Russian early grapes

The hybrid variety Russian Early is distinguished by its unpretentiousness, frost resistance, very early ripening periods, and resistance to fungal diseases. This is not the most fruitful grape, medium-sized berries have a pleasant taste and ripen well in temperate climates. Dessert table variety is suitable for making juices and wines.

There are also names Sweetie, Caramel.

The domestic hybrid was bred in Novocherkassk by employees of the All-Russian Research Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking named after Ya. I. Potapenko. Obtained by crossing frost-resistant varieties Michurinets and Shasla severnaya.

Suitable not only for cultivation in the southern regions, but also in Central Russia, the Urals, Siberia, and the Far East.

The bushes are vigorous, actively growing in width, one plant can take up to 5 meters.

Large three-lobed leaves, occasionally the number of lobes is more than 5. The leaf blade is bright green, on the back side it is lighter with slight pubescence, petioles are long and strong. Begins to bear fruit 2-3 years after planting. Suitable for disembarkation near gazebos and arches.

From the moment of budding to the time of harvest, 110-115 days pass. It is considered an early variety: in July, ripening clusters appear on the bushes.

Small, loose, conical in shape. The average weight of a bunch is 200-400 g.

Medium size, weighing 3-5 g, oval. The skin is dark pink or ruby-crimson, very thin, easily bursts, covered with a whitish waxy coating. Dense, thick, juicy pulp contains large bones - about 3 pcs.

Very sweet, somewhat sugary, with slightly unripe berries with a moderate acidity and a very pleasant caramel aroma. Sugar content in grapes - 170-210 g / dm³, acid - 6/7 g / dm³. The taste is estimated at 9 points out of a possible 10.

To enlarge the bunches, it is necessary to normalize their number; no more than 2 inflorescences are left on one shoot. An adult plant can give up to 25 kg, a young one - up to 7 kg of fruit. Ripe fruits remain on the branches for a long time, do not rot. You can collect it in several stages.

The harvest will be small for the first 5 years. For full fruiting, a woody layer must form on the vine. Bushes require the installation of a support and tying.

The grapes must be weeded to remove weeds. Weeds are especially dangerous in the first 3 years after planting. It is recommended to treat the soil with herbicides. In case of frequent and prolonged rains during the ripening period, the vines are covered.

The variety is easily propagated using cuttings.

They are planted on the south side near summer cottages. Choose a sunny location, protected from wind and shade. An interval of 3 m is made between seedlings, each requires an area of ​​about 5-6 m2.

Pits are dug 70 cm deep, drainage is laid on the bottom, and a hill is poured from a mixture of humus and fertile soil (1: 2) on top, sand is added for looseness, and then abundantly moistened with water. After watering, wood ash with black soil is added. Plants are placed in a pit, a pipe for irrigation is dug in from the edge, and covered with a mixture of fertile soil.

The optimal time of the year is autumn, in the spring only bushes with dormant buds are planted. The arbor type of disembarkation is ideal.

Flowers are bisexual, do not need additional pollination.

It is recommended to do medium pruning annually, short pruning is carried out in places where the growth reaches 20-25 cm. Timely cutting of the vine will increase the yield of the variety and the quality of the fruit, but improper pruning can harm.

The first 2 years after planting, only dry parts are removed, young shoots are not cut off. Vines begin to form only after they are stiff. In spring, the shoots are cut off only after the end of the night frosts and the establishment of warm weather.

Early Russian responds well to vegetative irrigation. Recharge watering is recommended in spring and autumn. The autumn charging humidification increases frost resistance.

With a lack or excess of moisture, the berries may crack. In the summer, it is enough to water 2 times - after flowering and during the period of pouring the brushes. The amount of water per bush is about 10-20 liters. Young vines are watered more often, old ones - only if the soil is very dry. For an even distribution of moisture in the soil, special irrigation pipes are installed. Better to water with warm water.

In the spring, they are fed with complex mineral fertilizers, during the ripening period, potassium-phosphorus compounds are introduced. In the fall, before wintering, fertilize with complex mineral additives. Organic fertilizers are used once every 3 years. It is advised to feed while watering.

Withstands up to -23 degrees of frost without additional shelter. After pruning in the fall, the vines are removed from the supports, bent to the ground, tied, laid on spruce branches, covered with agrofibre and a layer of earth on top. Young, not lignified plants should be covered for the winter.

The variety is relatively resistant to mildew and powdery mildew, various types of rot. Has immunity against ticks. It is defenseless against phylloxera and needs regular preventive treatment with copper sulfate.It is recommended to water with a solution of soda and sprinkle the soil with ash.

It is affected by grape itch, the diseased leaves are destroyed, the bush is treated with insecticides. When pests are found, the leaves and shoots are cut off and burned, then the plant is treated with Fozalon, Aktellik, Fastak.

Smoke bombs are used against wasps, baits with poison, and clusters are protected with special nets.

The berries, due to their thin peel, have a short shelf life, they can lie in a dry place at temperatures from 0 degrees to + 5 for about a month. Firmly adhere to the stalks, with proper packaging, they tolerate transportation well.

Gardeners like that the Russian Early does not require special care, the yield is excellent, the berries are very pleasant to the taste. Others note that the variety “forgives” mistakes in agricultural technology, is well pollinated and ripens. Some believe that short pruning is not suitable for the shoots of the Early Russian; the next year the brushes become smaller. Some of the summer residents have been growing the variety for 20 years without the use of chemical treatments.