Pear Ilyinka

One of the earliest summer varieties of Ilyinka pears, as a rule, opens the summer fruit season. The origin of this variety is unknown and remains a mystery, therefore it is considered to be Russian folk. It is most widespread in the Crimea, in the Stavropol Territory and the Astrakhan Region, as well as in the territory of neighboring countries - in Ukraine and Belarus. Due to its high yield and unpretentiousness, Ilyinka's pear is very popular among gardeners, we will tell you more about it in this article.

Pear Ilyinka: description of the variety and characteristics

Pear Ilyinka: photo of the variety

Ilyinka's pear belongs to tall varieties, an adult tree grows up to six meters, while its crown width will be about five meters - such features must be taken into account when choosing a place for planting seedlings so that they will not be crowded later. The branches of the tree are directed upwards, creating an oval silhouette of the crown. The bark on the main branches and trunk is dark brown, young shoots are yellowish. Large oval dark green leaf plates are slightly concave, their surface is leathery and shiny, the edges are wavy.

Fruiting in the Ilyinka pear variety begins in the seventh or eighth year. Fruits begin to ripen in the second half of July. Fruit weight 100-130 grams, classical pear-shaped shape. The color is light green with spots of a reddish "blush". The subcutaneous points of medium size are clearly visible.

The semi-oily white pulp of the Ilyinka pear variety has a granular structure, a sweet taste and a weak but very pleasant aroma. Despite the sweetness, when eaten fresh, gourmets will describe the taste of these pears as mediocre. Well, for processing and making jam, jam, compotes, dried fruits, pie fillings, these fruits are perfect!

It is very important to collect the fruits in a timely manner, as they become tasteless when overripe. When harvesting, pluck the fruit along with the stalk if you plan to store them for a while. Although it should be noted that the shelf life of the fruits of this variety is very short - only seven to ten days.
The Ilyinka pear variety is a high-yielding variety - more than 60 kilograms of fruit can be harvested from an adult tree. And given that the lifespan of such a tree is more than 50 years, you will be provided with pears for many years.

Many are confused by the fact that fruiting will have to wait for a long time, but there is a solution for this problem. If you graft Ilyinka's pear on a quince, then fruiting will come twice as fast.
This variety is self-fertile, and therefore it will have to pick up other varieties of pears as neighbors, which will bloom at the same time and be pollinators. Experts recommend the following varieties: Bessemyanka, Lyubimitsa Klappa, Domashnyaya Karamelnaya, Panna,Forest Beauty"," Home Kokinskaya ". Choose a couple of varieties, plant them in your garden and you will be assured of a good harvest.

Pear Ilyinka: planting varieties

In the southern regions, trees can be planted in the autumn, they will have time to take root before the onset of cold weather. Still, the most favorable time for planting pear seedlings is spring. If possible, then the planting hole should be prepared in the fall, if not, then two to three weeks before the intended planting of seedlings.

For Ilyinka pears, you should choose well-lit places, preferably protected from the wind from the north side.The more sun, the sweeter the pear, because it is under the influence of the sun that the fruits accumulate sweetness.

Having dug a planting hole, lay a drainage layer on the bottom of fragments of slate, broken brick, stones or gravel. This measure will protect the roots of your tree from waterlogging, which means it will preserve its health. Pour nutritious soil on the drainage and place the seedling on top, gently straightening its roots. Then fill the hole with earth, water it well and after the natural subsidence of the soil, add the required amount of earth. Make sure that the root collar is located two to three centimeters above the soil level.

Pear Ilyinka: variety care

At first, the seedling of the Ilyinka pear variety must be watered regularly so that it adapts and takes root as quickly as possible. Water your pear every three to four days, but be sure to adjust your watering frequency based on weather conditions.

Every year in early spring, before the sap begins to flow, carry out a formative pruning of the tree. Pear "Ilyinka" grows rather quickly, so it is necessary to promptly remove branches growing deep into the crown, wild growth. During the season, if necessary, the diseased parts of the tree are cut off (they must be burned, and not thrown away).

Top dressing can be done foliarly. In the spring, before the buds bloom, the tree is sprayed with nitrogen-containing fertilizer, and in the autumn, after the leaves fall off. A similar treatment is carried out with a solution of potash fertilizer.

After carrying out the autumn feeding, you should dig up the soil of the trunk circle, remove all plant residues and mulch the surface. Despite the fact that the Ilyinka pear variety is characterized as winter-hardy, in the middle lane it is recommended to cover it for the winter, using coniferous branches and non-woven covering material.

Diseases and pests

Despite the resistance of the Ilyinka pear variety to diseases, in a rainy and cool summer, you can find scab on a tree. To avoid this, it is necessary in early spring to clear the trunk of flaky bark particles and whitewash with a solution of lime and clay (the consistency of the solution should resemble thick sour cream). In addition, before flowering, as a preventive measure, it is necessary to spray the pear with Bordeaux liquid (1%).
Preventive insecticide treatment for pests should also be carried out before flowering. In addition, be sure to put a special belt with an adhesive layer on the tree trunk, to which insects will stick.

Conclusions.

Ilyinka's pear, like any fruit tree, has its own strengths and weaknesses. The tasting score of the fruits is low, they are not stored for a long time, but the tree gives regular and consistently high yields, is very resistant to pests and diseases, and also tolerates our unpredictable winters with dignity. Such a tree is one of the most suitable options for an inexperienced gardener, as it does not require complicated care and will provide you with delicious Ilyinka pears for many years.