Early-ripening variety obtained at the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Genetics and Selection of Fruit Crops named after I.V. Michurin by P.N. Yakovlev from crossing variety Koperechka No. 12 with Lyubimitsa Klappa. Widely distributed, approved for cultivation in the Volgo-Vyat, Middle Volga, Ural, West Siberian, East Siberian, and Far Eastern regions. Its commercial value has declined, and it is no longer planted in new orchards.
Medium-sized tree, broad-pyramidal crown, moderate density. Branches diverge at nearly right angles. Bark on the trunk and scaffold branches is gray, smooth, and bears mixed fruiting.
Branches of medium thickness, slightly curved, light green, not lignified — slightly hairy. Leaves are inversely egg-shaped, weakly curved, distinctly folded, with a broad tip slightly pointed, rounded base. Blade is concave. Margin is serrated. Petiole is short, green, stipules medium-sized, sickle-shaped.
Flowers are white, in clusters of 4-6, bowl-shaped, petals white, moderately closed, margin smooth, stigmas below the anthers.
Fruits are below average size, truncated-conical, irregular. Fruit color at harvest: main color is greenish-yellow, cover color is light blush on the lower part of the fruit. At consumer maturity: main color is yellow with slight greenish tinge, cover color is dull blush. Peduncle is long, medium thickness, angled. Calyx is small, cup is medium, saucer is small and broad, skin dull, dense, not very rough. Sub-cup tube is short, wide, conical. Seed cavity is small, bulbous, chambers closed, small. Seeds are large, dark brown, few in number.
Flesh is creamy, juicy, medium density, taste slightly sour-sweet, without bitterness, with mild aroma. Fruits contain 11.8% sugar, 0.38% acid, 5.6 mg/100g ascorbic acid, 51 mg/100g catechins.
Fruits ripen early, harvestable maturity occurs at the end of the first decade of August, and consumer period lasts up to two weeks.
Early-bearing variety. Fruit production begins on the 3rd–4th year after planting. High yield and winter hardiness, almost immune to scab.
Advantages of the variety: small trees, early-bearing, very high winter hardiness, versatile use of fruit.
Disadvantages of the variety: small fruits with insufficient flavor, strong fruit drop.
Sovietka is actively used as a valuable source in breeding. Varieties such as Yeseninskaya (Sovietka Ch Olivier de Serre) and Tyutchevskaya [(Sovietka Ch Rossozhanskaya early + Merezhka) Ch Jérve] were developed at the All-Russian Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding and have passed State Testing.
