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The Victoria pear, zoned in the climatic conditions of the North Caucasus and the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine, was obtained by hybridization. The variety was created on the basis of the winter Michurin “Tolstobezhka” and the French “Bere Bosc”. The originators of the variety are a group of breeders from the Melitopol Experimental Station under the leadership of A. Avramenko. The description, photos and reviews of the Victoria pear corresponded to the characteristics stated by the authors; in 1993, the variety was included in the State Register.
Description of the Victoria pear variety
The culture belongs to the late summer period of ripening; the fruits reach biological ripeness in mid-August, early September. Precocity in pears "Victoria" is medium-sized and 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. Pear is characterized by consistently high productivity. The pear inherited frost resistance from the Tolstobezhka variety, and a high gastronomic rating from Bere Bosk.
External description of the Victoria pear:
- The height of the fruit tree reaches 5 m, the crown is spreading, medium density, rounded pyramidal in shape. The trunk and perennial branches are dark brown, young shoots are burgundy, and after a year of growing season they acquire the same color as 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. The flowers remain completely on the fruit tree and do not fall off. Formation of ovaries – 100%.
Fruit characteristics
Due to the taste, juiciness and aroma of the fruit, Victoria pear is classified as a dessert variety. This is one of the few types of crop that produces a large number of parthenocarpic (without seeds) fruits. The pear variety ripens at the end of summer, the fruits are stored for a long time. The structure of the pear is loose, it is rarely used for preservation for the winter, and is more often consumed fresh.
Description of the fruits of the Victoria pear (shown in the photo):
- the shape is symmetrical, regular, pear-shaped;
- the stalk is curved, short, thin;
- large ones dominate, weighing about 260 g, medium-sized ones of 155 g are found;
- the peel is smooth, at the stage of technical ripeness it is green with brown spots, 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 lumpy, smooth;
- the pulp is oily, loose in consistency, juicy, without granulation, aromatic;
- the taste is sweet, the concentration of titratable acids is minimal;
- The fruits are well attached to the stalk and are not prone to shedding.
Pros and cons of the variety
The elite dessert variety Victoria pear is grown for personal consumption and commercial purposes. The variety has the following advantages:
- stable fruiting, good yield;
- high gastronomic rating;
- presentable presentation;
- frost resistance;
- the ability to go without watering for a long time;
- stable immunity against scab and garden pests;
- long-term storage.
Conditional disadvantages include a decrease in glucose in the pear due to ultraviolet deficiency. The fruit will taste more sour.
Optimal growing conditions
The fruit crop was bred for cultivation in the North Caucasus region, Ukraine, and cultivation is allowed in Belarus. The Victoria pear is a southern variety. The ability to withstand frost is not so great that it can be grown in a temperate climate.
The variety brings a stable harvest, provided that the tree is located correctly on the site and the soil requirements are met. For full photosynthesis, the Victoria pear requires a sufficient amount of ultraviolet radiation. In a shaded place, fruits grow with a small mass and sour taste. Young shoots are weak, elongated, flowering is abundant, but some of the flowers will fall off.
The optimal part of the site is the southern or eastern side, protected from drafts.
The soil for the Victoria pear is preferably neutral, sandy loam, loam is acceptable. If there is no choice and the pear will have to be planted in acidic soils, neutralization is carried out in the fall with dolomite flour or lime. The variety tolerates water deficits more easily than soil waterlogging. The Victoria pear should not be placed in lowlands where precipitation accumulates, or in an area with close-lying soil water.
Planting and caring for Victoria pear
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.
The planting material chosen is annual, with a well-developed root system. Before planting, dry and damaged fragments are removed. 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 prepared a week before the planned work. Prepare a fertile mixture consisting of topsoil, sand and organic matter in equal proportions. A product based on potassium and phosphate 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 work:
- To fix the seedling, a stake is driven into the recess.
- Pour ½ of the mixture into a cone shape at the bottom of the pit.
- Place the seedling, evenly distributing the root over the hole. If the planting material was in a container, the fertile mixture is poured in a layer, the root along with the earthen ball is placed in the center.
- The remaining mixture and soil are poured on top.
- Fix to the support, compact the root circle.
- Water generously.
Watering and fertilizing
The Victoria pear is not a fast-growing variety; it produces its first harvest in the sixth year of growth. After planting, fertilizing the crop is not required. During dry summers, water the pear once a month. If the season occurs with periodic precipitation, additional watering is not required.
Feed the pear with saltpeter or urea at the time of flowering. Before fruit formation, Kafor K is used, and magnesium sulfate is used during the ripening period. In the fall, they loosen the soil near the tree, remove weeds, add organic matter, and mulch. Acidic soils are neutralized with lime (once every 4 years).
Trimming
Pruning of the Victoria pear is carried out next spring after autumn planting. Shorten shoots by 1/3. Subsequent pruning involves the formation of the crown in the third year of the growing season:
- The lower branches are straightened to a horizontal position and fixed. They will go to the first circle of skeletal branches.
- Next spring, shorten it by ¼ of the length, and break off the tops in the fall.
- 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 the pear looks like a rounded cone; drastic pruning is no longer necessary. Every spring, sanitary cleaning is carried out, excess shoots and dry branches are removed, and young shoots are cut off near the roots.
Whitewash
Victoria pears are whitened in spring and autumn approximately 1 meter from the ground. Use lime, acrylic or water-based paint. The event is sanitary in nature.Insect pest larvae and fungal spores overwinter in the tree bark. After treatment they die. Whitewashing protects wood from ultraviolet burns.
Preparing for winter
The Victoria pear grows in regions with a warm climate; it is genetically endowed with sufficient resistance to frost, which is enough for the crop to safely overwinter. The young tree is not covered. When there is a shortage of seasonal precipitation, the pear is watered abundantly and mulched with dry sawdust, old leaves or peat.
Pollination
The Victoria pear variety blooms with male and female flowers. A self-fertile crop can do without pollinators. The yield will be higher if varieties with the same flowering time as Victoria grow nearby. The Triumph of Vienna or Williams red pears are suitable as pollinators.
Productivity
When a pear blossoms, all the flowers remain on the tree and do not fall off. The variety does not lose part of the ovaries; they ripen completely. If the tree grows 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 the Victoria pear is resistant to infection. Diseases affecting the variety:
- Moniliosis. It appears as dark spots on the fruits and causes subsequent rotting. Sick pears do not fall from the tree and infect others. To prevent the infection from spreading, damaged fruits are removed.
- Powdery mildew covers the entire tree in the form of a gray coating. To combat the disease, damaged dry areas are removed, and the crown is treated with “Sulfite” and “Fundazol”.
- Black cancer, It is rare; the primary source of infection appears on the tree bark in the form of corrosion. Without treatment, the infection spreads to the crown. Spray the crop with preparations containing copper. In autumn, foliage and dry branches are burned.
- Parasitic insects on the Victoria variety there is a little. Brown fruit mites are removed in the spring with Oleocuprite and Nitrafen. In summer, pears are treated with Acartan or colloidal sulfur. They get rid of leaf gall midges with Zolon, Nexion, and Karbofos.
Reviews of Victoria pear
Conclusion
Descriptions, photos and reviews of the Victoria pear will help you get an overall picture of the variety; the data fully corresponds to the stated characteristics. The variety is drought-resistant with excellent gastronomic qualities, good immunity to fungi, and is practically not affected by pests.The fruit tree does not require care.
