Pear Tikhonovka

Late-winter variety obtained by A. S. Tikhonova at the Central Genetic Laboratory named after I. V. Michurin (now VNIIGiSPR) from crossing of Ussuri pear 'Ch Bere Bosk'. It has been regionally approved in the Volga-Vyatka region. As the only late-winter pear variety in the northern zone, it is propagated in Sverdlovsk and neighboring regions.

Medium-sized tree, with a broad-pyramidal crown in youth, which becomes round with age. Main branches have whitish-gray bark, well-covered with long-lasting, branched lenticels, where the main yield is concentrated. Flower buds form on last year's wood on mature trees.

Shoots. Leaves small, dull green, matte, flat, thin, egg-shaped, with fine serrated edges, fairly stiff, with long petioles. Stipules are inconspicuous.

Flowers small, cup-shaped, white petals. Stamens are pale-violet, positioned at the same level as the pistil styles. Buds are pinkish-white. Flowering is early.

Fruits small, weighing 60 g (up to 90 g on fertile soils), ranging from round-pear-shaped to egg-shaped, with a short conical neck. When harvested, fruits are green and very firm. During storage in a simple warehouse, after 3-4 months, the skin turns yellow, speckled with light-brown corky spots. The peduncle is short. The calyx is almost absent. The calyx is open, small, and the calyx tube is small and cup-shaped. Seed chambers are closed, with no central cavity.

Flesh is yellowish, juicy, crisp, aromatic, with a good sweet-tart flavor. Chemical composition: dry matter — 16.9% (up to 20.8%), total sugars — 13.5% (up to 16.6%), titratable acids — 0.85% of fresh weight, ascorbic acid — 11.1 mg/100g flesh, P-active substances — 358.4 mg/100g.

Harvesting period of fruits — from February to mid-May.

Fruits remain firmly attached to the tree, even in windy weather, with no drop. Transportability of fruits is very high,

Fruits are consumed fresh and produce excellent processed products.

Self-sterile variety; requires close proximity to other pear varieties for fruiting.

Trees begin fruiting on the 7th year after budding. High and regular yield of mature trees — not less than 200-250 centners/ha.

Cold hardiness of Tikhonovka is very high; the variety is undemanding in care and not susceptible to diseases.

Advantages of the variety: outstanding fruit storability, good taste, high yield, disease resistance.

Disadvantages of the variety: small fruit size.