Varieties of pear Bere are even heard by those who are not too interested in growing fruit trees. The Bere group is very diverse, including varieties with a wide variety of characteristics. The article will tell about one of the autumn variety forms - Luc Bere.

Selection history

This pear is of French origin and originally grew wild in the forests of Soloni department of Loire and Cher. In the 70s of the XIX century, the variety began to be cultivated under two names: Bere Alexander Luca and Bezi de Saint-Agil.

The variety fell into the Russian Empire thanks to L.P. Simirenko, a former Honorary Member of the French National Pomological Society. Today, the fruits and seeds of this pear can be found on sale, including under the abbreviated names Lucas or Lucasovka.

Important! Bere Luke has rather mediocre winter hardiness indicators, which is why the variety is not suitable for cultivation in risky farming conditions, and in the middle lane it will require additional warming for the winter.

Characterization and description of trees and fruits

Being triploids (a form with three sets of chromosomes), the young trees of Bere Luke grow quickly, reaching 5–5.5 m in height, letting out light brown shoots with wavy foliage and forming a medium-thick, pyramidal crown. At the time of fruiting, the variety enters early, 3-6 years after planting (depending on the stock). You can taste Bere Luke starting in mid-September. Fruit:

• large (200-400 g);
• oval-conical shape;
• sweet, without cloying, with a slight sourness;
• at removable maturity - green with a reddish tint;
• in consumer maturity - yellow with gray dots and orange blush;
• with juicy, aromatic, slightly granulated pulp.

Like all representatives of Bere, the variety is characterized by a special oiliness that melts the pulp of the fruit in the mouth (French "beurre" in translation - "butter"). The tasting score of the pear is 4.8 points. The variety is very productive, from one tree you can get 43–54 kg of pears per season.

Did you know? In the Caucasus, wild pears were dried and ground into flour, which was mixed with corn and barley. This mixture, called Chilicani, was used to bake flat cakes.

Pear planting

Properly conducted planting will be the key to good harvests. Consider in detail the features of planting young trees Bere Luke.

Site preparation

Pear is extremely demanding on soil fertility and light. It should not be planted in the shade of buildings and other trees. It is necessary to highlight a sunny, protected from the winds section of 5 × 4 m. It is preferable to choose loose, nutritious, moist soils (loams, chernozems). Like all triploid varieties, Luc Bere is self-fertile and requires nearby pear pollinators (Bere Bosque, Williams, Klappa’s Favorite).

Selection of planting material

Seedlings are purchased in proven nurseries. When buying in the market, there is a high risk of getting a re-grader. The requirements for quality seedlings are as follows:

• age up to 3 years;
• the presence of three main roots with a network of small roots;
• lack of damage and thickening on the roots;
• light and clear cut color on the vine;
• smooth, smooth bark of the trunk and branches.

Before planting, the roots of seedlings are placed in water at room temperature for 2 hours (no longer, otherwise they will lose minerals and will not take root well).

Step-by-step landing instructions

Planting dates depend on the climatic conditions of the region: in the south, a pear is planted in the autumn for early root adaptation, spring planting is recommended in the middle lane (the air should warm up to + 15 ° C).

Important! When planting, nitrogen fertilizers or fresh manure should not be introduced, this can injure the roots of the seedling and lead to disease.

Landing pits are prepared in advance (in the fall or at least 2 weeks in advance). Its dimensions are 70 cm wide and 55–65 cm in depth. Expanded clay is placed in the pit for drainage and a nutritious mixture of peat, humus and sand in equal parts. You can also add a glass of wood ash. The mixture is shed with a bucket of water.

The landing itself is as follows:

1. The seedling is set in the pit, spreading the roots.
2. Three wooden pegs about a meter long (from the side of the prevailing winds in the area) are placed next to the seedling for support.
3. The pit is covered with fertile soil so that the root neck is 4-5 cm above the soil level. Gradually, the seedling will settle along with the soil and the neck will be flush with the ground.
4. The seedling is tied to supports with synthetic ribbons, watered abundantly (3 buckets of warm water) and left to take root.

Video: Pear Planting Instructions

Grade Care

The main agricultural practices include watering, several top dressings per season, pruning and preventive measures aimed at protecting against pests and diseases.

Watering

It is not recommended to hose the pear with cold water. For irrigation use warm, settled water and devices that simulate drip irrigation (sprinklers). You can water a pear from a watering can on 10 cm deep grooves dug around a tree.

Young trees are watered 5-6 times per season, adults will need only 3 waterings (before budding, after flowering and in autumn). The irrigation rate is 2 buckets per 1 m², but weather conditions and soil conditions should also be taken into account.

Top dressing

Top dressing is combined with watering and carried out several times a year:

1. In the spring - with nitrogen fertilizers (nitrofoam, urea at the rate of 30 g per 1 m²).
2. In the summer - phosphorus-potassium spraying on a leaf.
3. In the fall - with a mixture of 30 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium sulfate per 1 m², diluted in 10 liters of water and introduced during digging. You can also add vegetable ash (150 ml).

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the types and features of making fertilizing for pears.

Cropping and shaping the crown

Pears are formed by a sparse-tier system:

1. Post-landing pruning. It is carried out immediately after spring planting or at the end of severe frosts (when planting in autumn). The central conductor is shortened by 15–20 cm. Long skeletal branches are cut by a third, and a cut is made on the external kidney. The competing shoot is removed, as well as the branches forming an acute angle with the trunk (such branches will break under the weight of pears).
2. Forming and supporting cropping. Held annually over the next 10 years. Pear does not require such reinforced pruning, such as an apple tree. A small correction is enough: removal of too thick branches and fatty shoots (vertically located non-bearing branches, the growth of which takes a lot of nutrients in vain).
3. Anti-aging pruning. It is carried out for mature trees every 2-3 years. Old, dried branches are cut. Leaning branches are exchanged for young shoots that have grown above the bend.
4. Thinning pruning. Her object is old trees. Remove diseased branches, as well as shoots that obscure the crown.

Tree shaping and pruning

Pest and disease protection

Luc Bere is resistant to septoria and scab, but does not have good protection against powdery mildew, rust and moniliosis. That is why spring preventative spraying of the pear with Bordeaux liquid and 7% urea solution is recommended. Not only leaves are processed, but also the earth around the tree. Affected leaves and fruits should be destroyed immediately. Compliance with irrigation regime and timely pruning will also serve well in protecting against fungal diseases. To control insects, spraying with colloidal sulfur and special preparations (Iskra, Kinmiks) is used.

Important! Remember that fungicides are allowed only before fruit setting.

In the list of pests that can diminish the joy of harvesting pears:

• aphid;
  

• codling moth;
  

• a tinker;
  

• pear mite.
  

Harvesting and storage of crops

Luke Bere is a late-term variety and ripens in mid-September - early October. Pears are harvested during the day, in dry, sunny weather. Should not be confused with the collection. To increase the shelf life, pears are torn in a removable ripeness, leaving for ripening. In a storage with an unregulated gas environment (for example, in an ordinary refrigerator or in the basement) at a temperature of +2 ... + 3 ° С, fresh fruits are stored for about 4 months. When saving in the cellar, boxes lined with polystyrene chips or oak leaves are used. In the refrigerator, pears are placed in a tight, sealed bag.

You will be interested to learn how to store pears for the winter at home.

Tips from experienced gardeners

Growing a pear, it will be useful to get acquainted with the recommendations of experienced gardeners:

1. Luke’s shore does not tolerate severe frosts, therefore, for snowy winters with temperatures below –10 ° C, the tree needs to be insulated in the fall: wrapped in burlap or covered with pine branches.
2. When preparing the site for planting, siderates are planted in the aisles (plants to improve the structure of the soil). As siderates, mustard, lupine or phacelia are used.
3. Do not trample the earth around the pear after planting: the roots will lack oxygen. It is necessary to gradually add soil to the roots and carefully pour water from a watering can.
4. Try to attract insectivorous birds (tits, wagtails) to the site. They will help fight pests.
5. The main whitewash of the stem should be carried out in autumn on dry bark (to protect against changes in temperature and humidity). In the spring, they re-whitewash in early March. For whitewashing, it is better to use special paints, home-made can harm the tree.

Bere Luke is not as famous as other representatives of the Bere group, but the excellent taste of its fruits, high productivity and unpretentiousness in care make it every year more and more popular among domestic gardeners. The variety has a great future both in industry and for breeding.