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The description of the Elena pear variety is fully consistent with the real appearance of the fruit tree. The variety was bred more than half a century ago and only recently began to spread among professional gardeners and agronomists. The pear is famous for the presence of nutrients and an attractive presentation. In the process of cultivation, large and juicy fruits are used for commercial purposes.
Description of pear Elena
In 1960, on the territory of Armenia, the breeder P. Karatyan introduced a new bred pear variety Elena. In the process of crossing, the varieties of fruit trees Forest Beauty and Bere Michurina winter were used. As a result, the Elena variety was bred, which can be cultivated in any strip of Our Country.
The winter-hardy fruit tree variety has been included in the State Register since 1990. Now the pear is grown in Armenia, the Central and Southern regions of the country, in the colder regions of Our Country. Gardeners consider this variety to be dessert, as the tree reaches a height of 3 m, and the fruits ripen juicy, large. The small growth of the tree allows you to harvest without a threat to 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 compact, self-pollinating. 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, 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 – a bright yellow hue with a pleasant aroma. Gray subcutaneous dots are visible, the stalk is shortened and slightly curved.
The flesh on the cut is snow-white, oily and juicy. Tasting score – 4,7 points on a five-point scale, a characteristic sourness and a sweet aftertaste are felt. Fruits are consumed fresh, 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 cons of a pear are few:
- overripe fruit quickly falls off;
- with a large number of crops, 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 for short distances. The pear has an average drought resistance, the fruits have a universal purpose in use.
Optimal growing conditions
The fruit tree grows well on black soil in any region of Our Country. The climate should be of moderate humidity. Elena pear does not tolerate drought well, but abundant sunlight is needed for intensive growth and good fruit ripening. Some gardeners cultivate a pear in glass greenhouses, but the tree grows up to 2,5 m. In the presented photo, the Elena pear variety is ripe:
Under optimal growing conditions, fruit picking lasts up to 10 days. For planting, choose the sunny side of the site with a fence. Groundwater should be at a depth of up to 3-4 m from the roots of the tree. For a seedling, the best planting time is from March to the end of April. During this period, the seedling gets used to the climate and temperature changes, the roots are strengthened. The soil must have low acidity.
Planting and caring for pear Elena
The planting time of 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 open. 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 also do an examination for signs of root cancer. The seedling should have many side processes, so the rooting of the tree will occur quickly.
Rules of landing
2-3 weeks before planting, the site is cleared of excess growth. The soil is dug up, loosened. A landing hole is dug 70 cm deep, a hole is dug up to 50 cm in diameter. Drainage is poured into the bottom. Part of the excavated soil is mixed with fertilizer, compost and poured into a slide 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 pit, if necessary, top up the ground so that there is no root penetration. The residual soil is also mixed with compost, mineral fertilizers and the seedling is covered in layers. After compacting the soil, a root ditch is made. Next, the pear is watered with a bucket of water, mulched with dry sawdust or peat.
Watering and top dressing
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, it is only necessary to water 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, the pear is plentifully watered. Moisture should get as deep as possible so that during frosts the earth does not freeze, and the roots receive nutrients all year round. After wintering, the pear is again abundantly poured with water.
Top dressing with minerals is carried out every few months from the moment the seedling is planted. In the second year of growth, the first feeding with mineral fertilizers is made. Growing on black soil, the pear does not require fertilizing with fertilizers, but compost must be added when planting. Closer to winter, phosphates and organic fertilizers are added to the soil.
Trimming
Pruning of branches is carried out in the spring. As soon as the winter one is removed, the shelter tree 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 in spring.
Whitewash
Whitewashing is carried out until the first frost. A solution of slaked lime will protect the bark of the tree from sunburn, freezing and severe cracking of the bark. Mostly whitened in the fall, then re-whitewashed in the spring. The third time they whiten in the summer, when the pear is about to bloom. Usually the entire bole is whitened or whitened to the lower skeletal branches. A young tree is whitened to half the trunk.
Preparation for winter
For winter, the seedling is prepared after the fall of all foliage. First, the space is cleared of withered leaves, then watered abundantly. The readiness of the tree for winter depends on the amount of water received. During the year, with a lack of moisture and a plentiful harvest, the pear will be depleted by winter, so it may not tolerate frost well.
Next, pruning is done, diseased, damaged and dry branches are removed. A young seedling is covered with an awning or cloth, the trunk is covered with dry straw. In an adult tree, the trunk is wrapped with burlap or cardboard. The protruding roots are covered with straw, roofing felt or spruce branches.
Pear pollinators Elena
When flowering, pear flowers of both sexes are observed. Therefore, the tree does not need pollinators. However, to obtain a quality first crop for a tree, artificial or natural pollinators are used. For pears, varieties of fruit trees are suitable: the Dubrovka apple tree, the Babushkina apple variety, the Golden Superb, as well as the Janvarskaya, Kudesnitsa, Feeria pear varieties. The flowering of pollinators should coincide in time with the flowering of the Elena pear variety.
Productivity
Pear variety Elena of medium yield. With the timely collection of fruits from 1 square. m gardeners collect up to 40-50 kg. Overripe fruits fall to the ground and lose their presentation due to crumpled sides. Shelf life in a 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 planting region, the period varies a month earlier or later. The yield of the Elena variety directly depends on the amount of fertilization and soil moisture.
Diseases and pests
The hybrid has a high resistance to scab and rarely suffers from fungal diseases. Otherwise, it is often attacked by insects. If prophylaxis against diseases and pests is not observed, the pear Elena 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. From powdery mildew, pear foliage is covered with a white coating, then the leaves curl up, turn black and die. Fruit rot and black cancer affect fruits that can no longer be eaten. Black cancer can appear with untimely whitewashing, lack of nutrients in the soil. Rust does not cause much damage to the pear, but you should not neglect it.
You can also find green aphids, pear mites and pipe mites, which cause irreparable harm 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 is fully blooming or the pear begins to bloom.
Reviews about the pear variety Elena
Conclusion
The description of the pear variety Elena and the reviews of gardeners prove that the cultivation of this fruit tree guarantees a high-quality harvest. With timely and frequent watering, the tree receives a sufficient amount of nutritious minerals and vitamins, which increases the tree’s resistance to attacks by pests and fungal diseases. Pear Elena is unpretentious in terms of soil and climate, so even a beginner in gardening can grow a fruit tree.
