The pear variety Victoria was discovered by breeders by conducting research at the Institute of Irrigated Horticulture (Ukraine, Melitopol). A group of scientists suggested that by crossing the autumn southerner's variety Bere Boska and Tolstobizhka you can get a new form with unique characteristics. Research met expectations, and the cultivated variety has successfully taken root - this is a typical type of pear for the Moscow region.
After the variety tests, pear Victoria won an honorable place among the cultures of the State Register of the North Caucasus region. And today, gardeners prefer Victoria to the Forest Beauty, as the ripening dates for these varieties are approximately the same, and the taste and agrotechnical characteristics of the second significantly dominate the first, which explains the popularity of the species.
The main characteristics of the variety
Trees of the named variety are up to 4 m high. The shape of the crown is pyramidal. The color of the fruit is yellow-red, their flesh is white. The weight of pears, on average, is 200-370 g. Productivity is high.
Horticultural Botanical Certificate
Pear fruits differ in size, regular and even pear-shaped. The skin is smooth, yellowing during ripening, with a bright blush of more than half the fruit. Sometimes spots of rust are noticeable. There are many small subcutaneous points; they are easy to notice.
The structure of the fetus is delicate, uniform. Petrified cells are absent. The pulp is white with a gentle pleasant taste, sometimes with sourness. One pear can accumulate up to 8% of sugars and 0.35% of acids.
Interesting! Sometimes fruits without seeds are formed. This phenomenon is called parthenocarpy.
The shape of the tree is pyramidal. Pear Victoria predominantly bears fruit on the glove. With relatively rapid ripeness, the growing season begins later, compared with other varieties, so the trees do not lend themselves to repeated frosts.
Harvest maturity
Since the second decade of August, the crop has ripened, and closer to mid-September, it acquires technical ripeness. Victoria pears sit tightly on a long stalk, and therefore do not fall off the tree. Marketability and transportability of the fruit is high.
Victoria, as for the summer pear variety, has excellent keeping quality: the fruits can be stored under normal conditions for up to 30 days, and in a cool room for up to 120 days. The yield from trees is high - up to 200 kg per season. Interestingly, its indicators do not decrease with the age of the tree, as is the case with other varieties.
Pollinators and the subtleties of tree care
After pollination, a rather large number of ovaries form in the Victoria pear. The variety description emphasizes the self-pollination ability of the tree. Despite this, to maintain yield it is advisable to have additional pollinating varieties with you. Suitable for Victoria: William the Red, Nikolai Krueger, Triumph of Vienna.
The fruit form is complex-resistant, shows excellent resistance to pathogens of diseases such as scab, moniliosis, powdery mildew. Such characteristics of the plant make it possible to carry out only 1-2 sanitary treatments of a tree (seedling) per year.
Mature trees are highly resistant to frost, but in the first few years of life of young seedlings, they must be sheltered for the winter. A distinctive feature of the garden culture is resistance to heat and drought.
This is a culture growing in the steppe zone with risky farming, where drought often occurs for several months, and the heat reaches a temperature above 30 degrees. In such conditions, only some varieties of pears can fully develop, because, as you know, this culture loves moisture. Some of the plants growing in such a region need partial shading.
Unlike other pear varieties, Victoria easily tolerates extreme climatic conditions. Despite this, the irrigation system must be taken care of necessarily. One economical option is drip irrigation. Sometimes gardeners resort to using a hydraulic drill. Sprinkling for trees is also beneficial.
In general, near-trunk soil is useful to mulch. So, in winter it will be possible to avoid freezing of the root system, in the summer - from excessive evaporation of moisture and the growth of weeds. The composition of the mulch should include: peat, compost, mowed grass, green manure, etc. The mixture is laid out, wrapping each of the trunks with a layer of at least 5 cm.
Stems and skeletal branches are bleached twice a year. To do this, make a solution of lime and copper sulphate, if you want, use a special paint.
Seedlings: features of planting and reproduction
The described trees are characterized by low early maturity. The first crop appears 6-7 years after planting seedlings in a permanent place. This trend clearly shows affinity with quince stock.
After vaccination, as a result, small pears are obtained that enter fruiting faster than grafted on pear seedlings.
Planting is carried out as follows: Victoria pear seedlings are placed in prepared holes and slightly raised. Make sure that after shrinkage of the soil, the root neck of the seedling is above ground level.
Caring for Victoria Pear involves pruning trees in the spring. The procedure is done after the first few days with plus temperatures, but until the leaves bloom.
The opinion of gardeners
As gardeners note, significant shortcomings in the pear variety for the Moscow region were not found. Fruiting is stable and plentiful. The harvest is usually large, and the pears are distinguished by excellent taste.
Gardeners say that she has a high level of resistance to adverse factors and diseases, which is unusual for this strain of garden crops.
Regarding the cultivation of Victoria pears, reviews indicate that the spot planting of this culture is most characteristic of our region.
As you can see, the described variety, rotated by many gardeners, took root in central Russia and fell in love with the owners. Planting such fruit trees, you do not have to worry about their condition, because the rules of care are minimized, and diseases and pests practically do not damage the Victoria pear. The description of the variety proposed in the article will help you to quickly decide on the choice of seedlings for the orchard.