How to carry out pear cuttings in summer: step-by-step instructions and useful tips

Propagating pears in the garden is an interesting and time-consuming activity. It is necessary to determine the timing so as not to procrastinate and start the procedure too early, otherwise the tree will not take root. The choice of varieties suitable for propagation depends on the region where the transplantation will take place. We must not forget that each variety has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. You will learn how to propagate (cuttings) a pear in the summer from our article.

Is it possible to propagate pears from cuttings in summer?

In summer, pear trees are propagated by cuttings. A tree grown in this way begins to bloom in the fifth or sixth year of development.

Advantages and disadvantages of the procedure

One of the advantages of pear cuttings in summer is the ability to take root before the onset of severe cold, although experienced gardeners claim that trees grown using this method are not as frost-resistant as those propagated by grafting.

Other advantages:

• such plants tolerate high groundwater levels better;
• they are easy to propagate in various ways;
• they do not need vaccination.

Cuttings allow you to grow high-quality and self-rooted fruit trees. The procedure itself is simple: following the rules, even an inexperienced gardener can perform it.

However, this method of growing pears also has disadvantages:

• in the summer heat they need shelter from direct sunlight;
• give average or meager yields compared to trees grown by other methods;
• do not bear fruit every year;
• there is no guarantee that the shoot will take root.

Optimal timing for summer cuttings

In the regions of the middle zone, pear cuttings begin on June 12 or 15. Ends July 14 or 15.

In the northern regions of the country, the procedure should begin on June 20 and end before July 10. With this type of propagation, these terms are important, because the plant may not take root.

Favorable days

It is better to harvest cuttings in the morning, in cloudy weather. At this time, the cut branches contain a large amount of moisture, which contributes to the rapid survival of the shoot.

Some gardeners are guided by the lunar calendar and plant cuttings on the waxing moon.

Favorable days in summer 2020:

• June 1-4 and 22-30;
• July 1-4 and 21-31.

Suitable pear varieties

Varieties Pears suitable for this growing method:

• Autumn Yakovleva;
• Lada;
• Muscovite;
• Memory of Zhigalov.

Selection and preparation of cuttings

In the morning the shoots are cut off. The length of the branches is determined based on the size of the internodes. If they are short, 3 pieces are left on the process, long ones - 2 pieces. It is not recommended to cut thin branches, as they take root poorly.

Lignified shoots are used for propagation in the fall. Cut after leaf fall, when the movement of sap has stopped.

Green cuttings are carried out in the summer. Make one smooth cut with a sharp knife towards the kidney. Then a second cut is made - above the upper bud and horizontally.

Cuttings are also carried out by air layering. At the beginning of June, take a healthy branch and strip the bark. The resulting cut is disinfected with a fungicide solution and treated with a growth activator.Then cut the plastic cup into 2 halves and fill them with earth. Apply to the cut site and wrap with white cloth to protect from overheating. After a few days, moisten the soil.

After a month, the glass is removed from the cut site. Roots 10 cm long will appear from the branch. The shoot is separated from the tree and planted in the prepared hole.

Rooting methods

To allow the shoot to take root, it is planted in a wooden box. The bottom is covered with river sand. The second layer is earth rich in minerals. It is moistened with a spray bottle.

Attention! The soil layer should be at least 30 cm. The cutting is planted in the ground to more than half its length. Only 2 eyes are left above the ground.

The box is covered with film to create greenhouse conditions. Ventilate once every 7 days. The film is removed after half a month.

Planting ready-made cuttings

By the second half of September, the finished shoots are transplanted into a greenhouse. By this time, the pear should already have taken root. To avoid damaging them, the plant is carefully removed with a lump of earth.

The soil in the greenhouse is kept moist if autumn is hot. The greenhouse is ventilated. Closer to winter, the shoots are covered with sawdust, peat or spruce branches.

Pears are grown in a greenhouse for 3 years. The tree is then transplanted to the plot or garden.

Peculiarities of reproduction depending on the type of pear

Columnar pears are propagated by grafting onto wild rootstocks. Green shoots are also rooted and vegetative material is harvested in the fall. However, columnar pears require annual pruning of side branches.

For the rootstock they use forest pear and Ussuri wildflower. Autumn tree cuttings are also practiced for the Otradnenskaya and Lada varieties.

Depending on the region

Pear is a heat-loving crop, so it is grown mainly in the southern regions.

For example, in the Voronezh region, varieties of different ripening periods are cultivated. Pear bears fruit well in loamy areas, but the soil must be loose.

Pears on red rowan are grown in the Central Black Earth Region, since the low average temperature of the region is not suitable for rootstocks for other crops.

This is interesting:

The best summer pear varieties: description and characteristics

The best pear varieties for the Moscow region

Chemical composition of pear, calorie content and its health benefits and harms

Further care

In spring, the seedling begins to grow actively. It needs to be watered so that the soil does not dry out.

Make a groove around the perimeter of the hole and direct a stream of water into it. Evening sprinkling will especially appeal to the pear.

Both organic and mineral complexes are suitable fertilizers for wood. In August, additional ash is added along with phosphates.

The seedling is treated with antifungal drugs. For the winter, the trunk and trunk circle are insulated with sawdust and 3 layers of lutrasil. The tree is additionally wrapped with film.

In the spring, green manure is planted around the young pear. They loosen the soil, and after dying they provide substances useful for the young tree.

Advice from experienced gardeners

If you follow these tips, a healthy and fruit-bearing tree will grow from the cuttings:

• seedlings are sent to the basement for wintering;
• pruning of branches is carried out after transplanting to a permanent place;
• provide diffused lighting in the greenhouse;
• cuttings are taken from the lower part of the crown - they grow more actively.

Conclusion

Cutting a pear is a labor-intensive process that should be taken seriously.It includes not only skillful reproduction in various ways, but also subsequent care of the culture.

By following the tips described above, you can grow a strong tree from a cutting. Timely watering and fertilizing will help the gardener in this difficult task.