Content
Pear Favoritka is a crop variety that recently appeared on the Russian market, but has already managed to gain popularity among gardeners. Its distinctive feature is the dessert taste of the fruit, undemanding soil and stable yield. However, to successfully grow this variety, it is necessary to properly plant and provide care taking into account the basic requirements of the crop.
Pear Red Favorite has an alternative name - Starkrimson
History of selection
Work on breeding this variety began in America in the state of Michigan. An attempt was made to cross the varieties Flamandka and Bonkreta Williamsa, and it turned out to be successful. As a result of selection, a seedling with stable characteristics was obtained, which was able to absorb the best qualities of its ancestors. As a result, the new variety was officially registered and received the name Red Favorite. Subsequently, it gained wide popularity in European countries, especially in Poland.
Description of Favorite pear with photo
This type of culture has certain distinctive features in the appearance of the tree and fruit. Knowing them, you can accurately determine the variety, which will allow you to avoid mistakes.
Tree
The Red Favorite pear is a medium-sized tree, the height of which reaches 4-5 m. The crown is pyramidal, of medium density. Skeletal branches are located sparsely, their ends are directed upward. The bark is smooth, gray-brown in color. The fruits of the variety are formed mainly on ringlets, less often on annual growth.
The young shoots of the Favoritka pear are slightly elbowed and red-brown in color. After ripening they turn brown. The buds are round, wide-conical, bent away from the shoots. The leaves are medium to large in size, oval, with a smooth shiny surface and a pointed tip. The plates are slightly concave in the center, and have fine jagged edges. The leaves of the Red Favorite pear are dark green, but there are specimens with a reddish tint.
The flowers of the variety are large, up to 3 cm in diameter. They consist of five oval white petals and have a medium cup shape. The buds are collected in umbrella-shaped brushes of 3-9 pieces.
The Red Favoritka variety blooms in early May and continues for ten days.
Fruit
This variety has rounded or pear-shaped fruits. Their average weight is 180-200 g, but there are individual specimens weighing up to 300 g. Initially, the fruits are yellow, but when ripe they become uniformly red with a purple tint. The skin is thin and dense. Numerous light subcutaneous dots are visible through it.
The pulp of Red Favoritka pears is fine-grained, creamy, juicy, and has an oily consistency.
The stalks are thickened, of medium length, oblique, slightly curved. The funnel is missing. The saucer is small and lumpy. Seed chambers are closed, small. Heart in the form of a rhombus. Red Favorite pear seeds are ovoid, small, and acquire a dark brown color when ripe.
Characteristics of the Favoritka pear variety
To assess the productivity of the variety and compare it with other types of crops, it is necessary to study the main characteristics of Red Favorite. This will also make it possible to understand which growing conditions are most favorable for it, since this will make it possible to achieve maximum productivity of the species.
The life potential of the Red Favorite pear is 40 years or more
Taste qualities
The taste is balanced, dessert, sweet and sour, with a pleasant aroma. The tasting score of the variety is 4.6-4.8 points out of a possible 5.
The Red Favoritka variety is excellent for fresh consumption. But it can also be used for making compotes, jam, jam, fillings, and liqueurs. The variety is suitable for dietary nutrition.
Ripening time
Pear Red Favoritka belongs to the category of late summer varieties. The fruits on the tree reach technical maturity in mid-August and are fully ripened in early September. At the same time, they remain on the branches for a long time and do not fall off.
Productivity
The Favoritka variety pear begins to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting. With proper care, it produces a harvest every year.The fruit volume in the first season is about 1-5 kg, but with each subsequent year this figure increases. The productivity of an adult tree is 85-120 kg.
Winter hardiness of Favoritka pear
Pear Red Favoritka, unlike the variety with the same name from Chelyabinsk selection, does not have frost resistance. This fruit tree can withstand temperatures as low as -25 °C.
Pollinators
This crop variety is self-sterile. Therefore, for successful fruit set, it needs pollinating trees. It is recommended to plant them at a distance of 5-7 m.
The varieties Bere Bosk, Dessertnaya, Tavricheskaya and Williams are suitable as pollinators.
Growing regions
The level of frost resistance of the Red Favoritka variety is sufficient for growing pears in the conditions of Central Russia. This variety is also capable of showing high productivity in the southern regions with regular watering. However, it is not suitable for northern regions, since the crown will constantly freeze.
Disease resistance
This variety is resistant to scab. But it is susceptible to fire blight and other crop diseases. Therefore, when growing it, preventive treatments cannot be neglected.
Advantages and disadvantages
Favorite pear has many advantages, which sets it apart from other types of crops. But it also has certain disadvantages that need to be taken into account.
The variety's harvest tolerates transportation well
Main advantages:
- precociousness;
- good presentation;
- dessert taste;
- resistance to scab;
- unpretentiousness to care and soil composition;
- stable yield.
Flaws:
- needs pollinators;
- average level of frost resistance;
- With high humidity, the fruits rot inside.
Planting scheme
For planting, it is recommended to choose one- and two-year-old seedlings with a well-developed root system and no signs of pests or diseases. Favorite pear should be planted in an open, well-lit place, protected from cold gusts of wind. It is important to take into account that the groundwater level in the area must be at least 1.5 m.
The planting pit must be prepared two weeks before the procedure. It should be 80 by 80 cm in size. A 10 cm thick layer of drainage should be poured onto the bottom, and the rest of the space should be filled with nutritious soil mixture. It should consist of turf, sand, humus, peat in a ratio of 2:1:1:1. You also need to additionally add 40 g of superphosphate and 25 g of potassium sulphide to the hole, and then thoroughly mix the fertilizers with the soil.
You can plant Favoritka pear in a permanent place in spring and autumn
Algorithm of actions:
- Make a slight elevation in the center of the hole.
- Place a wooden support nearby.
- Place the seedling on a raised platform and straighten the roots.
- Water it generously.
- Sprinkle the roots with soil and fill all the voids.
- Compact the soil at the base of the pear.
- Tie the tree to the support.
When planting Favoritka pear, you need to maintain a distance of 4 m from buildings and other tall crops.
Features of care
Pear Favorite requires standard care. It only needs to be watered during prolonged drought. In this case, the frequency of moistening is 1-2 times a week at the rate of 20-30 liters per seedling.After each watering, it is recommended to loosen the soil in the root circle to maintain air access to the roots. Also, growing weeds around the tree should be removed throughout the season.
It is recommended to fertilize the Favorite pear three times per season. The first time you need to apply fertilizers is at the beginning of the growing season, using urea in a proportion of 30-60 g per 10 liters of water. The second and third feedings are recommended after flowering and at the stage of fruit set. At this time, you need to use potassium sulphide 25-60 g and superphosphate 40-80 g per bucket of water.
To properly form the crown, it is necessary to prune correctly. When planting the Favorite pear, you must immediately shorten the main conductor by 1/4 of the length. In the next three years, you need to select three branches of the lower tier of the crown, which will grow in different directions, and pinch them to stimulate the growth of second-order shoots.
In the fourth year, you can think about laying a second tier. However, it is worth considering that from the fifth season the pear does not grow shoots as intensively, so young growth must be removed selectively.
You should also periodically clean the crown from broken ones. Damaged and thickening branches. You need to cut them into a ring, without leaving stumps. After the procedure, the wounds must be treated with garden varnish.
It is recommended to prune the Favoritka pear in early spring and late autumn.
It is recommended to winterize young seedlings for the first three years, since they acquire frost resistance as they grow older. To do this, in late autumn, place a layer of humus 5 cm thick in the root circle, and wrap the crown in several layers of agrofibre.
Collection and storage
Harvesting the Favoritka pear is recommended in dry, clear weather.The fruits should be picked when they just begin to turn red. This will keep the harvest fresh for as long as possible. It is recommended to cut pears with cuttings and place them in cardboard or wooden boxes, covering the layers with paper.
Optimal storage conditions: temperature +2-4 °C and humidity about 60%.
The fruits retain their consumer properties for up to four weeks if all recommendations are followed.
Conclusion
Favorite pear belongs to the category of universal crops. Its fruits have an excellent presentation and balanced taste, so they are liked not only by adults, but also by children. But their disadvantage is that, due to their juicy pulp, they are not suitable for long-term storage in winter. Therefore, it is important not to miss the recommended harvest period in order to extend the shelf life of the fruit.
Reviews from gardeners about Favoritka pear
