Content
The Kieffer pear was bred in the US state of Philadelphia in 1863. The cultivar is the result of a cross between a wild pear and the cultivated variety Williams or Anjou. The selection was carried out by the scientist Peter Kieffer, after whom the variety was named.
In 1947, the variety was introduced and tested in the USSR. The Kieffer pear is recommended for planting in the North Caucasus, but it is grown in other regions. The variety is used by breeders to obtain new varieties of pears that are resistant to diseases.
Description of the variety
According to the photo and description, the Kieffer pear variety has the following features:
- medium-sized tree;
- dense pyramidal crown;
- skeletal branches are located at an angle of 30 ° to the trunk;
- fruiting occurs on branches at the age of 3 years;
- shoots are even and straight, brown with a reddish tint;
- lowered in the upper part of the branch;
- the bark is gray with cracks;
- leaves are medium and large, leathery, ovoid;
- the sheet plate is curved, the edges are pointed;
- thin short petiole;
- inflorescences are formed in several pieces.
Characteristics of Kieffer pear fruit:
- medium and large sizes;
- barrel-shaped;
- thick rough skin;
- fruits are harvested light green;
- upon reaching maturity, the fruits acquire a golden yellow hue;
- there are numerous rusty spots on the fruits;
- when exposed to the sun, a reddish blush is observed;
- the pulp is yellowish white, juicy and rough;
- the taste is sweet with specific notes.
Kieffer pears are harvested at the end of September. After 2-3 weeks, the fruits are ready to eat. Fruiting is stable. The first harvest is removed for 5-6 years.
The fruit hangs on the tree for a long time and does not crumble. The yield is up to 200 kg / ha. The peak of fruiting is observed at the age of 24-26. With good care, the yield reaches 300 kg.
The harvested fruits retain their properties until December. The variety can withstand transportation over long distances. The fruits of the Kieffer variety are consumed fresh or processed.
Planting pears
The Kieffer variety is planted in a prepared place. Healthy seedlings are chosen for planting. According to the description, photos and reviews, the Kieffer pear is undemanding to the quality of the soil, but it needs constant sunlight.
Site preparation
Planting work is performed in early spring before the beginning of the growing season. Autumn planting is allowed at the end of September, when sap flow slows down in the plants. Trees planted in the fall take root best of all.
For the Kieffer variety, choose a place located on the southern or southwestern side of the site. The place should be constantly illuminated by the sun, located on a hill or slope.
Poor, clayey and sandy soil is not suitable for planting. Groundwater should be located deep, since the root system of a pear grows 6-8 m. Constant exposure to moisture negatively affects the development of the tree.
The soil for the Kieffer variety is fertilized with compost, humus or rotted manure. One pit requires up to 3 buckets of organic matter, which is mixed with soil.
The introduction of coarse river sand helps to improve the quality of clay soil. If the soil is sandy, then it is fertilized with peat. From mineral fertilizers, when planting a Kieffer pear, 0.3 kg of superphosphate and 0.1 kg of potassium sulfate are required.
The Kieffer variety needs a pollinator. At a distance of 3 m from the tree, at least one more pear is planted for pollination: the variety Saint-Germain or Bon-Louise.
Work order
For planting, choose healthy two-year-old Kieffer pear seedlings. Healthy trees have a developed root system without dry or rotten areas, the trunk is elastic without damage. Before planting, the roots of the Kieffer pear are immersed in water for 12 hours to restore elasticity.
Pear planting procedure:
- Prepare the planting pit 3-4 weeks before transferring the seedling to a permanent place. The average size of the pit is 70x70 cm, the depth is 1 cm. The root system of the tree must completely fit into it.
- Application of organic and mineral fertilizers to the upper soil layer.
- Part of the resulting soil mixture is placed on the bottom of the pit and carefully tamped.
- The remaining soil is poured into the pit to form a small hill.
- The roots of the seedling are dipped in clay diluted with water.
- A peg is driven into the hole so that it rises 1 m above the ground.
- A seedling of a Kieffer pear is placed in a pit, its roots are spread and covered with earth.
- The soil is compacted and watered abundantly using 2-3 buckets of water.
- The tree is tied to a support.
Young plants need frequent watering. In cold winters, they are covered with agrofibre to protect them from freezing.
Variety care
The Kieffer variety is looked after by watering, feeding and forming a crown. For the prevention of diseases and the spread of pests, trees are treated with special preparations. The frost resistance of the variety is low. In cold winters, the branches freeze slightly, after which the tree recovers for a long time.
Watering
The watering intensity of the Kieffer variety depends on the weather conditions. In drought, the tree is watered when the top layer of the soil dries. The pear is drought tolerant and suitable for planting in steppe regions.
In the spring, after the snow melts, it is enough to water the pear 2-3 times. Be sure to use warm, settled water. You need to moisten the near-stem circle formed along the border of the crown.
In the summer, the Kieffer pear is watered twice: in early June and in mid-July. In dry summers, additional watering is required in mid-August. In September, winter watering is carried out, allowing the pear to endure winter frosts.
After watering, the soil is loosened to improve moisture absorption. Mulching with peat, tree bark or humus helps to keep the soil moist.
Top dressing
Regular feeding maintains the vitality and fruiting of the pear. Organic and mineral substances are suitable for processing. During the season, the tree is fed 3-4 times. An interval of 2-3 weeks is made between procedures.
Spring feeding contains nitrogen and is aimed at forming the crown of the tree. Additionally, the tree is watered with nutrient solutions before and after flowering.
Spring treatments:
- 100 g of urea per 5 liters of water;
- 250 g of poultry is added to 5 liters of water and insisted for a day;
- 10 g nitroammophoska for 2 liters of water.
In June, the Kieffer pear is fed with superphosphate and potassium salt. For 10 liters of water, take 20 g of each substance, the trees are watered with the resulting solution. When using the components in a dry form, they are embedded in the ground to a depth of 10 cm.
In cold summer, pear leaf spraying is more effective. The root system absorbs nutrients from the soil more slowly. Spraying is carried out on a leaf in cloudy weather.
In autumn, fertilizers are applied in the form of wood ash or mineral fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus. Dug up the trunk circle and sprinkle the mulch on top with a layer of 15 cm. Mulching will help the tree to endure the winter frosts.
Pruning
The first pruning of the Kieffer variety is carried out after the pear has been planted in a permanent place. The center conductor is reduced by ¼ of the total length. Skeletal branches are left on the tree, the rest are cut out.
The next year, the trunk is shortened by 25 cm. The main branches are pruned by 5-7 cm. The upper shoots should be shorter than the lower ones.
Pruning of the tree begins in the spring before budding. Be sure to eliminate shoots growing in the vertical direction.Broken and dry branches are removed at the end of August. Annual shoots are shortened by 1/3, and several buds are left for the formation of new branches.
Protection from pests and diseases
Kieffer pear is resistant to fungal diseases: spotting, scab, fire blight, rust. For the prevention of diseases, pruning is carried out in a timely manner, watering is normalized, and fallen leaves are removed.
In early spring and autumn, after leaf fall, trees are sprayed with a urea solution or Bordeaux mixture.
The pear attracts the leafworm, honeydew, mites and other pests. To protect the Kiffer variety from pests, they are treated with a solution of colloidal sulfur, Fufanol, Iskra, Agravertin preparations. Funds are used with caution during the growing season. The last spraying is performed a month before harvesting the fruits.
Gardeners reviews
Conclusion
According to the description, photos and reviews, the Kieffer pear is valued for its high yield and unusual taste. The variety is resistant to diseases and is suitable for cultivation in the southern regions. The tree is not demanding on the composition of the soil, it can grow on clay and sandy soils, with a lack of moisture. The disadvantage of this variety is its low frost resistance. The fruits of the Kieffer variety are stored for a long time and have universal application.
