Description and characteristics of Lyubimitsa Klappa pears, planting, cultivation and care

This crop is grown in gardens along with apples and other fruit trees. Clapp's favorite pears have been familiar to summer residents for more than 150 years. During this time, the variety became widespread and did not lose popularity. With proper care, the summer resident receives a stable annual harvest.

Description and full characteristics of the pear Klapp's Favorite

To successfully grow trees on a site, it is recommended to study the description of the variety. Taking into account the information received will help to avoid mistakes during planting and care.

Fruit

Unripe pears are green in color; as they ripen, they turn yellow and blush appears on the sides. The taste is characteristic of the culture, sweet and sour. The average weight of one fruit is 100-250 g. Over the years, pears become smaller.

The tree bears fruit for up to 50-70 years, depending on the conditions and care of the pear.

Crown

During the first years, the young tree forms a pyramidal crown. As they grow older, after fruiting begins, the crown becomes rounded and wide. The summer resident forms the crown of the tree himself. He has the right to limit the height of the seedling and determine the optimal number of branches.

Flowering and fruiting

One inflorescence consists of 6-7 flowers. The timing of flowering depends on the growing region, late May or early June. When the threat of return frosts has passed. Fruiting occurs in the 7-8th year after planting the seedling.

If the norms and rules of planting are observed, the trees bear fruit consistently and abundantly.

Pros and cons of the variety

Clapp's favorite has positive and negative properties. Every summer resident can appreciate them. It is necessary to grow a tree on the site, and then the assessment will be more realistic.

Pros:

• high and stable yield;
• unpretentiousness and low maintenance requirements;
• versatility of fruit use;
• resistance to low temperatures, withstands frosts down to -30 ⁰C;
• drought resistance;
• ability to withstand transportation and maintain presentation.

Minuses:

• tendency to shedding of fruits when overripe;
• susceptibility to copperhead and scab;
• short shelf life of fruits;
• requires planting pollinator varieties.

The summer resident evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of the tree independently after he grows it on the site. Searching for reviews and comments helps make the final choice.

How to plant a tree

After the summer resident chooses a variety, the pear should be planted correctly. This is half the battle. Even beginners will not have any difficulties when landing. It is recommended to follow simple requirements and techniques, and the tree will be pleased with the harvest.

Landing dates

It is preferable to plant the tree in the spring, before the sap begins to flow. Then the seedling tolerates transplantation more easily and is accepted faster. Another advantage of spring planting is that the tree will have more time to prepare for winter.

Depending on the climate of the growing region, fruit trees are planted until mid-April.

If a summer resident decides to plant a seedling in the fall, then he needs to calculate the time so that the tree has 1-1.5 months left before the first frost.

Selecting a location

In order for the pear to grow and bear fruit, it is recommended to choose the right place. Choose a sunny area, protected from drafts and strong winds.

When it comes to soil, Clapp’s favorite is not picky. But if you choose fertile soil, the tree will grow faster and begin to bear fruit earlier. Much attention is paid to the occurrence of groundwater. The preferred depth is 3-4 m.

Selection of seedlings and preparation of holes

The same attention is paid to choosing a seedling as to preparing a place for planting or other procedures for growing trees on the site.

Planting material should be:

• apparently healthy;
• without defects on roots and stems;
• 1-2 year old;
• The preferred stem thickness is 1 cm.

The holes are dug in advance, 60 cm deep, 1 m wide. If the tree is planted in the fall, do it a month in advance; if in the spring, then dig the holes in the fall.

A stake is driven into the center, which will serve as a support for the young plant. A drainage layer is formed at the bottom of the pit. Then they are filled with fertile soil; for this, compost, humus, peat, river sand and wood ash are added to the turf layer of the earth.

Recommendations for planting seedlings

A mound is formed in the planting hole, a seedling is placed on it and the roots are distributed. Then they sprinkle it with earth, periodically lifting and shaking the tree. The earth is compacted and watered. After planting is completed, the seedling is tied to a stake. When planting, make sure that the root collar of the tree is above the ground. Then the pear will grow and develop correctly.

Plant care rules

In order to get a pear harvest in the future, they take proper care of the trees. Compliance with all norms and requirements of agricultural technology is required from the summer resident. This includes timely watering, fertilizing, loosening and mulching.

Top dressing

At first, there is no need to apply fertilizers, since the necessary elements are added during planting. The young tree feeds for 2-3 years. Fertilizers are applied in different ways.

If the period is rainy, then fertilizers are dug in, if the weather is stable, dry, watered with diluted solutions.

Organic fertilizers are applied once every 3 years, in spring or late autumn. Manure, peat, and humus are used as fertilizer. The last 2 components are used for mulching. Mineral fertilizers alternate with each other, limiting the amount of nitrogen in the autumn.

Organization of watering

When planting, a groove is formed around the tree trunk circle. It is used for watering and applying liquid fertilizers.Water the young tree frequently. Plants need moisture to grow. As you grow older, watering becomes less frequent, but more abundant. It is necessary that the soil is wet to a depth of 8 cm.

In order for moisture to remain in the soil longer, the tree trunk circle is loosened. This procedure prevents the appearance of weeds and provides oxygen access to the pear root system.

Crown formation

Pruning is carried out in early spring, before sap flow begins and the buds bloom. The shoots of Clapp's Favorite are fragile, so it needs the correct formation of skeletal branches:

• The first year the seedling is pruned, leaving 60 cm from the ground. This will begin to form side branches on the tree.
• Second year. Leave 5 branches in three tiers. Bottom 3 branches, second 2 and last 1.

The cuts are made carefully, do not leave stumps and do not go too deep.

• The third year and all subsequent years shorten the skeletal branches by 1/3. At the same time, cutting off all the side branches that thicken the crown and grow inward.

Sanitary pruning is carried out constantly. Remove all diseased, deformed and dried branches.

Preparing for winter

The winter period is characterized by stressful situations for the tree. It is important to prepare the pear correctly. Then the plant will survive the cold, and in the spring it will grow and bear fruit with renewed vigor. The tree trunk circle is cleared of weeds and all vegetation is removed. The trunk is cleaned of moss and old bark and whitened with lime with the addition of clay and copper sulfate. The tree trunk circle is mulched for the winter with peat, plant residues or humus in a 15 cm layer.

Disease and pest control

Treating plants against insects and diseases plays an important role. A healthy plant produces a rich harvest.

Diseases characteristic of pear

The crop is susceptible to various diseases, the fight against which is carried out constantly. Summer residents attach great importance to proper planting and prevention. It is easier to prevent a disease than to treat it later.

Scab

Symptoms of the disease appear in conditions of high humidity. The inside of the leaf is covered with olive-brown spots. The same spots appear on fruits, which can become deformed and lag behind in development. When the first signs appear, it is recommended to treat the plants with fungicides. During the flowering period, spray with Bordeaux mixture.

For preventive purposes, it is recommended to remove leaves and burn plant debris. Dig up the trunk circle in the fall and water it with a 5% urea solution.

Moniliosis

Symptoms appear on flowers, they begin to fade and turn black. The pear is treated with preparations containing copper. Summer residents recommend spraying plants with Fitosporin. In addition to the therapeutic effect, the drug increases the yield of the tree.

Rust

Symptoms of the disease are small yellowish spots on the leaves. By late summer they turn orange, similar to rust. Affected areas are immediately cut out and burned, and the tree is treated with fungicides.

Pests threatening the variety

Insects cause considerable harm to trees. The fight against them is carried out constantly, as they can destroy a significant part of the crop.

Pear sucker

Damage is caused to shoots, ovaries and buds. Treated with “Commander” or folk remedies.

Aphid

A pest known to gardeners. A large concentration of insects can destroy a significant part of the crop. Set traps or treat with chemicals.

Pear sawfly

The insect lays larvae that eat the seeds of the fruit. The pears darken and fall off. Thus, the pest destroys the crop. Timely treatment helps destroy the sawfly.

How to collect fruits and where to store them

Clapp's Favorite pears are harvested a week before ripening. This way they are stored better and do not rot. The shelf life of the fruit is 2 weeks. Pears can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 30 days. Clapp's favorite is unpretentious, its characteristics are not inferior to many modern varieties of pears.