Description and characteristics of the Simply Maria pear variety, cultivation and pollinators

The pear, known as Simply Maria, appeared in the gardens of summer residents relatively recently. This is a frost-resistant species, which, despite severe winters, recovers well and produces an excellent harvest. Maria just doesn’t require any special attention. Like all types of pears, it loves plenty of sunlight, regular fertilization and moderate watering.

Description and history of pear selection Just Maria

At the very end of autumn, a newly bred variety ripens in the gardens of experienced gardeners and amateurs. It’s just that Maria appeared thanks to Belarusian breeders in 1990, by crossing the winter-hardy Belarusian late and disease-resistant Oily Ro. At first, the new variety was given a name - Maria.

Later, the fruit gained popularity among gardeners and became known as Simply Maria. This variety tolerates winters well and produces a good harvest. It’s just that Maria can withstand frosts down to 37 degrees, and in the spring she quickly comes to life and bears fruit well.

Characteristics of the variety

It’s just that Maria is a relatively late variety; its fruits ripen only in October. The fruits are large, pear-shaped. The weight of one fruit is 180-200 grams. The skin of the pear is smooth and shiny. Green dots are visible on the surface.

The color of the fruit is initially green. As the fruit ripens, it turns yellow and acquires a pink blush. The fruit tastes sweet and juicy, slightly sour. The pulp is a pleasant cream color, not very dense, but oily. This is a dessert variety.

The tree grows quickly, but only grows up to 3 meters. The crown of an adult plant takes the shape of a wide pyramid. The branches grow strongly upward and wide, but under the weight of the fruit they bend slightly towards the ground. 40 kilograms of fruit are harvested from one adult plant.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pros:

• excellent frost resistance;
• disease resistance;
• regular fruiting;
• excellent taste characteristics of fruits;
• presentation of ripe fruits;
• Fruiting occurs in the third or fourth year after planting.

Minuses:

• relatively low yields;
• susceptibility to attacks by insect pests;
• crushing fruits for high yields.

How to propagate pear?

Maria simply reproduces in the following ways:

1. Cuttings.

A branch with leaves is cut from an adult tree and placed in a container of water. After a few weeks, the cutting produces roots. For better root formation, place a Heteroauxin tablet in the water. Then the cuttings are planted in the ground and watered abundantly. It is advisable to carry out this procedure in the summer. The cuttings can first be planted in a greenhouse. For better rooting, the plant is watered up to 4-5 times a day.

2. By layering.

A branch of an adult tree is bent down and covered with earth. The soil is well irrigated with water; the soil can be loosened first. The top of the branch with leaves remains above the ground. Roots form at the point where the shoot touches the soil. When the branch is well rooted, it is cut off from the parent tree. The time of the procedure is the season of intensive growth (from mid-spring to late summer). Branches for layering should be young and not yet lignified.

3. By grafting.

A cutting with dormant buds is cut from the mother tree. A sharp cut is made at one end and a blunt cut at the other. A thin branch with two or three unopened buds in early spring, at the moment the sap begins to flow, is grafted under the bark of a tree, for example, a pear of a different variety. You can insert the cutting into a rootstock cut in half. The tree branches into which cuttings from another tree are inserted are cut down to stumps. Then Simply Maria is implanted into them. The junction is tightly wrapped with tape.

Features of growing a tree

It’s just that Maria, like all pears, loves a lot of sunlight, does not tolerate winds and too swampy soil. The tree is planted in the south side of the garden, on a hill, preferably in an area enclosed by a fence.

Landing dates

It’s just that Maria is planted in early spring, before the leaves bloom, or in late autumn, before frost arrives. Spring planting is preferred. The tree will be able to adapt well to the new environment in warm conditions.

Lighting and soil requirements

Maria just loves black soil, well-fertilized soil and cannot tolerate acidic soil. To level the acid-base balance, dolomite flour or slaked lime is added to the soil. Pears can grow on sandy and clay soil if organic matter and mineral fertilizers are added to it. The pear does not tolerate too wet soil; its roots can rot in swampy soil.

It is not advisable to plant the tree in the shade of other trees. Pears develop poorly in low light conditions and produce small and sour fruits. Maria just loves sunlight.

Selection of seedlings

It is advisable to buy planting material from nurseries. Seedlings should be resilient and healthy in appearance. The age of the tree for planting is 1 or 2 years. It is not advisable to buy older plants - they take a long time to take root. The planting tree should have a height of no more than 1.5 meters.

How to plant a seedling correctly?

Before planting, the roots of the seedling are placed in water for 12 hours, to which Heteroauxin is added to stimulate the growth of the root system. The tree is planted in a hole, the depth of which is about 1 meter. The dug up soil is mixed with mullein and mineral fertilizers (superphosphate, potassium nitrate).

Small stones for drainage and a little fertilized soil are poured onto the bottom of the hole, then the tree is inserted and sprinkled with soil up to the root collar. After planting, pour 2 buckets of settled water under the root. Near the young tree you can drive a stake, which will serve as a support for it.

Pollinators

It’s just that Maria can self-pollinate, albeit partially.For better yield, it is recommended to plant other varieties of pears near the tree, which will provide it with cross-pollination. For example, the variety Pamyati Yakovlev or Duchess.

Caring for the Simply Maria variety

It is recommended to care for the tree, water it during dry seasons and annually prune dry and diseased branches. If the yield is weak, the soil near the plant is fertilized with organic matter or minerals.

Watering

During the dry summer season, the tree needs to be watered. Pour 2 or 3 buckets of water under the root. The procedure is carried out 3 times a week. Immediately after planting, young trees are irrigated regularly in the first month - every other day, one bucket of water is poured under the root. It is also recommended to moisten the soil near the pear in a dry spring, at the time of flowering and formation of ovaries. Immediately after watering, the soil around the tree is loosened. The soil must not be over-moistened. In conditions of excess moisture, the roots will begin to rot.

Mulching

The ground around the tree can be sprinkled with mulch. It delays moisture evaporation and prevents weed growth. Cut grass, straw, fine bark or sawdust are used as mulch.

Shelter

It’s just that Maria tolerates winter well, but it is advisable to insulate young trees so that they do not die in severe frosts. Before sheltering, clear the area near the tree from fallen leaves and weeds. It is advisable to whiten the trunk with a solution that will protect the pear from rodents.

The tree is surrounded with dry reeds or straw and tied with burlap on top. You can buy a special cover for winter shelter of garden trees. The ground near the tree is sprinkled with a high (up to 30 centimeters) layer of mulch.

Trimming

Crown formation is carried out in early spring or late autumn.Spring pruning is carried out before the leaves bloom. Autumn - after all the foliage has fallen from the tree. The crown is thinned out, diseased and dry branches are cut off, and several main branches are left on the pear. The upper branches are removed - they do not bear fruit. Side shoots are shortened by a third. The crown is formed in the second or third year after planting a young plant in open ground.

Fertilizer

Maria just needs feeding for the third season after planting. In one year, the tree should grow by 30-50 centimeters. If growth rates are low, the pear needs feeding. In the spring, before the buds open, you can pour a bucket of mullein or bird droppings dissolved in water under the pear. A month later, when the leaves bloom, the soil is fertilized with nitrogen fertilizers (Urea).

An adult tree needs feeding at the time of flowering and ovary formation. It is recommended to fertilize pears with the following preparations: Nitrophoska, Azofoska, Diammofoska, Bona Forte, Master, Agricola. At the moment of fruit ripening, the pear is fertilized with superphosphate and potassium nitrate.

For the winter, Simply Maria can be sprinkled with dry wood ash (200 grams added to loosened soil). This natural fertilizer contains a lot of potassium and phosphorus.

Possible diseases and their treatment

It’s just that Maria has excellent immunity to many diseases. However, in rainy and cool summers the plant may get sick. To prevent diseases, pears are sprayed with chemicals and fungicides.

Diseases and treatments:

1. Scab.

A fungal disease that affects foliage and fruits. First, brown spots appear on the leaves, then on the fruits themselves. The fruits crack and become hard. Diseased fruits are removed from the tree.The pear itself is sprayed with Bordeaux mixture or fungicides.

2. Moniliosis.

The fungus infects the fruits with rot, after which they become completely unsuitable for consumption. Diseased fruits are removed from the tree. The pear is sprayed with Bordeaux mixture, copper sulfate or fungicides (Fitosporin, Strobi).

3. Sooty fungus.

Appears after an aphid attack. The secretions of this insect are a breeding ground for microorganisms. A black coating resembling soot appears on the fruits and leaves. Sick fruits are removed from the tree. The pear itself is sprayed with fungicides.

During fruit ripening, for the prevention and control of fungi, it is recommended to irrigate the tree with solutions prepared with the addition of soda and colloidal sulfur. The pear can be sprayed with infusion of garlic and onion. You can add a couple of crystals of potassium permanganate to the water for irrigation. It is advisable to sprinkle the base of the tree with a handful of ash or lime.

Pests and their control

Simply Maria has a lot of pests. Insects (aphids, pear flower beetle, mites, pear moth) damage leaves, flowers and the fruits themselves. Pests cannot tolerate too strong odors. It is recommended to plant wormwood, marigolds, lavender, and sage near the tree.

During the period of maximum insect activity, sticky tapes are hung on the branches. It is recommended to spray the tree with insect repellents (Lepidocide, Bitoxibacillin). To combat insects, insecticides are used (Aktellik, Aktara, Konfidor-Maxi). Ticks are destroyed using acaricides (Neoron, Apollo).

Harvest and storage

Simply Maria ripens in late autumn. Pears are picked from the tree while still unripe, when they are hard and have a yellow-green surface. The harvest period is throughout October and early November.Fruits are stored in a cool place. Storage temperature - from 0 to 2 degrees Celsius. In such conditions, the fruits can lie and not lose their presentation and taste until the New Year.