Η Pears (pyrus communis) is a deciduous, perennial fruit tree. It belongs botanically to the Rhodoid family, while its fruits are Gigarta (Apple or Gigartocarpa). It originates from the areas around the Caspian Sea, while in Europe it has been cultivated since the 17th century.
The main varieties are:
- Crystal, cultivated mainly in Macedonia and the Northern Peloponnese.
- Contula, the pear with pears of exceptional quality but also quite delicate, is cultivated in the western Peloponnese.
- Butter, is cultivated mainly in Macedonia and Thessaly.
- Duchess, with small tasty fruits, is cultivated in Macedonia.
Plant description
It has heart-shaped leaves, serrated in the periphery, of intense green color, which appear after or even during flowering. Flowering begins in April-May and lasts 20 days. Its flowers are white and look like those of an apple tree. Satisfactory yield of the tree begins 4 to 7 years after planting.
Plant care
Συνθήκες Soil conditions: Pear prefers deep sandy soils, medium soils, those that are well drained and do not have excess calcium. It does not thrive in very alkaline soils.
➢Climatic conditions: The pear has lower requirements at low temperatures than the apple to stop the dormancy of its buds (at least 400 hours). But the pear withstands more than the apple in the high temperatures of summer (30 - 35oC).
➢ Watering: It has moderate watering requirements, especially in hot seasons. The young plants, until they are established in their place, need more frequent watering. When there is not enough moisture or a sufficient number of rainfall then watering is needed because the tree is sensitive to drought.
➢ Lubrication: Pear has a higher need for nitrogen than the apple, while its requirements for phosphorus and potassium are limited.
➢ Pruning:
- We apply summer pruning for better fruit development and quality improvement during the months of May to July.
- Apply winter pruning in autumn with the fall of the leaves. We do not prune the annual shoots.
- Strict and active pruning will result in the non-fruiting of the tree.
Diseases and enemies
The pear is infested with pear fleas: the adult of the insect looks like a very small cicada. Insects leave honey-secreting secretions that favor the appearance of fungi. Necrotic spots appear on the leaves, we have sticky fruits, delayed vegetation, chlorotic leaves or even foliage.
Diseases of pear are:
- the fusicladium of the pear, which infects leaves, flowers, fruits and in severe form and the branches. The leaves have velvety spots on the underside, spots are observed on the shoots which in the course develop into blisters.
- bacterial blight, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora. It enters the tree from the flowers, leaves and tender shoots. Suitable conditions for the spread of the disease are rainy weather and temperatures between 18-30 degrees Celsius.
