Harold Grapes: a description of the variety, photos and reviews

A powerful bunch of sweet table grapes can become an ornament of any table and at the same time few people will remain indifferent. The appearance of selection varieties allows to grow this plant even in the northern regions of the country, in the conditions of a very short summer. One of the hybrid varieties, well-proven, is the Harold grapes. The reviews indicate a stable harvest and high taste qualities of this variety.

Variety Harold: description of grapes

Growing grapes for themselves, not for sale, people are guided by the criteria of high yield, resistance to disease and taste. While for the market, the size and shape of the berries, the appearance of the bunch itself, are important. But all of the above criteria corresponds to the Harold grapes. The description of the variety should begin with the fact that it has an early maturation period. Since the appearance of the first kidneys and until the ripening of the grape is complete, it usually takes 90-100 days. The first fruits can be enjoyed in the middle of July.

Long hanging, until the middle of September, on the bushes cluster - it's very similar to the Harold grapes. The testimonies of the winegrowers show that with this storage the clusters do not dry, do not crumble, are not damaged by wasps, the market appearance and taste do not deteriorate.

Bushes in this variety vigorous. Harold grapes are of medium size bunch weighing 400-500 grams, its shape is cylindrical. The berries have an interesting ellipsoidal shape with a pointed end. Are relatively dense relative to each other. The flesh of the berries is juicy, the skin is dense, yellow-green in color.

Variety of Harold grapes has a balanced sweet and sour taste and a pronounced nutmeg aroma, which allows winemakers to use it for making Muscat wine.

Another feature of this variety is the need to normalize the inflorescence, since grapes tend to overload the crop, which can cause unresolved bunches or even a deterioration in the amount of harvest.

Weight gain of half a kilogram

The Harold grapes have a number of undeniable advantages and is characterized by the lack of shortcomings:

1. High frost resistance of the variety and a short maturation period allow it to grow even in Siberia. The plant is able to withstand frosts down to -25 ° C.
2. The wonderful taste, aroma and beauty that characterize the Harold grapes, unfortunately, can not convey the photos.
3. A plant of hybrid type has a high resistance to diseases.
4. This grapes is transported very well.
5. High yield of bushes will please all without exception. From one bush you can collect up to 15 kilograms of grapes.

Harold's landing features

Variety Harold grape is considered unpretentious in terms of soil, and plant its bushes can be practically on any substrate. The plant is very strong, so when planting it is necessary to leave at least two and a half meters between the bushes.

Good frost resistance of the plant allows to drip seedlings in spring or autumn. The main criterion is the air temperature, which should be above 15 ° C.

Buying a seedling, you need to carefully look at his condition. A good seedling should have at least four long, thick roots, without any damage. If in the future seedlings there are signs of illness or it breaks when bending, then a good, healthy bush out of it will not work.

Grapes fruit Harold, or rather his one-year-old seedling, before the planting should be shortened to four or five eyes. For a day or two before planting, the shoot falls into the water, where it is desirable to add a growth stimulant.

For each seedling, an individual pit of 80 × 80 × 80 centimeters must be excavated. The top layer of soil when digging a hole should be laid aside, in order to later mix with humus, which can be replaced with compost or peat, and also add superphosphate and potassium salt. This mixture must be half filled every pit. The seedling is placed in the groove, the mixture is poured in, and then - by simple soil. Around the seedling should be organized a small depression, where mulch will fill and water will be poured. The depth of this hole should not be less than 5 centimeters, diameter - 50 centimeters.

How to water Harold?

The Harold grapes will feel well during the period of a small drought, and during a period of excess moisture. Therefore, watering should be carried out regularly, from April to October. For proper irrigation, you should install a drainage system or make several circular trenches near the bush at a distance of 30 centimeters from each and a depth of 20 centimeters, where the water will be poured.

Begin the procedure in early spring, immediately after the bushes are opened after winter. The next watering is important to produce in the period between bud blossoming and the beginning of flowering. This is the moment when the bush most needs a sufficient amount of moisture.

During flowering, it is better not to water a bush. This can result in the shedding of flowers. But the first bunches formed need good watering.

The last watering should be done just before the bushes take cover for the winter. If before, an average of 40 liters was left on the bush, then the water consumption before the shelter should be 70 liters per each bush, which will ensure a deep penetration of moisture.

Mulching variety

In its qualities, mulch is similar to organic fertilizers, but performs a different function. It is necessary in order to keep moisture in the soil.

As a material for mulch, peat, humus, straw, old fallen leaves or simply mown grass will do. Specialty stores offer a large selection of special materials that are able to protect the roots of the plant from dehydration, prevent the development of weeds, improve the aeration.

Harold vineyard shelter

Harold grapes, although it is a cold-resistant hybrid variety, still needs shelter, especially in the severe northern winter. To protect the winter, wine growers prefer to use polyethylene. Before hiding a bush, it must be tied up, laid on the ground and fastened. After this, iron arcs are installed over the grape row, to which polyethylene film will be attached. One layer of film for Harold is enough.

In addition to shelter, some wine growers also abundantly pour grapevines on the ground. But before you put the shoots on the ground, you must always put something in bed so that the process of decay does not begin.

How to crop Harold variety?

Pruning a plant allows it to form, manage the growth, quantity and quality of the crop. Before pruning, the condition of the bush is necessarily assessed, and Harold, being a strong-growing shrub, feels good for any kind of pruning, be it short, medium or long.

Young shoots should be shortened and leave an average of 35 eyes per bush. This is done in order to offload a bush prone to overloading. On secondary shoots it is necessary to remove superfluous inflorescences which should remain no more than 20 pieces on a bush.

How and when to fertilize this variety?

The sapling landed in fertilized soil, so the first four years in fertilizers, he will not need. Adult bushes most need mineral fertilizers, which need to be introduced annually, before removing the shelter from the bush and before the moment of flowering. Adult shrubs will respond well to the full range of mineral fertilizers, that is, nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. They are introduced in the form dissolved in ten liters of water (superphosphate, ammonium nitrate, potassium salt in proportions of 2: 1: 0.5, respectively).

Before maturing brushes, bushes can be fed only with ammonium nitrate. If you feed before the onset of winter, it is better to use potassium. Organic fertilizers should not be introduced more than once every few years. As an organic man, bird droppings, compost, manure and other agricultural products are suitable.

Harold's second crop

Variety Harold grapes, reviews of which beginners grape growers and simple truck farmers are extremely surprised-delighted, will also be pleased by the fact that it is able to give a double crop. The second crop appears on the steps of the bush, but not on the main shoots. If there is a desire to provide yourself with a double joy, then on the stepsons until the beginning of July, remove all the inflorescences.

Bunches of the second crop will be slightly inferior in size. Fruits can be harvested at the end of August. The ability to harvest on stepsons is very convenient in cases where spring frosts damaged the inflorescence. Harvest on secondary shoots may well block losses from beaten inflorescences on the main shoots.

Protecting

As mentioned, the Harold variety is a plant that is less susceptible to diseases such as mildew, which affects all the green aerial parts, and oidium (powdery mildew). However, even this strong hybrid will not be harmed by prevention. As preventive measures, grapes can be treated with phosphorus-containing fungicide or a 1% solution of boric acid before flowering. Against gray rot, which can affect grapes, a solution of baking soda, which is made from 100 grams of powder dissolved in 10 liters of water, helps with the addition of 40 grams of laundry soap.

Variety of Harold grapes, a characteristic and description of which was presented in the article, has recently taken root in Siberian gardens. And even there he was able to surprise many with his early maturity, excellent quality with heavy clusters, a bright unforgettable taste.