Content:
The pear is a southern tree. She really does not like the cold and bad weather, and therefore she can please gardeners with her presence only in warm regions. But breeders breed many different varieties that tolerate the climate well in the Central regions of Russia and further north. At the same time, the harvest is in no way inferior in taste and fruit size to the southerners. This category includes the variety Just Maria. This look has many advantages.
Pear Just Maria: description
Breeders of Belarus M.G. Myalik, O.A. Yakimovich and G.A. Alekseeva at the RUE Institute of Fruit Growing crossed pears of the hybrid form 6 / 89-100 and the Maslyanaya Ro variety, little-known in Russia, and bred a new species, which was named Maria. Later the name was changed to Just Maria, due to the fact that this variety does not require complex care. This tree got its name in honor of Maria Myalik, one of the creators, who worked on the species for nearly 35 years.
Under the supervision of the authors, the pear Just Maria began to bear fruit 4 years after planting. The breeders were satisfied with the characteristics of the brainchild, in particular, frost resistance, taste, yield, quality of fruits. The young pear was bred by grafting into wild birds and planted for research. In 2003, the variety was recognized as one of the best, and in 2005 it was sent for testing.
Pear Just Maria
Characteristic
The tree of medium height has a spreading pyramidal crown, the volume of which is about 2.5 m in diameter. The tree itself does not grow more than 3 m. The ends of the branches, extending from the trunk at an almost 90 ° angle, look up.
It's just that Maria is an autumn variety. The crop can be harvested in October. The fruits ripen together, the yield is good: up to 40 kg of pears can be harvested from 1 tree. The bad thing is that they are not stored for long. Fruits can stay in the refrigerator for no more than 2 months, but at this time their taste will only improve. The weight of pears is about 180 g, rarely more than 200 g. Pears of a characteristic shape, similar to a light bulb, have a delicate, smooth, dry, slightly oily skin, as well as many subcutaneous dots of a greenish color. In the most ripe fruits of this variety, the color is bright yellow, the seeds are dark brown and conical in shape. The pulp is milky-creamy and has a very pleasant taste and aroma. Some gardeners don't like the sugary taste very much.
Fruits of this type have proven themselves well both in processing (cooking preserves, jams, marmalade and compote) and in the form of filling for pies and dried fruits for compote. And, of course, they are delicious when eaten fresh.
Pear Prosto Maria perfectly withstands a drop in temperature in winter to -38 ° C. This factor makes it possible to grow it in the Urals, Siberia and the Far East. Sharp temperature changes also do not scare her: even if the tree is slightly frozen during the winter, it quickly recovers in the spring.
Many novice gardeners, and not only beginners, confuse pear varieties with consonant names, in particular:
- pear Just Mary;
- pear Santa Maria;
- pear Bere Maria;
- pear Maria.
They are similar in some characteristics, but there are differences between them. For example, if we compare the varieties Santa Maria and Just Maria, then they both have the same weight of pears, similar taste and shape of the fruit.Here are just the first species ("Italian") refers to summer varieties and ripens in July - early August and prefers winter with a milder climate. Bere Maria differs from its "namesakes" in large fruits weighing up to 340 g and low frost resistance. Maria pears are characterized by a late ripening period and excellent keeping quality. If stored properly, fruits can last until next summer.
Pear Santa Maria
Growing
Pear Just Maria loves warm places very much, therefore, only sunny areas that are sheltered from the winds are suitable for planting, although she will endure light shading.
Planting and leaving
In areas with a cold climate, it is better to plant a pear in the spring, so that by the winter months its root system can take root. If planting is planned for the spring, then in the fall you need to prepare the planting pit, filling it with nutritious soil and fertilizers. The same is done if an autumn planting is planned in regions with warmer winters. The acidity of the soil should be neutral. If it is increased, then it is worth adding slaked lime, and if alkaline, then needles or peat.
The best time to plant seedlings in the fall is the period of leaf fall, and in the spring - until the buds open. Immediately before planting, the roots of the plant are placed in a nutrient solution for 5-6 hours. The planting hole should be more than 1 m deep.In the middle, it is recommended to make a mound over which to carefully distribute the roots and carefully cover it with earth so that the root collar is higher the ground level by 6-7 cm. You also need to make a support so that the wind does not damage the seedling. And abundant watering and mulching are required.
It is best to purchase two-year-old seedlings (height 55-65 cm) of this variety for planting. The root system should be well developed, and the trunk with an outgrowth at the root. This suggests that it is not grown from seeds. Otherwise, the characteristics of the variety may not be preserved. If the seedling has an open root system, then you should pay attention to the presence of rot on them, the color of the cut (should be white) and elasticity during bending-unbending.
Watering
A young pear tree needs frequent watering, as this variety is moisture-loving. After planting, it is recommended 3-4 times per season, and you need to pour a lot of water about 30 liters under one plant. After irrigation, it is worth to loosen the soil for better oxygen access to the roots. An excess of moisture is also unacceptable.
Fertilizers
It is necessary to carry out top dressing with organic and mineral fertilizers in a timely and balanced manner. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium are especially important. At the end of flowering, the pear tree is fertilized with a urea solution.
Fertilizers
Crown formation
For the correct formation of the crown, spring pruning of the tree is required. Sections need to be coated with garden varnish or special preparations.
If the branches of the tree do not begin to grow as needed, for example, vertically upwards, then they should be pulled back and fixed in this position for a year. This will help shape the crown.
From damage by rodents, the tree trunk must be wrapped with thick paper and spruce branches must be attached from above with needles down. So that the roots do not suffer in winter, it is worth making an elevation at the trunk of the earth. To enhance the effect, you can lay grass, hay, straw on top, filling the trunk itself as high as possible.
Crown formation
Pollination
Although this type of pear is self-fertile, the presence of other types will increase the yield. As a neighbor-pollinator on the site, the pear Lyubimitsa Yakovlev is suitable, but another species is also possible.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Many gardeners everywhere fell in love with the Just Maria pear, and this is no coincidence, since the variety has a lot of positive qualities:
- good productivity;
- winter hardiness;
- increased immunity to diseases;
- compactness of the tree;
- pleasant fruit taste.
Disadvantages include only dropping flowers during recurrent frosts in spring and the fact that pollinators are required.
If a novice gardener decides to plant a pear tree on his plot, the Just Maria variety will be an ideal option, since caring for it will not be difficult. Moreover, gardeners who already grow this beauty on their site speak only positively about it.
