of the fruit will not change in rainy, cold summers. Pears ripen in early autumn; it is recommended to harvest them in a timely manner. Ripe fruits are prone to shedding. The structure of the pear is dense, the fruits are stored for a long time and are suitable for preservation.
The photo of the Thumbelina pear fruit corresponds to their description:
- round, symmetrical, regular shape;
- the stalk is thin, long, easily separated from the ringlet;
- fruits weighing 80 g, ripen simultaneously;
- the peel during technical ripeness is green with a yellow tint, the blush is weakly expressed, light red in color, at the time of ripening the peel is yellow, the spot acquires a crimson tint and increases in size;
- the surface is smooth with numerous brown dots;
- The pulp is yellow in color, dense, juicy, aromatic, without granulation.
After harvesting, the fruits retain their taste and presentation for about 14 days.
Pros and cons of the variety
Thumbelina pear is grown for its excellent taste. In addition to the taste of the fruit, the variety has a number of positive characteristics:
- stable yield, regardless of weather conditions;
- aesthetic appearance;
- The fruit tree is small in size and takes up little space on the site;
- photosynthesis is not impaired by ultraviolet deficiency;
- frost resistance;
- long shelf life of fruits;
- resistance to infections and garden pests.
The disadvantages include:
- after ripening, the fruits fall off;
- requirement for watering at the time of ovary formation.
Optimal growing conditions
The fruit crop is zoned in the climatic conditions of the Central regions. The variety is fully adapted to temperate climates. Due to its frost resistance, pears are grown in the Moscow region, Volga-Vyatka region, and are found in the Urals.
Thumbelina pear is quite unpretentious in agricultural technology; it produces a stable harvest even with insufficient sunlight. Can grow in the shade of tall trees.It will bloom at a relatively low temperature; the self-fertile crop produces many ovaries; to preserve them, abundant watering is required in late spring and the first ten days of June. The Thumbelina pear does not tolerate the influence of the north wind; in order to protect the fruit tree from drafts, it is planted behind the wall of a building on the south or west side.
The soil for Thumbelina pear is preferably neutral or slightly alkaline, loam is suitable, the best option is sandy loam. The crop requires watering, but constantly waterlogged soil can cause rotting of the root system and death of the tree. Therefore, the pear should not be placed in lowlands where rainwater accumulates, or in wetlands with close groundwater.
Planting and caring for Thumbelina pear
You can plant Thumbelina pear in spring and autumn. Taking into account that the culture's distribution aura is in regions with cold winters, planting work is more often carried out in the spring. During the warm season, the young tree will get over the disease and take root well. If a pear is planted in the fall, they are guided by regional climate characteristics; at least 3 weeks should remain before the onset of the first frost. In the Moscow region - around the beginning of October.
Planting material is purchased from nurseries with a good reputation, 2-year-old. The seedling should have the first circle of skeletal branches, intact bark on the trunk, dark brown in color. Also with a well-formed root system without mechanical damage, visually identified by the grafting site.
Landing rules
A week before the planned planting of the seedling, a planting hole of 80*60 cm is prepared.Top fertile soil is mixed with sand and organic matter in equal parts, then potassium-phosphorus fertilizer is added in the amount specified in the instructions. The pear root is dipped in a solution of water with Epin for 4 hours to stimulate growth.
Sequencing:
- Step back 15 cm from the center of the hole and drive in a stake.
- The fertile mixture is divided into 2 parts, one is poured onto the bottom of the planting hole, and a hill in the form of a cone is formed in the center.
- If the seedling is in a container, the mixture is placed in an even layer, the pear is placed in the center with a lump of earth using the transshipment method.
- The roots of the planting material without a container are distributed evenly over the hole.
- Cover with the second part of the soil mixture, with soil on top.
- Compact the root circle and water.
- Fix the trunk to the post.
Watering and fertilizing
Thumbelina pear begins to bear fruit 6 years after being placed in the ground. During planting, fertilizers are applied, enough for 3 years. If the soils are acidic, they are neutralized with dolomite flour in the fall before planting. It is recommended to repeat the procedure in the 4th year of growth. If this measure is not necessary, it is enough to add compost diluted in water at the root in the spring.
The main feeding of pears is required for the 6th year. During flowering, saltpeter is scattered around the tree and fed with urea. When the ovaries are formed, “Kafor” is added; during the period of fruit ripening, fertilizing is carried out with magnesium sulfate. In the fall, add organic matter and mulch with peat. Thumbelina pear is not a drought-resistant variety; watering is carried out as needed, the main one - during the period when the ovaries appear. If the summer is rainy, watering is not needed.The soil must not be over-moistened.
Trimming
The Thumbelina pear does not form a crown with skeletal branches, so radical pruning of the fruit tree is not required. Sanitary cleaning in the spring before the start of sap flow is sufficient. Remove dry fragments. Young shoots are thinned out so that the fruits receive more nutrients during ripening. The tree is compact, the branches grow upright, they can be shortened by a few cm if desired.
Whitewash
The Thumbelina pear is whitened 2 times a year in spring and autumn. In addition to the aesthetic direction, the event is preventive in nature. The larvae of garden pests and fungal spores overwintering in the bark die after treatment. Whitewash the tree approximately 60 cm from the ground, use acrylic paint, lime or water-based emulsion. A coating applied to the pear in the spring will protect the bark from sunburn.
Preparing for winter
Before the onset of frost, the Thumbelina pear is watered abundantly, and the soil of the root circle is first loosened. Mulch with dry sawdust or pine needles. It is recommended to cover a young tree up to 3 years old with spruce branches. They install arches and cover them with a special material that does not allow moisture to pass through. In winter they are covered with snow.
Thumbelina pear pollinators
The Thumbelina pear variety is self-fertile, pollination takes place within 1 tree due to flowers of different sexes. Cross-pollination is recommended to improve pear yield. Select crop varieties with the same flowering time. Krasnoyarsk large, Veselinka and Sibiryachka are suitable as pollinators. Trees are located on the site within 10 m of the Thumbelina pear. If varieties suitable for pollination are located in an adjacent area, this will be sufficient.
Productivity
The crop blooms in the second half of May, when there is no threat of spring frosts, so the flowers do not fall off, which is the key to productivity. The ovaries are prone to shedding; they can be preserved by timely watering. The variety is low-growing, but for its size it gives a good harvest - from 1 unit. 15-25 kg of fruits are collected. To improve the fruiting rate, graft the cuttings onto the rootstock of a tall-growing representative of the fruit crop.
Diseases and pests
The most common disease affecting fruit trees is scab. Thumbelina pear has stable immunity against fungal infection. The threat to the pear is:
- Powdery mildew – the fungus spreads along the crown and branches in the form of a gray coating. Fundazol or Sulfite are used against infection.
- Black cancer – affects the bark of a tree, the initial manifestation is in the form of corrosion, without treatment deep wounds appear. Treat the wood with copper sulfate. In autumn, the affected areas are covered with soda water, the leaves and dry branches are burned.
- Moniliosis – causes fruit rotting; if they remain on the tree, the infection spreads to all pears. If a disease is detected, the affected fruits are removed and the tree is treated with Bordeaux mixture.
Among the garden pests, the gall mite parasitizes the Thumbelina pear. In early spring, fruit crops are sprayed with Inta Vir for preventive purposes. Before fruit formation, they are treated with colloidal sulfur.
Reviews of Thumbelina pear
Conclusion
The biological description of the variety, photos, reviews of the Thumbelina pear fully correspond to the characteristics declared by the originators. The variety is zoned in the climatic conditions of Central Russia and is adapted to low temperatures. The crop does not require special agricultural technology and has good immunity to fungal infections. Produces fruits with a high gastronomic rating.
