Pear Maria

Pear Maria (Pyrus communis) – an autumn cultivar of the common pear. Ukrainian selection, bred at the Crimean Scientific-Experimental Fruit Growing Center of the Institute of Horticulture in 1962 by crossing the cultivars Doktor Til and Dekanka zimnyaya. Authors R. D. Babina, A. F. Mileshko, V. A. Yakimova.

It is a medium- or weak-growing tree with a pyramidal or wide-pyramidal crown. It fruits mainly on simple and compound spurs, as well as on one-year shoots. It comes into bearing very early, in the 3rd-4th year on seedling rootstock, and in the second year on vegetative rootstock. Yield is high and stable.

Fruits are large, weighing 220-350 g, uniform in size, oblong-pyriform, with a smooth surface. Skin thin, firm, with numerous subcutaneous lenticels of a rust color. The ground color at harvest maturity is yellowish-green, becoming golden-yellow at consumption maturity. The covering color appears as a bright red-carmine blush. Flesh creamy, juicy, melting, buttery, of excellent sweet-and-sour taste. Harvest maturity occurs in the first decade of October, consumption maturity in mid-October. Fruits can be stored until March, in refrigeration – until May. Transportability is good.

Pollinator cultivars: Grand Champion, Zhana d'Ark, Yakimovskaya, Desertnaya, Zolotistaya, Salgyrskaya zimnyaya

Hardiness zone: 4 (-30°C).

Site: demanding of external environmental conditions. Less winter-hardy and more warmth-loving than apple. Poorly tolerates early autumn frosts, alternating thaws and frosts and spring frosts (buds die at -4 degrees Celsius). Prefers loose, moist soil with a small clay content. Prefers sunny but not hot, wind-protected locations.

Planting: plant seedlings preferably in spring, but it can also be done in autumn. Pear seedlings generally have a poorly developed root system, so for the first 2 years the pear practically does not grow. Soil from the hole should be mixed with organic and mineral-potassium fertilizers. Fill the mixture up to the edge of the hole. The root collar should be left 3 cm above ground level.

Propagation: propagated by grafting onto quince, wild pear

Diseases and pests: high resistance to scab and thermal leaf scorch

Use: fruits are consumed fresh. Popular due to high and stable yields, disease resistance, winter hardiness, and high taste and commercial qualities of the fruits. Transportability is good.