Pear Bergamot

The article presents Bergamot pear: photo, description of the variety, its varieties, planting and growing rules.

Pear Bergamot: variety description

Pear Bergamot: photo of the variety

Pear variety Bergamot belongs to the group of prefabricated and includes several varieties of pears, characterized by a flattened-rounded shape of the fruit. Bergamot pears have been known and loved by gardeners for many years. In addition to the taste characteristics, the popularity of these varieties is also due to the possibility of their cultivation in many regions, including those with rather cold winters. The winter-hardy varieties include the Novik Bergamot pear, the authorship of which belongs to I.V. Michurin, as well as the Autumn Bergamot pear and the Rossoshansky bergamot pear. It is thanks to the work of breeders that the geography of growing pears of this variety has expanded significantly. Indeed, earlier, Bergamot pears were recommended only for a few regions in the south and west of the country.

The name of the pear variety Bergamot is associated with Bergamo - a city in Italy where, according to some sources, this pear variety was first bred. Also, there is a version that this name is due to the external similarity of the fruits of the Bergamot pear and the fruits of the plant of the same name.

Further, we will take a closer look at the features of one of the most popular varieties of pears, Bergamot, and also learn how to grow this fruit crop and provide proper care for it.

Pear Bergamot: features of the variety

Bergamot pear: photo

Most Bergamot pear trees have a pyramidal or conical crown. As you know, for fruit crops such a crown shape is the most optimal from the point of view of lighting and airing the tree, which, as a result, contributes to better fruit ripening. The height of mature trees does not exceed 15 meters, which is an average value for this fruit crop. After all, some pear trees can grow more than 25 meters in height.

Bergamot pear leaves are rounded, slightly oblong. The top of the platinum sheet is bright green and the bottom is slightly lighter. As a rule, in most regions, the pear flowering period occurs in late spring. Trees in pear gardens at this time are literally covered with white and pink inflorescences.

Bergamot pear fruiting begins no earlier than eight years later. However, given that the pear is one of the long-lived trees, this is not even the middle of its life cycle. Of course, the highest yield is noted, precisely, in the first years, after the beginning of fruiting. During this period, on average, up to 80 kg of fruits are removed from one tree. And the maximum yield of one tree can reach 140 kg.

With proper and timely care, you can harvest for many years to come. There are known cases of fruiting of pears of the Bergamot variety for as long as 20 years.

Bergamot pears are classified as self-fertile varieties; it gives a good harvest even in the absence of pollinating neighbors. However, for greater fruiting, experts, nevertheless, advise planting different varieties of pears.

As already noted, Bergamot pears are distinguished by their rounded and slightly flattened shape, thanks to which this variety can be immediately distinguished from others. The color of the fruit is varied, from light green to various shades of yellow and red. On average, the weight of one pear is 150-200g. The peel is thin, the pulp is light, sweet in taste, juicy, with granularity inherent in pear fruits.By the way, the cause of granularity is the so-called stony cells - sclereids. Due to their presence in the pulp, experts do not advise people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract to abuse these fruits.

The calorie content of bergamot pear fruits is about 60 kcal per 100 grams. Many microelements, vitamins and fatty acids, which are most important for the human body, have been identified in the composition of the pear. The shelf life of fruits, depending on the variety, is up to two months.

The bergamot pear bark is used in industry, with its help various fabrics are dyed. Bergamot pear wood is a good ornamental material. And due to its texture, this wood is often used as an imitation of one of the most expensive materials - ebony (or ebony).
Also, this variety is distinguished by good resistance to many diseases characteristic of pears.

Pear Bergamot: varieties of varieties

Pear variety Bergamot: photo

Pear variety Bergamot has several varieties.

Pear Bergamot Novik

Pear Bergamot Novik: photo

This is a Michurin variety with more than half a century of history. Mentions about it can be found in the Bulletin of Horticulture and Truck Farming of the first half of the 20th century, where it was described as a new hardy variety for the middle and northern part of Russia.

After such an amount of time, it is indeed possible to speak with confidence about the high frost resistance of the variety. Also, it should be noted and its high yield. However, it is not worth delaying the processing of pears, despite the rather hard peel and dense pulp, the fruits are stored for only a little more than one week. Fully ripe fruits are medium in size and yellow in color.

The pear tree of this variety grows no more than 15 meters in height, and forms a pyramidal crown. The pear begins to bloom towards the end of May, and the harvest begins earlier in the middle of September.

Pear Bergamot Autumn

Pear Bergamot autumn: photo of the variety

Autumn Bergamot pear trees also endure cold winters quite well. Flowering occurs in May, and the fruits ripen in the first decade of September. The autumn bergamot pear variety has good and stable yields. The fruits are juicy, but, at the same time, the shelf life of Bergamot pears is small in autumn.

Bergamot Volzhsky

Pear Bergamot Volzhsky: photo

Pears of this variety have perhaps the longest shelf life in indoor conditions. Pears do not lose their qualities for almost a month from the moment they were harvested. The fruit is sweet in taste, with a juicy pulp. They are green with a reddish side. The harvest period is the beginning of autumn.

Pear Bergamot of Dagestan

Pear Bergamot of Dagestan: photo

Experts refer to this hybrid as a winter variety that, as a rule, has a long storage period and is characterized by frost resistance. Pears are quite large in size, on average 100-130 grams, slightly oval in shape, have a greenish-yellow color, there is a slight sourness in the taste. Fruits ripen after harvest, which is harvested in the last decade of October.

Pear Bergamot Rossoshansky

Pear Bergamot Rossoshansky: photo of the variety

Bergamot Rossoshansky pear trees are distinguished by a back-pyramidal crown and not too high yield. The pears themselves are smallish, weighing no more than 80 grams, but, at the same time, sweet and juicy. Painted greenish yellow with a reddish side. The harvest can be stored for about a month, and at a temperature of + 2 ... + 4 degrees a little longer. Also, the pear variety Bergamot Rossoshanskiy is characterized as frost-resistant and slightly susceptible to disease.

Pear Bergamot Moscow

Pear Bergamot Moscow: photo of the variety

Pear Bergamot Moskovsky is a medium-yielding variety, but, at the same time, the fruits grow quite large in size, at least 150 grams. Pears taste sweet and sour.Bergamot Moscow pear fruits are round in shape, greenish-yellow in color. Harvesting can begin in the third decade of September. The shelf life of Bergamot Moskovsky pears is two weeks, and in cool conditions, the fruits can retain their quality for a couple of months.

How bergamot pear is planted and grown

The optimal time for planting trees is spring and autumn, that is, the dormant period for the tree. Planting is advised to be made only after the returnable spring frosts have passed. If pears are planted in the fall, then this must be done at least a month before the onset of cold weather. If this is not possible, then young trees need to be provided with a reliable shelter.

When choosing a site for planting Bergamot pears, wind-blown and poorly lit areas should be avoided.
The soil should be nutritious and neutral in acidity. For faster rooting of bergamot pear seedlings, it is recommended to shed the planting hole well.

When preparing a hole for planting a pear, it must be remembered that the root system of a Bergamot pear seedling should be buried at least 60 cm, but, at the same time, the root collar should be at the same level with the soil surface. Novice gardeners often make the mistake of deepening the seedling by grafting, confusing it with the root collar. Recall that the root collar is the place where the trunk of the bergamot pear seedling passes into the root, and the graft is located much higher than the root collar.

The bergamot pear tree is placed in the hole, the roots are carefully spread, covered with soil and tamped a little. Then add the remaining soil mixture and water it. Under the bergamot pear seedling, you need to add at least two or three buckets of water. A large volume of water will fill all the voids formed in the root system during planting. After the soil has completely absorbed moisture, it should be mulched. In addition, given the changeable spring and autumn weather, when strong, gusty winds are not rare, it will not be superfluous to tie the seedling to the support.

Experts note that young bergamot pear seedlings, which are one or two years old, take root easier and faster. And to increase yields, it is better to plant several different varieties at once. At the same time, when deciding on the choice of varieties, it should be borne in mind that the flowering of pears should begin approximately in one period.

If the planting material is transported over a long distance, or you do not plan to plant pears immediately after purchasing the seedlings, in order to preserve the root system and prevent it from drying out, you can use a clay talker. The roots of the seedling are dipped into the composition for a while and, then, they are allowed to dry out. In this form, the plants can be left for at least a week.

When planting several pears at once, it is important to remember that, over time, young trees will become quite tall trees, so the distance between bergamot pear seedlings should be at least 6-7 meters. In addition, planting too often will interfere with the normal lighting of the crown, which will negatively affect the yield as well as the taste of the fruit.

Tree care

In the first time after planting, it is important to provide the young trees with regular watering. At least twice a week, up to 10 liters of water should be poured under each bergamot pear seedling. Then, if possible, loosen the soil and remove weeds.

In addition to watering, caring for pear trees involves feeding, carrying out preventive measures aimed at preventing the appearance of diseases and pests, as well as providing protection from cold weather.

To obtain a good harvest, both mineral and organic fertilizing should be applied. Foliar top dressing can be carried out with nutrient solutions of mineral substances by spraying tree crowns. Organic fertilizers are applied in various ways.So, for example, you can prepare an infusion and carry out top dressing along with watering the trees, or you can introduce organic matter directly into the soil of the trunk circle, adding compost or humus while digging up the soil.

Organic fertilizers are recommended to be applied in the autumn, and in the spring the tree is more in need of nitrogen-containing substances that contribute to the active growth of green mass.

Prevention of the appearance of diseases and pests, first of all, is to keep the trunk circle clean. Indeed, as you know, many pathogens, as well as insect pests, often settle in fallen leaves and on weeds.

Bergamot pear trees, as noted above, are distinguished by good frost resistance. Therefore, their protection from frost is more important during the flowering period of the tree than in winter. Exceptions, perhaps, are young, only planted trees, as well as cases of growing pears in regions with very cold winters.

In order for the tree to overwinter without loss, the trunk circle is mulched with a layer of at least 8-10 cm thick.In addition, the tree trunk can be covered with spruce branches, and, as precipitation falls, you can also shovel snow to the tree trunk. Some gardeners use thermal insulation materials for these purposes, wrapping them around the tree trunk. Young trees can be covered completely using special material.

Pruning rules

Pruning is an integral part of the care of Bergamot pear trees. More often, they carry out sanitary and anti-aging pruning. The need for formative pruning arises much less often, since the crown of pear trees is formed in a natural way.

Sanitary pruning is carried out, as a rule, twice - in spring and autumn. This type of pruning involves the removal of dry and broken branches, as well as those that have been affected by various diseases or pests. In addition, sometimes the so-called tops are formed on the frozen shoots. The reason for their appearance, by the way, may be an excessive amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizers applied, or too abundant watering of the tree. The tops that have appeared are also recommended to be removed, since these shoots slow down the growth of skeletal branches.

The rejuvenating pruning of Bergamot pears aims to stimulate the growth of new fruiting shoots. To begin with, cut off the center conductor. From the point where the skeletal branches are located at a large interval, they retreat upward along the trunk 3.5 meters and cut off the top. Next, remove several skeletal branches located in the upper part of the new crown. Several skeletal and semi-skeletal branches can be shortened the following year. After trimming, the length of the shoots should be no more than 1 meter.

You should not be zealous with pruning, it is better to carry it out gradually and in a gentle way.

Pear Bergamot: reviews of gardeners

• Margarita Stanislavovna, Moscow region: “I would like to note that Bergamot pears are distinguished by good taste, for the sake of which, in fact, we grow these fruit trees in our summer cottage. And good frost resistance and unpretentious care allow my whole family to feast on Bergamot pears, stocking up on vitamins "
• Kristina Viktorovna, Leningrad region: “I grow the Moscow Bergamot pear variety. The fruit always grows very large. One such pear can be used to make a fruit salad for children. If we talk about how to care for trees of the Bergamot pear variety, then, if you do not neglect the standard care measures, then you can safely count on a rich harvest. "

Pear Bergamot: video about the variety