Pear Santa Maria

The Santa Maria pear can often be found in Russian markets and supermarkets. This is not surprising, because the fruits of this variety are incredibly tasty. The variety is popular with a huge number of gardeners.

The birthplace of Santa Maria is Italy, and to be more precise, Florence. It was here that this variety was bred in 1951. The originator is A. Moretinni. He managed to create a variety by crossing Summer Duchess and Koschia.

Santa Maria trees are usually medium-sized, with a height of up to 5 meters. But sometimes the culture grows even higher, here it all depends on the rootstock used. The crown is compact and usually round. The branches grow upward, in relation to the trunk, they form a right angle. The amount of foliage on them is average. The leaf plates are smooth and glossy, usually dark green in color.

Santa Maria pears are quite large - 180-230 grams. The standard shape is correct, pear-shaped. All fruits are even, the same, which increases the marketability of the variety. The peel of the fruit is particularly smooth and tender, so pears immediately attract the attention of buyers. Its coloring will be yellow-green, and a light pinkish blush will only enhance the impression of freshness. The pulp has a white-yellow color, it is incredibly juicy, melting.

The fruits of Santa Maria are very harmonious. Dessert sweetness prevails in them, but there is also a slight sourness. Thanks to this, the taste becomes balanced and memorable.

This pear variety is autumnal. Already in mid-September, the fruits can be removed from the branches. Moreover, it is allowed to eat even hard fruits, because they can ripen successfully at home. In addition, Santa Maria belongs to the early-growing varieties. With good agricultural technology, she will give a crop already for 3 years of her life.

On average, 50 to 120 kg of fruit are harvested from one tree. These are averages, and it will be quite difficult to increase them. However, the amazing taste of the fruit negates this nuance. Pears can lie from 1 to 2 months, depending on conditions.

Santa Maria is self-fertile only partially, so if she grows on the site alone, you can not even expect high yields. In order for the tree to form many fruits, pollinators should be planted nearby. Varieties such as Koschia or Williams are excellent choices. But finding them is not easy, so the problem of pollination can be solved by simply planting any varieties that have the same flowering period as Santa Maria.

It is very important to choose the right Santa Maria sapling. It is recommended to make a purchase only in proven nurseries, and even in this case, you need to carefully examine the plant. There should be no deformations and cracks.When buying, the roots should be slightly damp.

In the south of the country, planting is recommended in the autumn. As for the northern regions, planting is practiced here in the spring. It is necessary to plant the plant in a sunny area. The soil will be light, with a lot of turf. There should be no excess moisture.

The pit can be prepared just 7 days before disembarkation. Drainage is laid down, and mineral and organic mixtures will be needed to improve the quality of the soil. The planted seedling must be tied up so that the wind does not break it. Watering after planting is also important. Otherwise, the planting recommendations are the same as for other varieties of pears.

For Santa Maria, fertilizing is very important, but they must be applied starting from the third year of the tree's life. Root dressing is fed through trenches dug in the near-trunk circle. You will definitely need potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied only at the beginning of the growing season, then they are excluded. An excess of this element is harmful, since it directly affects the amount of the crop. Organics are also given, but every few years, in spring or autumn. Usually, manure or humus is used as such a fertilizer.

In early spring, Santa Maria needs to be pruned. Sanitary pruning is most important as it removes branches that are no longer needed. These are the specimens that have frozen or dried up over the winter. Another similar type of pruning allows you to thin the crown so that it is not too thick. To do this, you need to cut off the branches growing inward. The first few years will also have to deal with the formation of the crown.

In addition to pruning and dressing, Santa Maria also needs to be watered correctly. This is done in the evening, with standing water and a couple of times per season. It is necessary to pour water into the trenches dug in the near-trunk circle. A bucket is enough for a young seedling, but in the future, the amount of liquid is increased. If spring and summer are rainy, then all watering is stopped before the onset of hot weather. Before or after irrigation, the soil is loosened, and also rid the tree trunk circle of weeds. Mulching is a good idea, but only for young trees. It will only harm the old culture.

Santa Maria almost never gets sick. You should not be afraid of typical pear diseases, including scab. It is enough just to follow the basic rules of cultivation so that the culture always remains healthy.But with pests, the situation is somewhat different. The most dangerous are two parasites: leaf and fruit gall midges.

The first feeds on leaves, and the second eats fruits. Both inflict irreparable damage, so it is best not to allow them to appear. Even before flowering, the tree will need to be treated with insecticides. All the fallen leaves are immediately taken out and burned, the soil is dug on the bayonet of a shovel, since pests can hide there.

Another parasite is pear honeydew. The insect causes underdevelopment of leaves and drying of branches. It hibernates in the ground, so digging here will be mandatory. If the bark peels off on the tree, it must be carefully separated, since the copperhead can live there too. It is necessary to get rid of the pest with a manganese solution.