Attica grapes

The Attica variety became known about 40 years ago. He deservedly won the recognition of Russian winegrowers for massive clusters, good frost resistance. Table raisin grapes are early ripening grapes, they regularly give a bountiful harvest, have a high resistance to diseases and pests. It is used for winemaking, making compotes, juices, raisins.

Occasionally, the name Attica Seedlis is found.

Bred by breeder Mihos Vassilos at the Greek Institute of Viticulture in Athens when crossing the black grape variety from France Alphonse Lavalle with the Central Asian Black Kishmish.

Grown in the southern regions of Russia, in the middle lane, in particular, in the Volga region and the Moscow region - in these regions it is recommended to shelter the vine from the cold.

The bushes of Attica are above average, well developed, with a powerful root system, they are distinguished by a high degree of maturation of brushes on young shoots. The leaves are bright green, with three or five lobes. The leaf plate is slightly dissected, the surface is matte with large wrinkles, the lower part is covered with slight pubescence.

Flowering lasts 1 to 2 weeks. The growing season is 110-120 days. The variety is sensitive to sudden changes in temperature during the period of bud formation, flowering and the appearance of ovaries. In cool summers, the berries taste more bland. Grapes do not require special cultivation conditions; even a novice gardener can grow it.

Attica belongs to the early varieties. In the middle lane, harvesting begins from mid-August to mid-September, in the southern regions - from late July to August. Young and old vines bear fruit, age does not affect the ripening time. Ripe fruit does not always indicate full ripeness. To achieve full ripeness, the pulp must gain sugar content and juiciness. When fully ripe, the berries are large in size and sweet in taste.

They are in the form of a cylinder, often with wings, reaching a length of up to 30 cm. The average weight of a hand is up to 700 g, the maximum is 2 kg. The berries are placed tightly to one another, there may be clusters of moderate density. On young plants, the clusters are smaller. Well transported.

Large in size, rounded or somewhat oval in shape with a small fossa at the end. The mass of one berry is about 4-5 g. The color varies from plum to dark purple and dark blue. The skin is firm, covered with a waxy coating, does not taste astringent. The pulp is firm, crunchy, without seeds.

Juicy berries have a pleasant sweetness with additional notes of cherries and a tart aftertaste of chokeberry. Contains sugar - 16-18%, acid level - 5 g per 1 liter.

Differs in high yield rates. The variety often ties more brushes than it can handle. To maintain the quality of the harvest, the number of bunches on the vine must be normalized - about 30 per adult plant. The grapes begin to bear fruit in 2 years after planting, at 3 yields up to 5 kg. An adult bush gives about 15-20 kg of fruit.

It is a thermophilic and sun-loving species. Very well pollinated, many ovaries appear on the inflorescences. The vines are grown on trellises. Gardeners consider the variety to be undemanding to care for. To obtain a good harvest, timely watering, top dressing, weed removal, and loosening of the soil are necessary.

It belongs to the light-loving species, it is recommended to plant it on the south side. Choose a flat place, protected from drafts. Undemanding to soils, with the exception of salt marshes and wetlands - on such soils it will not bring crops. The recommended level of soil acidity is 6-6.5 pH.

Pits for seedlings are made with a depth of 50x50 cm with an interval of 1.5-2 m. The location of groundwater is no closer than 2 m to the surface of the earth. Plants need good drainage. A mixture of compost and potassium-phosphorus fertilizers is placed in the holes, black soil is poured on top. After planting, watered with 20 liters of water per 1 bush, the soil is mulched: straw, spruce branches, spunbond, tied to a support.

Bisexual flowers on grapes are pollinated regardless of the weather. Grown on the site in isolation from other varieties and in joint plantings. Can be planted one at a time.

They are pruned twice a year: in early spring, before the juice begins to move, damaged and dry shoots are removed, in the fall, after leaf fall, formative pruning is carried out. For a southern climate, make a short molding of 2-3 eyes; in a temperate climate, an average pruning of 5-6 eyes is recommended. On young plants, 12 vines are left, on adults up to 25. For abundant fruiting during flowering and ripening, it is recommended to pinch green shoots. Small branches growing inside the bush are removed.

Grapes do not like overdrying the soil, but waterlogging can also lead to rotting of the root system. Drip or drainage irrigation is recommended. If there is no rainfall, water a little every day.

They are fed several times per season: in April-May before flowering - nitrogen fertilizers, in June-August - potassium-phosphorus compounds, in October-November - organic mixtures. If a drip irrigation system is organized, fertilizing is introduced in a place with water.

In the southern regions, not all gardeners harbor plants. In temperate climates, it is recommended to prepare a shelter for the winter. The bushes are sprayed with a 5% solution of copper sulfate.The vines are removed from the trellis and laid on boards or straw, on top - several layers of burlap. In mild winters, shoots are not removed from the trellises, but around them a structure, similar to a greenhouse, made of "breathing" materials is made.

Attica is well resistant to diseases of gray mold and mildew. High immunity from pests is genetically laid down: spider mite, phylloxera, leafworm, grape itch. For prophylaxis, it is recommended to treat with fungicides 3 times per season: after the leaves bloom, during the appearance of buds, and after the formation of ovaries. To protect the bunches from wasps, put on special mesh bags.

Bunches keep well in a cool place for up to 2 months, twigs darken a little. With the longest storage, it does not rot, but begins to dry out and turn into raisins.

According to gardeners, the Attica grapes ripen in the Krasnodar Territory almost a week earlier than stated in the description. In Saratov, the berries hung on the vine until October, after which they did not spoil, the flesh became dense and crispy, and I liked the taste very much. The owner of the suburban area believes that for Samara this is a decent variety, although there is nothing special in the taste of the fruit, but there was no particular trouble with it. In the Rostov region, the bushes overwintered without shelter in a frost of -23 degrees, which greatly surprised the owner, and the next year they bloomed profusely and formed the first clusters.