Grapes from ancient times was considered one of the best indicators of fertility and wealth. And to this day it is very difficult to find a man who will be absolutely indifferent to these ripe and juicy berries. Grapes can not only be in fresh form, but also boil from it an amazing jam. And also to make wine. Since today there is an incredibly large number of bred varieties, each of which has distinctive features, in this article we will separately consider the description of grapes "souvenir". In detail we'll talk about planting and growing grapes and learn the latest information on the basis of the reviews of the most experienced gardeners.
Grapes "souvenir": description of the variety
This variety is also called a "companion", a "black souvenir". He is also a grapes "Odessa souvenir". The description of the bush is quite simple - it is a medium-thick, powerful plant with reddish-brown shoots. Young shoots have a light green color. Three-bladed leaves have an average size and an easy pubescence, similar to a bristle. Flowers of this variety of both sexes. Bunches of grapes "souvenir" have a conical shape, rather loose, reach a weight of three hundred to five hundred grams. The variety is characterized by large berries, egg-shaped and elongated forms, which at the beginning of maturation have a dark red color, and by the time of collection they turn dark blue, acquiring a white plaque. Very dense and fairly thick peel hide under a juicy and fleshy pulp, with incredibly tasty nutmeg and thorny hues. In each berry, you can find two or three seeds, which by the time of full maturation become almost invisible.
The history of breeding grapes
The receipt of this variety became possible due to the painstaking work of Ukrainian breeders. The crossing of the "muscat of the Hamburg" Moldovan black hybrid took place in the walls of the NIIIV named after Tairov. Already from Ukraine the grape variety "souvenir" began to spread gradually throughout the Black Sea region and other regions with a pleasant, warm climate. The creators of the variety themselves claim that the best place for planting this wonderful grapes is the territory of Odessa and Kherson, which was originally envisaged.
Characteristics of yields
The undoubted advantage of this variety is the high yield, the ability to easily transfer transportation and fairly long storage. And, of course, the most important indicator for grapes is the evaluation of taste qualities. Variety "souvenir" has a fairly high rate - 8.64 points on a ten-point scale. The sugar content is within fifteen grams per milliliter, the acidity is from seven and a half to eight percent. Berries give more than seventy percent of juice from the total mass. Such characteristics are most important for winemakers and manufacturers of grape juice.
Reviews of grapes "souvenir"
There are many of them. Judging by the most reliable reviews of the grape variety "souvenir", you can distinguish a number of advantages:
- High yields - more than one hundred and twenty centners per hectare;
- Stable indicators of acidity and sugar content;
- The highest taste and aromatic qualities;
- High-quality mechanical composition (percentage of juice and unused berries);
- Long-term storage (about three months) and transportation;
- Resistance to many diseases (for example, such as gray rot and grozdevaya leaflet).
Undoubtedly, this variety has its drawbacks, consisting in a long period of full maturation (not less than one hundred and forty two days) and full intolerance to low temperature (below minus twenty degrees Celsius).
Planting grapes "souvenir"
For landing, you need to choose the most sunny place. It is best to prefer a hilly terrain on the south side. Due to the location on the hill the bush will always be supplied with fresh air. Since the bush has a powerful root system, excavate a pit for the seedling with a depth and diameter of at least eighty centimeters. On the bottom it is desirable to pour out a layer of maximally fertile soil and compost. Only after this it is necessary to fill the seedling with ordinary soil. The next step in planting is abundant watering - no less than fifteen liters of water per seedling.
Tips for growing and caring for grapes
The first year of growing grapes is the most troublesome. Required loosening of the soil with complete removal of weeds is required. Important is correct, as well as regular watering. The first watering should be done a couple of weeks after the landing. After the first winter, abundant growth and opening of the bush begins. At this point, you need to prune and tie the bush. When pruning young fruit-bearing shoots, leave at least six or seven eyes on each. The garter is best done with the help of a fabric or a soft rope, but not a line or a nylon thread. Fertilizing the soil and feeding the bush first produced just after the garter. In the future, it is necessary to observe the schedule of fertilizing the bush with mineral and organic fertilizers. Literally from the second year of cultivation, caring for a bush is greatly simplified and reduces to the autumn pruning of weak and damaged branches.
Diseases, pests and methods of combating them
The main pests, which now and then strive to spoil the harvest are wasps and birds. Protect the grapes from the birds will help only the establishment of a grid, which will be an obstacle if you want to get on the vine. To save grapes from harm caused by wasps, it is necessary to destroy absolutely all the nests in the vicinity. You can also use lures that should not have excessive flavor, because in this case, the wasps will quickly understand the substitution. With regard to diseases affecting the vine, it is worth highlighting the three main ones.
The virus of the oidium is difficult to detect with the naked eye. And the most unpleasant thing is that he suffers even a great cold. It is very important to remove the infected branches as quickly as possible, and to spray healthy sprays with specialized chemicals. The best time for this procedure is early morning or late evening.
Another misfortune, affecting many types of plants, and grapes including - powdery dew. Saving from it can be sulfur-containing drugs, such as "Karatan" or "Rubygan." Sprinkle sulfur best in the early morning, because with too much heat you can just burn the bush.
Finally, the most terrible disease is bacterial cancer. Your task is to prevent disease. To do this, it is important to ensure that the bush is ventilated and to monitor the condition of the shoots as a whole. Do not allow minor damage and scratches. Since the fight with this disease is useless, the infected bush should be destroyed.