Rejuvenating Bananas. Varieties

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

At first, in Russia, pawpaw varieties were grown mainly of foreign selection. In the past two decades, Russian scientists have worked fruitfully on this culture. The results are impressive with their long list. What varieties are cultivated in modern growing conditions?

Diversity

There are 6 varieties of pawpaw registered in Russia:

• Victoria;

• Valentine;

• Autumn surprise;

• Novokakhovchanka;

• Sochinskaya 11;

• Sochinskaya 12.

We will consider the description of each variety in detail.

Victoria

On the territory of the Crimean Botanical Garden Khokhlov S. Yu. in 2014 a new universal early variety was discovered. A tree of small height with a dense, compact, pyramidal crown. Branches depart from the main trunk at an acute angle. The leaf is large with a wavy edge on a short petiole.

Large fruit weighing 250g, oblong-oval shape. Thin, smooth rind with a slight yellow-green tinge. The consistency of the orange-yellow pulp is similar to thick, sweet yogurt with a great flavor.

Annual yield 175c / ha. Sugar in fruits is about 17%, vitamin C - 40mg%. Taste score 5 points. It is not affected by pests, diseases during the growing season. Frost resistance at 25 degrees.

Valentine

Bred by the Sochi Institute by a group of scientists Ksenofontova D. V., Kulyan R. V., Ivanenko F. K. in 2012. Differs in early ripening, average tree size within 4, 8m. The pyramidal crown has an average density of branches, located compactly at right angles to the main leader. Arcuate shoots are thick brown, smooth.

Leaves are slightly wrinkled, large, without pubescence. The flowers are goblet, medium in size, presented in a range from purple-pink to black. They have a rich aroma.

Fruits are not one-dimensional, cylindrical, slightly juicy, dense in structure. The pulp is yellow, the taste is sweet with a pleasant undertone. Maximum weight up to 240g. Yields an annual yield of up to 29kg per tree. Contains vitamin C 50mg%, sugar 25%, fat 2, 7%.

Resistant to diseases, pests. Easily tolerates early spring frosts. Suffering from intense heat. Drought resistance is average.

Autumn surprise

Bred by the same group of scientists from the Sochi Institute in 2013. Differs in high growth up to 5, 5 m, wide-pyramidal, medium-dense crown. Thick branches are at right angles to the trunk. Matte, large, green leaves without pubescence, wrinkled with a pointed apex, slightly wavy edge.

Pinkish inflorescences easily withstand spring temperatures below zero. Fruits are cylindrical up to 8cm long, weighing 160g. The juicy flesh is dense, creamy white with a strawberry flavor, sweet. Ripe fruits are firmly attached to the branches. Productivity 36 kg per tree. Vitamin C about 50 mg%, sugar 24.6%, fat 3%.

Poorly tolerates heat, moderate drought. Not affected by pathogens.

Novokakhovchanka

Opened by an experimental farm in Novaya Kakhovka in 2014. A medium-sized tree of an upright form. Large inflorescences tie fruits with yellow pulp weighing up to 290g. Ripening period is average. The seeds are brown.

Productivity 150c / ha. Resistant to drought, frost. Diseases, pests are not affected.

Sochinskaya 11

Bred Ivanenko F. K. at the Sochi Institute in 2005. The height of the tree is 3, 8m with great vigor, wide pyramidal shape. Matte leaves are dark green, smooth, with a solid edge. Inflorescences are brown-red, odorless.

Large fruits up to 12 cm long are arranged in groups of 3-5 pieces, oblong in shape, weighing up to 350g. The orange-yellow pulp is juicy, like a thick cream, sweet, aromatic taste. Vitamin C 38mg%, sugar up to 20%.

Tolerates drought moderately, badly - heat. Low incidence of diseases.

Sochinskaya 12

An improved version of its predecessor, recommended for home gardens since 2013.

Is different:

• short stature (2, 8m);

• dense, juicy, yellow pulp, creamy structure;

• firm attachment of fruits to branches;

• with a yield of 32 kg per tree;

• maximum fruit weight of about 300g;

• the presence of 2.5% fat, 26mg% vitamin C, 17% sugar;

• resistance to diseases, pests.

All varieties have proven themselves well in the open field of the south of the country. In more northern areas, they require good shelter for the winter or can be grown indoors.

We will consider the propagation of the trilob pawpaw in the next article.