Content
Description of the variety pears Elena fully corresponds to the real appearance of the fruit tree. The variety was developed more than half a century ago and only recently began to spread among professional gardeners and agronomists. The pear is famous for its nutritional content and attractive presentation. During the growing process, large and juicy fruits are used for commercial purposes.
Description of pear Elena
In 1960, on the territory of Armenia, breeder P. Karatyan introduced a new pear variety, Elena. In the process of crossing, the fruit tree varieties Forest Beauty and Bere Michurina Zimnaya were used. As a result, the Elena variety was developed, which can be cultivated in any part of Russia.
The winter-hardy fruit tree variety has been included in the State Register since 1990. Now pears are grown in Armenia, the Central and Southern regions of the country, and in the colder regions of Russia. Gardeners consider this variety to be a dessert variety, since the tree reaches a height of 3 m, and the fruits ripen juicy and large. The tree's small growth allows it to be harvested without jeopardizing health.
The crown of the pear is pyramidal in shape with sparse and flexible branches. The foliage is large, with a bright green glossy sheen. The flowering process lasts up to 10 days from late May to June. The flowers are arranged compactly and self-pollinate. The first fruits appear after 7 years from the moment the seedling is planted in the ground.
Fruit characteristics
The fruits of the Elena variety are always large, uniform and pear-shaped, and ripen by the end of September. There is a bumpy surface, the skin is soft and tender to the touch, sometimes sticky. The average weight of the fruit reaches 200 g. Unripe fruits are yellowish-green in color, fully ripe ones are bright yellow with a pleasant aroma. Gray subcutaneous dots are visible, the stalk is shortened and slightly curved.
The pulp is snow-white when cut, oily and juicy. Tasting score – 4.7 points on a five-point scale, characteristic sourness and sweet aftertaste are felt. The fruits are consumed fresh and often prepared for the winter. The fruits of the Elena variety contain:
- acid – 0.2%;
- sugar – 12.2%;
- fiber and vitamin C – 7.4 mg.
Pros and cons of the Elena variety
The disadvantages of pears are few:
- overripe fruit quickly falls off;
- with a large amount of harvest, the fruits grow in different shapes;
- average winter hardiness.
Otherwise, the Elena variety has more positive aspects:
- juicy and nutritious fruits;
- resistance to frost and spring frosts;
- high fertility;
- attractive presentation;
- late ripening;
- long shelf life of fruits;
- high resistance to diseases and pests.
Pear fruits are suitable for transportation, but only over short distances.The pear has average drought resistance; the fruits have a universal purpose for consumption.
Optimal growing conditions
The fruit tree grows well on black soil in any region of Russia. The climate should be moderately humid. Pear Elena does not tolerate drought well, but for intensive growth and good ripening of the fruit it requires abundant sunlight. Some gardeners cultivate pears in glass greenhouses, but the tree grows up to 2.5 m. In the photo presented, the Elena pear variety is ripe:
Under optimal growing conditions, fruit harvest lasts up to 10 days. For planting, choose the sunny side of the site with a fence. Groundwater should be at a depth of 3-4 m from the roots of the tree. The best planting time for seedlings is from March to the end of April. During this period, the seedling gets used to the climate and temperature changes, and the roots become stronger. The soil must have low acidity.
Planting and caring for pear Elena
The time for planting the Elena pear variety largely depends on the climatic conditions of the planting region. In the southern part of the country it is better to plant in the spring, when the first buds bloom. In the Central region or in the homeland of the fruit tree, the variety is planted in October. Gardeners recommend choosing two-year-old seedlings. Before planting, the tree is immersed in water at room temperature. They are also examined for signs of root cancer. The seedling should have many side shoots, so the tree will root quickly.
Landing rules
2-3 weeks before planting, the area is cleared of excess growth. The soil is dug up and loosened.The planting hole is dug 70 cm deep, the hole is dug up to 50 cm in diameter. Drainage is poured to the bottom. Part of the excavated soil is mixed with fertilizer, compost and poured in a heap after a layer of drainage. If necessary, add sand or lime, which will reduce the acidity of the soil.
The roots are evenly distributed over the hole, and if necessary, add soil to avoid root entrapment. The residual soil is also mixed with compost, mineral fertilizers and the seedlings are covered in layers. After compacting the soil, a root ditch is made. Next, the pear is watered with a bucket of water and mulched with dry sawdust or peat.
Watering and fertilizing
Both a young seedling and an adult tree of the Elena variety require a large amount of moisture. The soil should not be too wet; you just need to water it as the mulched surface dries. In the summer season, the seedling is watered every other day. One adult pear tree requires up to 3 buckets of water.
Before preparing the seedling for winter, water the pear abundantly with water. The moisture should get as deep as possible so that during frosts the ground does not freeze and the roots receive nutrients all year round. After wintering, the pear is again filled with plenty of water.
Fertilizing with minerals is carried out once every few months from the moment the seedling is planted. In the second year of growth, the first feeding is done with mineral fertilizers. Growing on black soil, pears do not require fertilizing, but compost must be added when planting. Closer to winter, phosphates and organic fertilizers are added to the soil.
Trimming
Branches are pruned in the spring.As soon as the winter cover is removed, the tree shelter is inspected for the presence of frozen branches. The crown is formed by pruning branches at the initial stage of pear growth. Thinning is done both in winter and spring.
Whitewash
Whitewashing is carried out until the first frost. A solution of slaked lime will protect the tree bark from sunburn, freezing and serious cracking of the bark. Mostly they whiten in the fall, then re-whiten in the spring. The third time is whitened in the summer, when the pear is about to bloom. Usually the entire trunk is whitewashed or whitened down to the lower skeletal branches. The young tree is whitened up to half the trunk.
Preparing for winter
The seedling is prepared for winter after all the leaves have fallen. First, the space is cleared of withered leaves, then watered abundantly. The readiness of a tree for winter depends on the amount of water received. During the year, if there is a lack of moisture and a bountiful harvest is obtained by winter, the pear will be depleted, so it may not tolerate frost well.
Next, pruning is done, diseased, damaged and dry branches are removed. The young seedling is covered with an awning or cloth, and the trunk is covered with dry straw. In an adult tree, the trunk is wrapped in burlap or cardboard. Protruding roots are covered with straw, roofing felt or spruce branches.
Pear pollinators Elena
When the pear blossoms, flowers of both sexes are observed. Therefore, the tree does not need pollinators. However, to obtain a high-quality first harvest for a tree, artificial or natural pollinators are used. For pears, the following varieties of fruit trees are suitable: the Dubrovka apple tree, the Babushkina apple tree variety, Zolotoe Excellent, as well as the Yanvarskaya, Kudesnitsa, and Feeria pear varieties.The flowering of pollinators should coincide in time with the flowering of the Elena pear variety.
Productivity
Pear variety Elena has medium yield. With timely collection of fruits from 1 sq. m, gardeners harvest up to 40-50 kg. Overripe fruits fall to the ground and lose their presentation due to crumpled sides. Shelf life in the refrigerator is up to 4-5 months at a temperature of + 5-10 ° C. Fruit ripening occurs at the end of September, but, depending on the region of planting, the period varies a month earlier or later. The yield of the Elena variety directly depends on the amount of fertilizer and soil moisture.
Diseases and pests
The hybrid is highly resistant to scab and rarely suffers from fungal diseases. Otherwise, it is quite often attacked by insects. If prevention against diseases and pests is not observed, Elena pear gets sick:
- powdery mildew;
- fruit rot;
- black cancer;
- leaf rust.
Over the 50 years of its existence, the hybrid variety Elena has proven to be resistant to scab, which often kills fruit trees. Powdery mildew causes pear foliage to become covered with a white coating, then the leaves curl, turn black and die. Fruit rot and black cancer affect fruits that can no longer be eaten. Black cancer can appear due to untimely whitewashing or lack of nutrients in the soil. Rust does not cause much damage to the pear, but it should not be neglected.
You can also find green aphids, pear mites and tubeworms, which cause irreparable damage to the fruit tree. In preventive measures against such pests, solutions of diluted sulfur, Bordeaux mixture, and soda ash are used. Spray the trees 2-3 times per season, when the foliage completely blooms or the pear begins to bloom.
Reviews about the pear variety Elena
Conclusion
The description of the Elena pear variety and reviews from gardeners prove that growing this fruit tree guarantees a high-quality harvest. With timely and frequent watering, the tree receives a sufficient amount of nutritional minerals and vitamins, which increases the tree’s resistance to attacks by pests and fungal diseases. Pear Elena is unpretentious to soil and climate conditions, so even a beginner in gardening can grow a fruit tree.
