Pear Allegro: variety description, photos, reviews, pollinators, planting and care

History of selection

The Allegro pear was the result of very successful artificial pollination of the Autumn Yakovleva variety, well known to gardeners, so it is not afraid of frost, temperature fluctuations and has good resistance to most plant pests and diseases.

More than 15 years ago, Russian breeders created a mid-season variety that survives in cold conditions, which was called Allegro. This is one of the few fruit trees whose cultivation became possible thanks to artificial pollination by the “Osennyaya Yakovleva” apple tree.

The newly introduced variety was included in the State Register in 2002 and was recommended for trial planting in the Central Black Earth region. Since then, the tree has been actively planted in most parts of the country, surprising with fruits with excellent taste and universal purpose. Pear Allegro was the result of the work of scientists: Yu.K. Ilyina, S.P. Yakovleva and S.S. Yakovleva.

Pear Allegro

Climate and cultivation regions

Allegro is a winter-hardy variety that can withstand fairly low winter temperatures.

It also tolerates drought and temperature changes well, therefore, fruit trees of this species are cultivated not only in the south and in the Black Earth Region, it also thrives in more temperate latitudes - the Central region and Central Russia, including the Moscow region.

Main characteristics of fruits

Traditionally, ripe Allegro pears weigh between 100 and 150 grams. The smooth skin hides white flesh with a granular structure. It has a pleasant sweet and sour taste and gives off spicy honey notes. Allegro is very well chewed and easily digested due to the large amount of juice and the absence of hard granulations.

The high nutritional value of these pears deserves special attention. So, 100 grams of the product contains:

48 mg of P-active substances (including vitamin P, catechins, leukoanthocyanins and others);
8 mg ascorbic acid;
15% – dry matter;
8% – nutritional sugars;
0.59% – soluble substances, etc.

Professional tasters rate the taste of the fruit a solid 4.5 points on a 5-point scale, and this is a high indicator. Thanks to this, Allegro is absolutely universal. Pears can be eaten fresh, squeezed out the juice, added to compotes and baked goods, and can also be preserved for the winter in the form of preserves, syrups and jams.

Description of Allegro pear

The description of the variety characterizes the pear tree as medium-sized, fast-growing, with a slightly drooping crown. Mixed fruiting. Removable fruit ripeness occurs in early August, and the average duration of the consumption period does not exceed two weeks. The pear tree begins to bear fruit approximately in the fifth year after planting, which makes it possible to classify the Allegro variety as relatively early-bearing.

The fruits of this pear variety are medium-sized, weighing about 110-145 g, elongated pear-shaped, covered with delicate and smooth skin. The coloration at the removable maturity stage is greenish, with a slight pink tan. The peduncle is long, curved, with an oblique arrangement.

The pulp is white, very tender, with average density and not too pronounced fine grain. There is no astringency or granulation at all, the taste is sweet and is rated by tasters at least 4.5 points.

Description of the tree

The shoots are light brown in color and wavy in shape. The stalk is small. The leaves are oval with a pointed end and sawtooth edges. The color of the leaves is not the same from different sides - shiny dark green on the outside, matte and lighter on the inside.

The pear grows quite quickly, although it does not begin to bear fruit soon. The crown is not thick and not too voluminous. The branches are slightly bent to the ground and have a slightly curved shape.

Description of fruits

The average weight of one fruit is 130-140 g. The shape is oval, pointed towards the top. The skin is very thin and shiny, pale green in color with a slight pink tint. When ripe, the green color slowly turns into yellow, and the pink turns into small burgundy “cheeks”. The pulp is white, soft and very juicy. Like the donor variety, Allegro has a very pleasant taste, sweet without any signs of astringency. Pears also have a strong and pleasant aroma that is unique to no one else.

The fruits retain their taste and presentation for two weeks, but they need to be stored in the refrigerator or at least covered with something on top, otherwise you risk acquiring a flock of very persistent “fans” - wasps and moths. The culture is universal, it is perfect for consumption immediately after picking from the pear and for making jams, preserves, etc. In addition, during the ripening of fruits you need to be very careful - these fruits tend to overripe quickly, becoming too soft and not very tasty, so you need to harvest the crop at a time when it is still a little ripe, this will slightly increase its shelf life .

Taste of fruits

A distinctive feature of each variety, of course, is its taste characteristics. The selection variety Allegro received a sweet taste without astringency and granulation, rated by tasters at 4.5 points. It is worth mentioning separately the strong, pleasant and characteristic aroma that makes this variety well recognizable.

Application area

The sweet pear fruits are most often picked to be enjoyed fresh. But they can also find other uses - ripe pears are perfect for making preserves, jams, and marshmallows. The gradual ripening of tasty fruits allows them to be consumed in various forms.

Description and characteristics

The characteristics of the variety consist of a description of the degree of yield, immunity, winter hardiness and keeping quality of the fruit. The tree enters the fruiting period 5–6 years after planting. Productivity is high: in the period from 1999 to 2002 it averaged 162 c/ha. The fruits are ripe in the first ten days of August. They can be stored without losing their quality for 2 weeks.

The summer pear variety Allegro is also not afraid of cold weather. After artificial freezing at a temperature of -38 °C, the tree showed freezing of the tissues of annual branches by only 1.5 points. Flowers are resistant to late spring frosts. The variety is immune to fungal diseases. It is self-sterile, so pollinators of the varieties Avgustovskaya Rosa, Chizhevskaya and others are planted on the site.

The description of the variety includes the external characteristics of the tree, as well as its fruits. Pear is a fast-growing crop. The crown is medium in size and slightly drooping. The harvest appears on fruit twigs, spears and fruits. Fruits are also formed on annual growths. There are few lentils on light brown shoots. The leaves are ovate, medium in size, with jagged edges and a pointed tip. The color is dark green, the surface is shiny.

The greenish skin with a pink tan is tender and smooth. The peel of a fully ripe pear changes color to yellow-green. The peduncle is long and oblique. The seed chamber is closed. The long seeds are brown. The pulp is white and fine-grained, tender, with a sweet and sour taste. The fruit contains 8.5% sugars, 0.59% titratable acids, 15.1% soluble substances, 48 mg/100 g of P-active substances and 8 mg/100 g of ascorbic acid. The uneven ripening of pears allows the fruits to be consumed and processed over and over again.

Characteristics of the Allegro pear variety

The description suggests that the crop grows of medium size - around 3 m in height. The main fruiting period is August. The fruits ripen unevenly, allowing you to enjoy fresh fruit for a whole month. Productivity is consistently high. Fruiting begins in the fifth year after planting.

The variety is not capable of self-fertilization, so before planting you should make sure that there are pollinators nearby. These may be the summer pear varieties Augustovskaya Kosa and Chizhikovskaya. Apple trees with early flowering and fruiting are excellent pollinators.

Winter hardiness

"Allegro" copes well with winter frosts. There are known cases of successful wintering at a temperature of – 36 °C. It should also be noted that it is resistant to temperature changes, for example, in spring or autumn. But, despite its resistance to cold, experienced gardeners recommend covering the tree trunk with whitewash, for example, Bordeaux mixture, in spring and autumn. This procedure is done to prevent sunburn and possible consequences from sudden temperature changes.

Did you know? Pear wood is used to make furniture, musical instruments and even kitchen appliances. Wood is good because it is not saturated with odors, does not deform, and also withstands the water test very well.

Drought resistance

Allegro has good drought resistance. This variety does not need frequent watering. It is enough to water the trees at the rate of 3 liters of water per 1 tree, do this several times in the spring and several times in the summer. In dry summers, the amount of watering can be increased.

Resistance to environmental conditions and diseases

This variety demonstrates a high level of resistance to environmental conditions. “Allegro” will not be afraid of sharp temperature fluctuations in early spring or late autumn. Among fungal diseases, the tree has good resistance to scab.

By the way, increased resistance to fungal diseases allows you to minimize the chemical treatment of the garden, which means that an environmentally friendly product will end up on your table.

Flowering period

Flowers appear in early spring, after the air temperature has become steadily warm. Don't worry that frost will prevent flowering - resistance to temperature changes also extends to the flowers.

Did you know? Before tobacco was brought to Europe, Europeans smoked pear leaves.

Pollinators for Allegro pear

The Allegro variety is a self-sterile variety. Therefore, to obtain a tasty and abundant harvest, additional planting of pollinating pears is necessary. Experienced gardeners advise planting pollinating varieties such as “Augustovskaya Rosa” or “Chizhovskaya” for the “Allegro” pear.

Important! When choosing a companion Allegro pear for pollination, pay attention to the period of flowering and fruit formation - these indicators should be the same for the selected varieties.

Maturation period

The first fruits ripen in mid-August. After collecting the first fruits, you can let them sit for 2 weeks until they reach consumer maturity. Due to this ripening, their color will change slightly - a yellowish tint will appear, and the flesh will become very soft. Uneven ripening on one tree allows the ripening period to be extended until the end of August.

Fruiting

The Allegro variety is characterized by a mixed type of fruiting, which means the possibility of setting fruit both on fruit twigs, spears, and on annual shoots. Thanks to this feature, the Allegro pear will be able to please you with a bountiful harvest. Planted trees begin to bear fruit 4–5 years after planting in a permanent place.

Productivity

The productivity of Allegro is high; already in the first fruitful year you can collect at least 10 kg of pears from one tree. In subsequent years, with proper care, this variety will delight you with a stable 8–12 kg per season. Agree that this is a considerable indicator for medium-sized varieties.

Important! Proper watering will help increase productivity. By installing a drip irrigation system, you can significantly improve the quality of your crop.

Lighting requirements

If you seriously decide to grow the Allegro pear in your garden, then choose the right place for planting. Pears prefer well-lit, sunny areas. Choose a location on the west or southwest side of the garden. Despite its love for the sun, it is advisable that the tree is not exposed to the hot sun throughout the day. A light shadow, for example, from tall neighbors in the garden will be just right.

Advantages and disadvantages

The variety has long become popular among gardeners. And all thanks to its significant list of indisputable advantages, among which it should be noted:

Precocity. Typically, the tree begins to bear fruit 5 years after planting.
High yield due to its belonging to the mixed type (up to 10 kg per year from one pear).
Regularity of fruiting.
Excellent resistance to unstable weather conditions, for example, to a significant decrease in ambient temperature.
Resistance to a number of diseases, including powdery mildew and scab.
Uneven fruit ripening, which allows fully ripe pears to be processed gradually and slowly.
Good commercial qualities (weight, shape, color, etc.)
Wonderful taste, as close as possible to dessert.

Reviews

Vasily Petrovich

Eagle

This is my favorite pear variety. Allegro - small, but sweet and tasty. They are soft, just melt in your mouth, just right for me, who has no teeth.

Olga Platonovna

Yuryevka

I love Allegro for their amazing honey taste. The tree is immune and has never been sick. This makes me very happy.

Tamara Stepanovna

Samara Region

The Allegro variety is a godsend for the gardener. The tree does not need special care, but the fruits are sweet and juicy. In addition, she is not afraid of scab and fruit rot.”

Ivan

Tula

The Allegro variety has been bearing fruit on my plot for a long time, it’s enough for my family, for harvesting for the winter, and I also take out the surplus for sale. The pear is resistant to scab, so my fruits are environmentally friendly

Rules for planting Allegro pears

After proper planting, the tree develops quickly and begins to bear fruit generously on time.

Warning! It is better to place a pear tree once, because in adulthood all varieties do not tolerate transplantation well.

Recommended timing

The seedling is placed from the beginning of September to October 5-7. Spring planting is carried out from April to May 10, until the buds bloom.

Attention! Garden soil is well loosened, since powerful roots that grow up to 5-7 m require free access of air and moisture.

Selection and preparation of seedlings

It is better to buy young pears, up to 3 years old. Afterwards, the pear tree takes root rather poorly. In the south, annuals are planted. When buying an Allegro pear, you also buy pollinating varieties that bloom at approximately the same time as it, preferably summer varieties. Select seedlings with an elastic trunk and roots, without damage, with large, living buds. There are several shoots on the roots.

Site selection and soil preparation

When planning to plant a pear, carefully consider the placement. Select by criteria:

sunny spacious area, without shading by trees or buildings;
small hills;
groundwater below 2 m;
The Allegro variety develops well on chernozems or loams.

The place for the pear is prepared six months or at least a week before planting, and the substrate is laid. The diameter of the pit is 60-80 cm, the depth is 80-100 cm. Prepare for the substrate:

20-30 liters of compost;
10-15 liters of sand;
half the volume - garden soil;
120-150 g of superphosphate;
60 g of potassium sulfate powder.

The substrate is placed in a hole, then spilled with lime water (per 10 liters - 300 g of slaked lime or dolomite flour). Add another 20 liters of water. For spring planting of pears, it is recommended to lay the substrate at the end of October, before frost.

Landing algorithm

Before planting, the seedling is soaked in a clay mash for 24 hours. To stimulate root formation, many gardeners add 20 g of honey per 10 liters of water or one tablet of the drug Heteroauxin to the mash.

Part of the compacted substrate is removed and the pear is planted:

form a mound from the soil remaining in the pit;
drive the support stake at a distance of 15-20 cm from the center;
the roots of the seedling are spread on a mound and sprinkled with the prepared substrate;
the root collar is 5 cm above the garden surface;
the trunk is attached to the support pole;
compact the soil, form an earthen rampart around the pit so that water does not spill throughout the garden;
water with 20-30 liters of water, mulch with compost and humus.

Attention! In dry weather in autumn and spring, seedlings are watered once a week with 20-30 liters of water.

Ripening and harvesting dates

Allegro pear is an early ripening variety. The fruits begin to ripen in mid-August. The fruits do not ripen all at once, but gradually over the course of a month, so you can eat them over several weeks. Harvesting occurs as the fruits ripen.

It is not recommended to delay harvesting - overripe fruits lose their presentation and taste.

Productivity

Trees begin to bear fruit in full 5–7 years after planting, however, the first fruits may appear earlier. From one mature tree aged 8 years and older, 9–13 kg of fragrant pears are harvested.

Harvest shelf life and transportability

The harvested crop is not stored for long, a maximum of 10-14 days in the refrigerator, therefore, it is recommended to process the fruits immediately after they are removed from the tree. If it is necessary to increase the shelf life, the fruits are harvested a couple of weeks before the ripening date.

The fruits of the Allegro variety are poorly transported over long distances - they lose their taste and appearance.

Aftercare for Allegro pear

The Allegro variety is quite drought-resistant, so seedlings are often watered only once a week. Trees are watered before flowering and during the formation of ovaries, 3-4 times during the summer. The tree trunk circle is loosened and weeds are removed. Feed the pear twice:

in April-May, nitrogen preparations and organic matter are introduced;
in August - organic matter, phosphorus and potassium products.

In summer and autumn, sanitary pruning is carried out, freeing the tree from damaged branches. In early spring, from the age of 3-4 years, the crown begins to form. In late autumn, the pear trunk is whitened, which promotes the survival of the tree in conditions of temperature changes, and also serves as preventive protection against pests. With the onset of frost, young pears are protected from rodents by installing special nets or a thick layer of paper or burlap around the trunk. Mulch is poured under the seedlings.

Watering

In addition, the tree needs watering. If the summer was not too dry and hot, then 4-5 waterings for the season will be enough. Otherwise, the plant will need more water, depending on temperature and rainfall. Watering is best done by sprinkling, simulating natural precipitation, but you can pour water directly under the trunk. With the last method of watering, you must remember that Allegro does not like water standing near the trunk for a long time - its excess should be drained using drainage channels. After the water has subsided, it is necessary to loosen or mulch.

Top dressing

The crop is fed 2-3 times a year. Before the buds open, add a solution of urea or mullein. Fertilizers contain nitrogen, which will ensure active growth of shoots. After flowering, prepare a solution of Nitroammophoska in a ratio of 1:20. At the stage of fruit ripening, pears are fed with phosphorus-potassium compounds.

Whitewash

Another danger is sudden temperature changes. Both young shoots and already formed ovaries can suffer from such changes. Experienced gardeners recommend the following way to combat this - in spring and autumn, whitewash with a mixture of water-based paint and Bordeaux mixture.

Trimming

Carrying out this agrotechnical procedure allows you to prolong the life and stimulate fruiting of the tree.

Pruning is done for:

young, one- and two-year-old seedlings, which are shortened before planting;
ovaries in young trees, which are partially removed (this manipulation helps stimulate tree growth and improve the quality and volume of the harvest);
growth on seedlings, which in the future can increase the fertility of the tree by almost 20–30%.

Care

As you know, proper landing is only half the battle. To regularly enjoy a bountiful and juicy harvest, you need to properly care for your pear.

As the main ways to maintain the health of a tree, it is important to note such mandatory measures as:

periodic loosening of the soil;
whitewashing trunks in the spring-autumn period with a solution of slaked lime;
pruning annual, as well as weak and diseased branches;
fertilizing with mineral and organic fertilizers;
chemical dilution of ovaries, etc.

In preparation for the cold season, attention should be paid to thorough seasonal cleaning and moistening of the substrate, treatment of the crown with urea, as well as additional protection of the roots from rodents and other pests. For example, sawdust can serve as a bedding material. As an additional measure of protection against freezing, experienced gardeners advise covering the Allegro branches with a snow blanket on top of a layer of soil and sand. Growing dwarf trees on rootstock can also be a good alternative.

Diseases and pests

In general, the culture has good immunity against most diseases - in particular against fungal ones. Some prevention is still worth carrying out - this is removing weeds, timely cleaning of fallen leaves and crumbled fruits. This will help avoid those few diseases to which this crop is still susceptible.

Cracks are not a disease, but are the result of temperature or mechanical stress. However, cracks are highly likely to cause disease, so immediately upon detection, they should be cleaned with a wire brush, washed with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture and sealed with either clay or a special putty.

Bacterial burn

Dark brown or black spots are a sign of a bacterial burn. It is treated by removing the affected areas, treating the cut with 1% copper sulfate or 0.7% iron sulfate. You can use the drug Azofos at a 5% dosage. Processing is carried out in May-June. If the damage is already significant, then trees within a radius of 5 meters should be uprooted and burned.

Mosaic disease

Sharp pale green or light yellow spots on young leaves are a clear sign of this disease. There is no cure for it. Trees affected by it should be destroyed immediately, otherwise you risk losing the entire garden.

Root cancer

Expressed in the form of disproportionate growths on the roots of young seedlings. Affected areas should be cut out and disinfected with 1% copper sulfate.

Pros and cons of the variety

Allegro pear has numerous advantages:

amazing harvests;
excellent taste of fruit;
their beautiful appearance;
excellent winter hardiness and drought resistance;
invulnerability to diseases and pests;
gradual ripening of fruits.

The variety also has several disadvantages:

short shelf life of this type of fruit;
low transportability;
the need for pollinator trees.

Agricultural technology

The Allegro pear variety has become widespread in regions such as Belgorod, Kursk, Voronezh, Lipetsk, Tambov, Tula, Kaluga and Moscow regions. The great popularity of this variety is due to its extreme tolerance to low ambient temperatures, as well as to the influence of rodents and harmful insects.

Planting such a tree is quite simple. The main thing is to strictly follow the simple agrotechnical algorithm and not forget about timely care.

First, you should decide on the timing of planting and prepare a place for the seedling in advance. If the main work is planned for spring (April - May), then the hole needs to be done in the fall, and if in the fall (September - October), then in the spring. When choosing a garden area, it is better to give preference to elevated areas with low groundwater levels, which are well lit and reliably protected from sharp gusts of wind.

Next, you need to dig a hole 1 meter wide and 50 centimeters deep. It is recommended to mix the lower fertile layer of soil with 10 kilograms of horse or cow manure, ash and superphosphate and pour this mixture into the bottom of the hole, filling 2/3 of the entire volume of the funnel with it.

Immediately before planting, the seedling must be trimmed so that its height is no more than 1 meter. Strongly developed rhizomes are also subject to pruning by approximately 10 cm.

After planting a young tree, it must be mulched with sawdust or humus and fixed on a support peg.