Pear Favorite Klappa: description, photo, reviews

A summer pear variety, created by one of the American breeders back in the XNUMXth century, quickly gained wide popularity around the world. The culture was named after its creator – Klapp’s Favorite. Description of the variety, photos testify to its excellent nutritional qualities.

Tests of the variety, carried out in the Soviet Union in the middle of the last century, showed it from the best side. Klapp’s favorite pear began to be cultivated in such regions as the Kaliningrad region, the North Caucasus, the western republics of the USSR, the Baltic and Central Asian republics.

Characteristics of a variety

Photos and descriptions of pear Clapp’s Favorite show that the variety belongs to a medium-sized type of fruit trees and is convenient for growing both in household plots and in large farms. The maximum height of Klapp’s Favorite trees is 4 m. In the first years after planting, the seedlings give good growth, forming a pyramidal crown. In the future, growth slows down. The tree is able to bear fruit, on average, up to more than 50 years. Among the advantages of the Favoritka Clapp variety are:

• unpretentiousness in relation to the soil, but on fertile lands, nevertheless, pears of the Klapp’s Favorite variety begin to bear fruit earlier;
• high yield during the life period – depending on the region, the Favoritka Klappa variety gives from 180 to 300 centners per 1 ha;
• excellent winter hardiness – the pear is able to withstand frosts down to -30 degrees, which allows it to be cultivated in the Moscow region;
• high drought tolerance.

Today, more than 20 new varieties have been bred based on the Lyubimitsa Clapp pear. Since the pear is a member of the Rose Family, like the quince, it is best to graft it on the quince. It should be noted some shortcomings of the Clapp’s Favorite variety, which do not at all reduce its value:

• susceptibility to certain diseases;
• the height of the tree and the spreading of the crown, which make it difficult to care for it;
• self-infertility of the Favoritka Klappa variety, for pollination of which other varieties, both summer and winter, are used;
• short shelf life of fruits.

Growing up, the branches of the pear beauty Clapp begin to hang down, forming a more round crown. An adult tree is characterized by:

• smooth, brown shade, bark on the trunk with slightly noticeable peeling;
• branches of the Clapp’s Favorite variety are brown with a slight purple bloom and many lentils – small tubercles that serve for gas exchange;
• bright green pear leaves with thin light petioles are oval in shape, which tapers at the end, forming a pointed tip;
• the surface of the leaf is glossy, without traces of pubescence.

Description of fruits

When flowering pear Clapp’s Favorite, as seen in the photo, throws out inflorescences of large snow-white flowers. Due to the later flowering time, they are not afraid of frost. The ovaries are distinguished by an unusual dark red color. They produce large fragrant fruits, the weight of which in young trees of the Clapp’s Favorite variety can reach a quarter of a kilogram each, however, with the aging of the tree, the weight decreases. Among their main characteristics are the following:

• the timing of the ripening of pears depends on the climatic features of the area – in the southern regions, the harvest can be harvested as early as the end of July, in the mountains or more northern regions, the timing of harvesting fruits of the Favoritka Klappa variety is shifted by a week or two;
• unripe fruits are distinguished by a yellow-green color, which, as it ripens, changes to yellow with a bright red blush on the sides;
• under the thin glossy skin is juicy, light flesh with a great wine-sweet taste;
• ripe pears of the Clapp’s Favorite variety quickly fall off, so it is advisable to pick them slightly unripe;

  

• the fruits of this variety do not differ in long-term keeping quality, they must be immediately eaten or prepared;
• pear Klapp’s favorite gives a great taste in jams, compotes, in combination with other fruits and berries – apples, quince, cranberries;
• Dried pears also have excellent taste.

Planting a pear

When planting seedlings of the Klappa Favorite variety, some features must be taken into account:

• in the middle lane, a pear can be planted at any time – in autumn or spring;
• for the southern regions, autumn planting is preferable, since in the conditions of a warm long autumn, the seedlings will have time to adapt before the onset of frost;
• in northern regions with a cold autumn, it is better to choose spring for planting;
• it is recommended to plant 3-4 pears from other varieties as pear pollinators, Clapp’s Favorite;
• when choosing a site for planting, you need to abandon salty or clay soil types;

  

• you must also take care of the absence of a rocky layer in the soil, which can damage the root system of the tree;
• groundwater should not rise above 3 m to the surface;
• in shaded areas, the yield of the Clapp’s Favorite pear drops, so the planting site should be well lit – the sugar content in fruits depends on the intensity of sunlight;
• icy gusty winds can cause significant damage to a tree.

Selection of seedlings and preparation of holes

It is better to purchase planting material for the Favoritka Clapp variety in a nursery, carefully examining the selected seedlings:

• trees older than 2 years are characterized by poor survival;
• Clapp pear seedlings must have a developed root system without any growths, spots, damage;
• young shoots should be flexible and durable;
• The stem diameter should not be less than 1 cm.

Pits for seedlings Clapp’s Favorites are prepared in advance:

• during autumn planting, they need to be dug out in a month, and during spring planting, it is better to prepare them in the fall;
• diameter and depth must be at least 0,8 m, and if the seedlings have a branched root system, then the dimensions may be larger;
• fertile soil is laid out at the bottom of the hole, which is prepared from garden soil mixed with sand, humus, wood ash and fertilizers;
• if there is too much sand in the soil, you need to strengthen it with clay and garden soil so that the planting of the pear is strong.

Recommendations for planting seedlings

For the correct planting of the pear, Clapp’s Favorite, description, photo and reviews advise:

• set the seedling in the center of the finished hole, on a mound of fertile soil and straighten the roots;
• the root neck should protrude 5 cm above the ground; the tree should be turned south with the side with fewer branches;
• 15-20 cm from the trunk put a stake for a garter;
• evenly cover the tree with pre-prepared fertile soil;
• after that they tie it to a support;
• the soil is tamped down;
• at a distance of 0,4 m from the trunk, the pears slightly deepen the ground and carry out the first watering of Clapp’s Favorite – 3 buckets of water;
• then the near-trunk space of the pear should be mulched with humus, straw or manure;

  

• within a few weeks after planting, it is necessary to monitor the likelihood of subsidence of the earth, if necessary, pouring soil under the base of the trunk, otherwise the tree may die.

Often gardeners do not attach much importance to mulching. But mulch performs important functions:

• it retains moisture, protecting the roots from drying out;
• protects them from frost in winter;
• it is an excellent source of nutrients that are distributed evenly to the roots.

Further Care

As evidenced by the reviews of gardeners, the full development and consistently high yields of pear Klapp’s Favorite pear will depend on competent agricultural technology.

Organization watering

Watering pear Clapp’s Favorite is done by sprinkling. If there is no possibility for sprinkling, grooves are prepared around the trunk. Watering rate – 2 buckets per tree, in dry seasons increase the frequency of watering. After sprinkling, the near-stem circle is loosened, providing air access to the roots. However, loosening should not be done too deep, so as not to damage the roots of the pear. Then weeds are removed and mulched with green manure or compost. It is good to plant honey plants such as mustard or buckwheat between pear trees, you can sow lawn grass. An adult tree is recommended to be watered three times per season:

• during the flowering period;
• during fruit development;
• during maturation.

pear pruning

Pear Favorite Clapp, as recommended by the description of the variety and reviews, requires timely pruning, otherwise:

• the tree will grow, shading the site and making it difficult to care for;
• yield will decrease.
• excessive thickening of the crown will create a favorable environment for numerous pests.

Since the tree receives significant stress from pruning, it should be carried out during periods when the pear is at rest and there is no sap flow. The procedure begins to be carried out from the second year, at the same time forming a strong crown, which is especially important with the fragility of the branches of the Lyubimitsa Klappa variety. Pruning is carried out according to the following scheme:

• to stimulate new shoots, cut off the top of an annual seedling;
• in the second year, three tiers of shoots are formed, choosing those that are located at an angle of 45 degrees to the trunk;
• the central pear shoot Clapp’s Favorite must be cut at a level of 20 cm from the lateral upper branch;
• when removing extra branches, you do not need to cut them too deep or leave a stump on the stem – such cuts are difficult to overgrow;
• then the shoots growing inside the crown or parallel to the trunk, as well as dry or damaged twigs, are cut off;
• all cuts need to be greased with garden pitch.

Feeding

Pear Clapp’s Favorite is sensitive to top dressing, you just need to carry it out in a timely manner. In the first 4 years, a 5-cm layer of mulch is enough for trees in the near-stem circle with a diameter of up to 1,0-1,2 m. When mulching, the base of the trunk must be left clean so that it does not prop up. In the future, the space for mulching the Clapp pear should be gradually expanded, and organic matter should be brought in along with the autumn digging. At the same time, potash and phosphorus fertilizers are applied in autumn. Nitrogen compounds are useful in early spring before flowering and in summer during the formation of ovaries on a pear.

Pest Control

Description of the pear variety Clapp’s Favorite indicates its susceptibility to scab. However, it can also be affected by other diseases, for example, fruit rot or powdery mildew, fungal pathologies. If signs of disease have already appeared on the leaves of the Clapp pear, all diseased parts must be removed and burned. But the best way to deal with diseases of fruit trees is preventive spraying. In early spring, you need to treat the pear with Bordeaux liquid and repeat it 2-3 more times during the season. An effective remedy for powdery mildew is a soapy solution of dry mustard. It is useful to treat trees with a solution of copper sulfate or colloidal sulfur.

There are many pesticides available for pest control. Many gardeners also use glue traps and clean the tree trunks of pears from plant residues in time.

Preparation for winter

To protect the tree in winter from gusty winds, sudden changes in temperature, the description of the pear Favorite Clapp advises to prepare it for adverse effects:

• the area around the trunk should be cleaned of plant debris, weeds;
•  it is good to water the tree, then dig up the trunk circle and mulch it with manure, fallen leaves, straw;
•  the trunk must be cleaned of dried bark and moss;
•  whitewash the pear trunk and the base of the skeletal branches with a solution of copper sulfate with lime and clay;
•  It is good to insulate young Klapp pear seedlings with burlap or other material.

Reviews

Conclusion

Clapp’s Favorite Pear is an old, tried and tested variety that is still popular today due to its excellent taste and undemanding care. When the proposed recommendations are followed, the pear will delight with the harvest of fragrant and juicy fruits for many years.