Titovka (Painted Titovka)

An old autumn variety of folk selection. First described by the well-known biologist and pomologist A. T. Bolotov. Previously, this variety was widely distributed in the Middle Belt of Russia. In the past, the best, most brightly colored Titovka fruits were supplied to the Moscow market, primarily from Oryol and Kursk regions. Currently, the variety is excluded from officially approved and prospective varieties, but can still be found as individual trees in old gardens.

Trees are vigorous, with a broad-pyramidal, sparse crown in young trees and round or irregular shape in mature trees. Main branches emerge from the trunk at a sharp angle.

Shoots are brown, dark, moderately hairy. Leaves are large, elliptical, wrinkled, with serrated edges, moderately hairy. Petioles are small, awl-shaped. In nurseries, one-year-old shoots have leaves densely arranged at the apex (as if in a cluster). Central vein and petiole are colored with anthocyanin. Buds are large, flat, conical.

Fruits are large, very attractive, nearly cylindrical, with broad ridges. Main color is greenish-yellow. Covering color consists of broad dark-red stripes on a pink blurred background over most of the fruit surface. Fruit skin is covered with a waxy coating. Subcutaneous dots are barely noticeable, whitish. Peduncle is short, usually does not extend beyond the calyx. Calyx is deep, rust-colored, closed, composed of large sepals. Heart is bulbous, seed chambers open into the central cavity. Seeds are large, light-brown.

Fruit flesh is yellowish, sometimes reddish near the skin, coarse-grained, loose, wine-sweet, of medium flavor quality. Chemical composition of the fruit: dry matter — 12.3%, titratable acids — 0.67%, total sugars — 10.7%, ascorbic acid — 17.7 mg/100g, P-active substances — 206 mg/100g, pectic substances — 13.8%.

Harvesting maturity in Oryol region occurs in the first decade of September.

Fruits can be stored until November. At maturity, they do not hold firmly on the tree.

Variety is early-bearing, medium-yielding, with high winter hardiness in the Middle Belt of Russia. Resistance to scab is moderate.

Advantages of the variety: attractive, large fruits, high winter hardiness of trees.

Disadvantages of the variety: brittle wood, low flavor quality of fruits, tendency to drop before harvest.