On the territory of our country, viticulture for many millennia has been one of the main occupations of many people.
For some, it's just a way to make money, for others it's a plant for the soul, and for others, it's a real hobby and a whole meaning of life.
It is the third type of people who are often so captured by the process of growing grape varieties that they begin to create their own hybrids.
Quite often, such experiments are carried out with a bang, so that more and more new names appear in the register of grape varieties.
About one of these grape varieties, which appeared through the efforts of amateur breeder EG Pavlovsky, we will describe below.
Grapes "Super Extra": the secrets and characteristics of the variety
Many people know this variety under another, no less original, name "Citrine". This hybrid form of grapes was obtained as a result of amateur cross-breeding of the Talisman variety with the Cardinal, which in turn was mixed with pollen of unknown grape varieties.
The result of this experiment was an excellent table grapes with excellent characteristics of yield and fruit. Thanks good stability This grape variety gets more and more zoning every year, as it can easily tolerate cold and bear fruit even with a short period of warm season.
The appearance and shape of the brushes, that is, the bunches, of the Super Extra grapes have a lot of similarities with the Arcadia grapes. Nonprofessionals can distinguish them from each other only because of the taste and density of the skin.
Clusters are usually medium or large in size, their mass varies from 0.4 to 0.8 kilograms, respectively. In form, they are practically the same as in Arcadia - aligned cylindrical, or cylindrical. Very often one or several wings are formed on the hands. Their structure can be both loose and medium-compacted.
Average weight of one pea may fluctuate from 7 to 10 gramsWith dimensions of 2.5 x2.1 centimeters. The shape of the Super Extra grape berries is weakly ovoid, which differs in principle from Arcadia. Their skin color is yellowish-white. The taste of the berries is very good, but not as intense as that of the Arcadia mentioned. The flesh of the described variety is very fleshy and juicy, which makes it very gently when eaten.
In general, the taste is quite harmonious, but slightly diluted with coarseness of the skin, which is still eaten. It is worth paying attention to the relatively high level of sugar accumulation of berries of this variety, which is 16-18% with an acidity value of only 4-6 g / l.
Grapes "Super Extra" is characterized by a very large and strong-growing bush. Due to this, as well as the excellent maturation of the vine, the bush can please quite high yields.
But still, the bush requires mandatory pruning and normalization of the amount of the crop. The optimal number of eyes on one bush is about 20-25. As well as in “Arcadia”, 1-2 clusters can form on one shoot of a bush of this variety.
The big plus of this grape variety is that its fruits ripen in a fairly short time. Many even refer this grape to super-early varieties, since the growing season of its bush lasts only 95-105 days. Due to this, you can harvest in the first days of August.
Thus, the bush is very good for amateur viticulture, because in any conditions its fruits ripen completely, and for good fruiting the bush does not require much attention from the grower.
Description of the main merits Super Extra grapes
- The grape bush has a bisexual flower, due to which there are no problems with its pollination and no pea is observed on the grapes.
- Good presentation and taste of grape fruit.
- Thanks to a strong skin suitable for transportation.
- It has a relatively high resistance to the most common fungal diseases of vineyards.
- The bush tolerates cold and frosty winters quite well; there was no damage on his vine when the temperature was lowered to -24ºС. But still, it refers to covering cultures.
Many prefer the grape "Super Extra" variety "Arcadia", referring to the resemblance and similar flavors. But still, a new grape variety, according to currently established data, has better resistance.
At present, the described grape variety is still considered quite young. For this reason, all its characteristics, which have been described above, continue to be studied. Thus, to say unequivocally, it will manifest itself on a bush in a particular disease, or the cracking of berries, or damage by pests, is very difficult.
In any case, the bush will have to very carefully monitor and control its condition. Regular preventive sprays of fungal diseases also can not be abandoned.
It is also interesting to read about the best technical grapes
How to plant grapes on your own site correctly and simply: detailed instructions
Even experienced growers sometimes make minor mistakes when planting this wonderful crop. What to speak about those who first want to plant grapes on their site. For this reason, we want to share with you all the secrets and peculiarities of this, in fact, quite simple, process.
Not everyone knows, but there are several ways to reproduce grapes. Each of them is efficient and has its own characteristics:
- Reproduction of grapes with seedlings. With this method, the grape variety is grown on its own roots, unless of course the sapling is not planted. Thanks to this you can have a 100% confidence that the bush you grow will have absolutely all varietal characteristics.
- Grafting varietal cuttings of grapes to the stock with a long-term supply of wood. This type of breeding can be called the most effective. If the cutting is successfully rooted, the young bush will develop very quickly and will also be able to enter fruiting quickly. After all, the fact is that the bush already has a well-developed root system capable of supplying the cutting with many essential nutrients. Another advantage of the vaccination is that you can make it almost the whole year: grafting the “black” cutting to the “black” stock, “black to the green”, “green to the green”.
- Use for breeding grape taps. If someone of your friends has a kut of grapes "Super Extra", then you may well ask them to make branches from the bush. The essence of this method lies in the fact that a good and long shoot is removed from the bush, lies on the ground and is covered with a layer of soil. At the end of a certain period of time, this shoot will take root and become a full-fledged bush. If it is separated from the main bush, then after that it can be transplanted as a sapling.
- Sowing grape seeds. From them grow varietal seedlings, which after 1-2 years can be transplanted as a full-fledged shrub. However, very often with such reproduction the grapes lose their varietal properties, so this method is used very rarely.
Describing the methods of planting grapes above, we have already mentioned that it is planted almost the whole year. Rather, only in spring and autumn, but the landing time can be very stretched.
Spring planting can begin from the end of March, if the weather has time to be established more or less stable before this time. At this time, you can graft cuttings or plant those seedlings that have been preserved since autumn.
They can be planted at a later time, until May. If you are going to plant with the help of a green sapling grown with a cutting in the form of a houseplant, then it should be done better at the end of May - the beginning of summer so that unexpected frosts will not damage its green shoots.
In general, the advantage of spring planting is that during the first year of the growing season, the grapevine has time to adapt well and grow in a new place. Thus, it will be much more stable when the winter frosts begin.
But the advantages of the autumn planting include the fact that it is at this time of year that the planting materials for planting are carried out - cuttings and seedlings. For this reason, it is much more logical to plant them at this time so that they will not dry out and be damaged.
Also, in autumn, the soil contains much more moisture, which well supports the vitality of a grape bush. Thanks to this, the sapling also does not require much attention and watering. Landing at this time of year can be carried out from the second half of September and practically until the beginning of November, if at that time strong winter frosts have not yet been established.
First of all, when choosing a place for planting a grape bush, you need to take into account the fact that this plant is very demanding to a lot of sunlight. In a shaded place or in very close proximity to other plants, grapes will not grow well, much less bear fruit.
According to experienced winegrowers, it is best to grow it in the home area from the south or southwest side of houses or buildings, which will also serve as protection from the winds. Also, a good way to grow grapes is to build special arches for them or to plant bushes near arbors.
In order for the bushes enough space for weaving and growth, it is also important to plant them in the correct pattern.
Since the Super Extra grapes have a strong-growing shrub, the bushes should be planted at a sufficiently large distance from each other - approximately 1.5-2 or even 2.5 meters.
The distance between the rows should also not be less than 3 meters. If you are going to plant grapes near the house, you need to retreat from the foundation by 0.7-1 meters.
It is important that the vine was planted on good fertile soil. After all, the soil is the basis of the formation of the bush and its fruits. This plant is particularly well suited black soil, light loam.
It is especially important that the soil be able to retain moisture well in itself, although of course it is not the same as clay. Grapes and sands that cannot provide nutrients to the bush will not work.
In the event that there is no suitable soil on your site, its fertility can be raised independently, if for several years feed it regularly with plenty of fertilizer.
The most important task when planting grapes on their own roots is not the choice of the seedling itself, but preparation of a pit for planting. The fact is that experienced growers advise to cook it much earlier than to make the actual planting itself. The fact is that a young sapling must be provided with a large amount of nutrients, laying them at the bottom of the pit.
But by the time of planting, the layer of fertilizer should well subside and, ideally, begin to decompose into microelements. Therefore, at least two weeks before planting the grapes, we are digging a hole in the plot with a depth and width of 0.8 meters. At its bottom 2-3 buckets of compost are mixed, mixed with good fertile soil. Another layer of unfertilized soil is laid on top of the fertilizers and left until planting.
The seedling is best purchased in specialized nurseries, which will provide you with not only high-quality, but also 100% varietal shrub. The fact that it is not damaged and not dried will be indicated by the white color of its root system, as well as the green cut of the top.
Such a seedling after purchase should be stored in a wet place, and placed in water for a few days before planting. Also recommended dip the roots in special solutions root growth stimulants ("humate").
The seedling itself is placed in the pit only up to the level of its root collar and is very carefully covered with soil. After landing, it is abundantly watered and tied to a support. The soil around the seedling is necessarily covered with mulch, and the seedling itself is covered.
Inoculation of grape cuttings of the Super Extra variety to the rootstocks of other varieties
This method of breeding grapes is quite effective, as we mentioned above. But besides this, it is quite simple. For this you need only to prepare varietal cuttings, with 2-3 eyes. The lower part of them for a good vaccination is cut off from two sides, and the upper part is waxed.
In addition, to raise the vitality of the cutting, it is recommended to keep it in water before grafting.
The stock is a stump that remains after the removal of an old grape bush. It is very important that the cut is even, it also needs to be very carefully cleaned, making it almost smooth.
Exactly in the middle there is a shallow split in which the cutting is placed. In order to create the best contact between the stock and the handle, the first one is tightened with cloth or other improvised means.
Also, the site of vaccination is recommended to grease with wet clay. The remaining actions are completely identical with planting a seedling: support, watering, mulching.
Recommendations for the care of grapes varieties "Super Extra"
- The grape bush constantly requires moisture, which is the basis of its growth and the formation of its fruits. Be sure to make watering before the flowering of the bush and during the formation of clusters to maintain the bush in this difficult period. It is important to maintain the grapes during droughts.
- After each irrigation, it is important to cover the soil around the grape with mulch: a layer of 3 centimeters of moss or blackened sawdust.
- Any vine bush requires additional feedings that can improve its fruitfulness. It is best to use organics and mineral fertilizers such as potassium, phosphates and nitrogen.
- Pruning grapes is carried out every autumn. Shoots described varieties are shortened by 4-8 eyes.
- For the winter, this variety is necessarily hiding, so as not to suffer from frost and severe winter frost.
- At the same time, as obligatory watering, preventive sprays of a bush from fungal diseases are carried out.
