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The main task of any gardener is to choose the right type of fruit tree. Today we are talking about a pear. Nurseries offer a wide variety of varieties. It is difficult even for an experienced person to make the right choice. If you live in the middle lane, then you should pay attention to the winter hardiness of the tree. Such qualities are possessed by the Veles pear, which will delight you with a large harvest in any weather conditions.
Characteristics of a winter-hardy variety
Let's start the description of the Veles pear with the fact that it is a hybrid of late ripening. It was bred by domestic breeders. In other sources, this variety may be found under the name of the Excellent Daughter. This is the middle name for pear. Veles is recommended for growing in the Moscow region, as well as in regions where the temperate warm climate prevails.
The tree is considered to be medium-tall, since the height of the Veles pear at the age of ten reaches 4 m. The young tree is characterized by a spreading crown. Over time, many branches grow, they thicken, and a spherical shape of an adult pear is formed. The tree has many young shoots. The old branches that form the skeleton of the pear are thick, but strong and resilient.
The shape of the leaves is usually oblong, like all pears. The color is deep dark green. Gloss prevails on the front side. The sheet is slightly curved, and fine serration is observed along the edge.
In the photo, Veles pear is shown with fruits. Their shape is even, more rounded and not very elongated. Fruits grow medium and large in size, weighing 160-200 g. The smooth skin is slightly covered with a white bloom, but there is no roughness on it. During harvesting, and this happens at the end of August and lasts until mid-September, the color of the fruit is yellow-green. A pear acquires its best taste when a pink blush appears on its skin.
The pulp of the fruit is highly saturated with juice. The color is white with a cream shade. Ripeness can be determined by the brown color of the seeds, which are in standard pear seed chambers. When the fruit is eaten, the oily pulp is felt. The juice is sweet with a slight acidic taste.
A big plus of the Veles pear variety is the versatility of the fruit. They are suitable for all types of processing. Delicious juice, jam, compote are obtained from pears. The fruits can be eaten fresh, used for making desserts. Since the hybrid is late maturing, the harvested crop can be stored in the basement until December. It is important that during storage the marketable and taste qualities of the fruit do not change.
The hybrid is self-fertile. For the Veles pear, pollinators are not needed to form an ovary. If other varieties grow nearby, then they will not become a hindrance, but only the yield will increase. Suitable pollinators are Rogneda, Severyanka and Chizhovskaya.
Considering the variety description pears Veles photo reviews, it should be noted that the tree bears a consistent harvest every year. Resistance to disease and fire blight is high. Veles winters well, enduring severe frosts.
The video provides an overview of the variety:
Planting rules for seedlings
It is worth noting that planting a Veles pear and caring for it is practically no different from the actions performed when growing other varieties. Saplings are planted in winter and autumn.
In spring, seedlings begin to be planted from the twenties of April to the second decade of May. Autumn plantings last from October to early November.
According to the description of the variety, the Veles pear is a winter-hardy variety, but still the seedlings love a sunny place, closed from drafts and cold north winds. The tree is negatively affected by the proximity of groundwater. Permanently flooded seedlings can simply get wet. Veles loves loose and nutritious soil.
For planting seedlings, it is better to buy two years of age. They will take root faster. It is important to have a good look at the tree. A healthy seedling should have a developed root system and no damage to the bark. Especially carefully you need to inspect the vaccination site. It can be seen on the trunk of the seedling near the root with a protruding tubercle.
If it is decided to plant the seedlings in the spring, then it is advisable to prepare the pit in the fall. If you forgot to do this, then you can dig them up at least two weeks before planting. When digging a hole for a seedling, the fertile soil layer is left aside. It will be needed for backfilling. The optimal dimensions of the pit are: depth - 1 m, width - 80 cm.
When planting a seedling, the following rules are followed:
- for a seedling, the root system and branches are shortened with a sharp pruner;
- when digging a hole, the fertile topsoil is separated from the infertile soil, but they are left to lie near the landing site;
- a wooden stake is driven into the center of the pit so that it protrudes above ground level to the middle of the seedling trunk;
- after planting the pear, but before watering, the tree is lightly tied to a peg with a rope;
- after watering, the earth will settle, the seedling will find its permanent place and now it can be firmly tied to a peg until it takes root.
The order of performing the work described in the rules can be seen in the photo. Now let's look at what the process of planting a pear seedling looks like:
- So, a pit measuring 1x0.8 m is already ready. A peg is driven in its center. Its length, taking into account the depth of the pit and the height of a two-year-old pear seedling, is about 1.5 m.
- A nutrient mixture is made from the fertile soil deposited near the pit. To do this, add humus or compost and mix thoroughly. You can do without the addition of mineral fertilizers, but if the soil is poor, then it is better to add about 200 g of superphosphate and the same amount of potassium fertilizer. The resulting mixture will nourish the pear seedling with useful substances for two years.
- 3 buckets are poured into the pit of the prepared fertile mixture, but they do not level it. A seedling is placed on the tubercle with roots, after which they are evenly spread.
- The pear is lightly tied with a rope to a peg, after which it is covered with the remnants of the prepared fertile mixture.
- 2-3 buckets of water are poured into the pit. When all the liquid is absorbed, the soil will sag along with the seedling. To ground level, the hole can be filled with a nearby infertile soil. It can be lightly stamped with your foot around the trunk of the pear. Now the seedling has found its permanent place and can be tightly tied to the peg. In this state, it will not take root yet. Then the rope is untied, and the peg is broken off. Its remains in the ground will simply rot and become an additional fertilizer for the pear seedling.
There is another option for planting a seedling. Its principle is based on the immersion of the pear roots in the mud. To do this, after filling three buckets of fertile mixture, pour in two buckets of water. The seedling is immersed in the resulting slurry with roots, tied to a peg and backfilling the hole.
The video shows the correct planting of a pear seedling:
Pear care
Caring for a Veles hybrid consists of similar procedures that are used for other varieties of pears.
Irrigation intensity
After planting, for the first 2-3 years, the seedling is watered at least three times a month. The best time is early morning or late evening when the sun does not burn the earth. An adult tree is flooded with water up to 5 times per season. In dry weather, the intensity of watering is increased. Velesa takes water best when it is poured into the furrows. They are dug around the trunk of the pear. Each furrow is temporary and intended for one irrigation only. After absorbing water, it is buried. For the next watering, dig another furrow in a new place.
Pruning branches
Veles, like any other pear, can naturally form a crown. However, this business cannot be left to chance, since then one cannot expect a good yield. To form the crown, you need to trim the excess branches. Usually, a sparse-tiered scheme is inherent in the Veles pear variety. As a result, the mature tree develops three tiers of thick branches that form the skeleton. Moreover, each tier consists of five branches.
When pruning, do not leave hemp. The twig is cut right to the trunk, and the wound is covered with garden putty or covered with waxed paper.
Testimonials
About the Veles pear, gardeners' reviews are only positive. Let's take a look at them now.