Latvia State Institute of Fruit-Growing                    

Offers:

 Get introduced to an outstanding personality, one of the most prominent Latvian horticulturists and breeders - Pēteris Upītis.

 Get acquainted with the surroundings which could stimulate the great horticulturist, became an inspiring centre of art and culture.

 Find knowledge about the history of fruit growing in Latvia and the realities of recent past, as well as fruit growing today – a modern, competitive branch of agriculture.

Feel the charm of lilac time in Dobele which hosts the largest lilac collection in Latvia and one of the largest collections in the world.

 Visit the orchard when „under the blue skies of Dobele” apricots are covered in clouds of pink blossoms, when sweet cherries ripen under the summer sun, when the fruits of plums, pears, apples, grapes are maturing...

Pēteris Upītis (1896 – 1976)

Pēteris Upītis was born on May 19, in Jumurda, Cēsu district. His interest in horticulture developed early and became a love for lifetime. Till 1913 P.Upītis educated at the Priekuļi agriculture school, then continued his education as self-taught. The young Latvian horticulturist visited the biggest centres of fruit growing in Europe on his travels.

All his life P. Upītis led intense correspondence, exchange of information and seeds with horticulturists around the world. After graduating the school he planted a 1.6 pomologic orchard at his parents farm “Jaun – Rūsiņi”, established a laboratory for soil analyses and evaluation of fruit biochemical content. There was also a wine cellar.

The successful work was interrupted by World War II, when „... expelled were all, where – look - in the meadow tulips still grow.” /I.Ziedonis/

In the autumn of 1945 Pēteris Upītis began his work at the Latvian Agricultural Academy, where he collected data on local fruit varieties (landraces) and evaluated them. On his bicycle he traveled across most of Latvia, collecting and describing the most interesting seedlings. Yet a gardener needs a garden to feel complete. Such a place was found near Dobele, where until June 14, 1941 at the farm “Lauciņi” operated the Brothers Varna Nursery. On the base of this nursery in 1945 was founded an experimental farm. Since 1957 Pēteris Upītis started planting his own orchards in the heavy, fertile soil of Dobele. The Maestro worked with 24 plant species: apples, pears, plums, cherries, apricots, walnuts, hazels, quinces, raspberries, strawberries etc.

Especially successful was his work in lilac breeding. The lilac cultivars ‘Ede Upitis’ ('Māte Ede Upītis'), 'Liega', ‘ Gaizins’ ('Gaiziņkalns'), 'Esības Prieks' and many others attract visitors from all Latvia and abroad. Pēteris Upītis had a dream to make Latvia into „a lilac empire”. The breeder’s memory is carried on also by lily varieties 'Brūnupīte', 'Dzintarlāse'.

His aim was to select fruit varieties which would be adapted to the conditions of Latvia, winter-hardy, with high-quality fruits. From the large material obtained by the breeder, apple cultivars 'Ausma', 'Dobeliete', 'Ilga', 'Magone', 'Steiga', 'Velte', 'Ventspiliete', pear cultivars 'Jumurda', 'Paulina', sweet cherries 'Aija', 'Indra', 'Janis', apricot cultivars 'Daiga', 'Lasma', 'Velta', 'Dzintars', 'Ritausma', domestic plums 'Minjona', 'Zemgale', 'Ziedture', diploid plums 'Agra Dzeltena', 'Inese', raspberry cultivar 'Ivars' and strawberry variety 'Junija Smaids' have been selected.

The outstanding gardener was an artist in his heart, he was interested in photography, poetry, music. Dobele became a kind of cultural centre. The life of P.Upītis ended on April 4, 1976. For many springs his garden blossoms without its former master.

The official name of the place has changed several times, but it is still known in Latvia as „ Upitis garden” (“Upīša dārzs”). The best memorial to the life of Pēteris Upītis is the continuation of the work he started.