Promising varieties of Belarusian-bred apples and pears are being tested in Tolochin
The Tolochin district is preparing for the country's first industrial harvest of the promising "Diyamant" apple variety.
Polish and Dutch "Gala," "Golden Delicious," "Mutsu," "Prince" – there are plenty of apples on store shelves. Belarusian ones, however, have been almost impossible to find for a couple of months or more. How are our gardeners working now for future harvests, what are they doing to make domestic varieties more resistant and reliable in storage, and to avoid supply disruptions in stores? We are looking for answers to these questions in the apple and pear orchards of one of the country's largest producers – the Tolochin Cannery.
Dozens of gardeners are pruning low-growing apple trees: at the enterprise's plantations, along with the spring sun, work on planting new trees, caring for young and adult plants has been maximally intensified these days. Numerous blocks (they are called exactly that here) stretch into the distance with even alleys. The division's staff is about 90 people, but the spring shaping of crowns is entrusted only to the most experienced. It is important to remove excess branches so as not to overload the tree, create optimal conditions for flowering, and provide future fruits with maximum sun.
— Our lands are constantly expanding, — says the head of the horticultural division of the plant, Viktor Bulygin. — Now we have about 300 hectares occupied by apple trees, and almost 28 hectares are allocated for pear trees. This year's spring plantings will cover more than a dozen hectares. This is only for apple trees. As for pear trees, we will have to almost double the area in the coming years. We focus on new, but already proven varieties. Seedlings are grown in our own nursery. Without the use of chemicals — only manual weeding. In the future, this will make the tree healthy and strong.
It is, of course, not immediately possible to find out what an apple tree is capable of and how resistant its variety is to various diseases. Therefore, plantings that turn out to be unpromising sometimes have to be removed here, and in return, the blocks are planted with promising novelties. Moreover, our scientists have something to offer.
— We work in close conjunction with the Institute of Fruit Growing of the National Academy of Sciences, — Viktor Bulygin points to the young trees. — This is "Diyamant" — a completely new variety for Belarus. This year, we will harvest its first crop on an industrial scale. It promises to surprise: in terms of winter hardiness, it surpasses all its foreign "relatives". The fruits are of winter ripening, suitable for long-term storage. This is how, through testing, we try to maximally extend the natural, not artificially created, storage periods of fruits. After all, true connoisseurs of natural vitamins will never be tempted by glossy imported apples, covered with a thick layer of wax or paraffin, but "indefinite" in storage.
—Why did you decide to double the pear areas, since storing them is perhaps even more difficult? — I ask the specialist.
— All our products are in demand. About half of what we grow is sent for export. Pears are also in constant demand, they are more profitable. Therefore, in the current season, we will also work on new varieties that can ensure long-term storage of fruits. Cooperation with domestic breeders helps to determine the most promising areas of horticulture and improve it. For example, the recently developed Belarusian "Zaveya" ripens in winter: in terms of taste, size, and appearance, this pear surpasses the popular "Belorusskaya Pozdnyaya" and can be stored until March. Now we are starting mass plantings of this variety, we will bet on it.
Polish and Dutch "Gala," "Golden Delicious," "Mutsu," "Prince" – there are plenty of apples on store shelves. Belarusian ones, however, have been almost impossible to find for a couple of months or more. How are our gardeners working now for future harvests, what are they doing to make domestic varieties more resistant and reliable in storage, and to avoid supply disruptions in stores? We are looking for answers to these questions in the apple and pear orchards of one of the country's largest producers – the Tolochin Cannery.
Dozens of gardeners are pruning low-growing apple trees: at the enterprise's plantations, along with the spring sun, work on planting new trees, caring for young and adult plants has been maximally intensified these days. Numerous blocks (they are called exactly that here) stretch into the distance with even alleys. The division's staff is about 90 people, but the spring shaping of crowns is entrusted only to the most experienced. It is important to remove excess branches so as not to overload the tree, create optimal conditions for flowering, and provide future fruits with maximum sun.
— Our lands are constantly expanding, — says the head of the horticultural division of the plant, Viktor Bulygin. — Now we have about 300 hectares occupied by apple trees, and almost 28 hectares are allocated for pear trees. This year's spring plantings will cover more than a dozen hectares. This is only for apple trees. As for pear trees, we will have to almost double the area in the coming years. We focus on new, but already proven varieties. Seedlings are grown in our own nursery. Without the use of chemicals — only manual weeding. In the future, this will make the tree healthy and strong.
It is, of course, not immediately possible to find out what an apple tree is capable of and how resistant its variety is to various diseases. Therefore, plantings that turn out to be unpromising sometimes have to be removed here, and in return, the blocks are planted with promising novelties. Moreover, our scientists have something to offer.
— We work in close conjunction with the Institute of Fruit Growing of the National Academy of Sciences, — Viktor Bulygin points to the young trees. — This is "Diyamant" — a completely new variety for Belarus. This year, we will harvest its first crop on an industrial scale. It promises to surprise: in terms of winter hardiness, it surpasses all its foreign "relatives". The fruits are of winter ripening, suitable for long-term storage. This is how, through testing, we try to maximally extend the natural, not artificially created, storage periods of fruits. After all, true connoisseurs of natural vitamins will never be tempted by glossy imported apples, covered with a thick layer of wax or paraffin, but "indefinite" in storage.
—Why did you decide to double the pear areas, since storing them is perhaps even more difficult? — I ask the specialist.
— All our products are in demand. About half of what we grow is sent for export. Pears are also in constant demand, they are more profitable. Therefore, in the current season, we will also work on new varieties that can ensure long-term storage of fruits. Cooperation with domestic breeders helps to determine the most promising areas of horticulture and improve it. For example, the recently developed Belarusian "Zaveya" ripens in winter: in terms of taste, size, and appearance, this pear surpasses the popular "Belorusskaya Pozdnyaya" and can be stored until March. Now we are starting mass plantings of this variety, we will bet on it.
New varieties of fruit trees, which are being planted now, will help to increase storage times and improve the marketability of local fruits. And last year, despite the difficult weather conditions, Tolochin gardeners harvested almost 3 thousand tons of apples and about 200 tons of pears. They were enough until the beginning of February.