- Authors: USA, Arkansas
- Appointment: universal
- Berry color: blue
- Taste: harmonious
- With bones: No
- Ripening period: early
- Ripening period, days: 120
- Frost resistance, ° C: -26
- Bunch weight, g: 300-400
- Yield: 200-250 c / ha
Kishmish grapes are usually very popular among gardeners and breeders. This is because this type of grape has no seeds or seeds. One of the representatives of this class is the Venus grape. In this article, we will consider the features of the species, the amount of harvest, as well as the features of cultivation and storage periods.
Breeding history
The grape was developed in the 70s of the last century at the American University of Arkansas. The species received its name in honor of the goddess Venus, who promises love and great fertility. For the parental pair of the hybrid, cultivars Alden and NY 46000 were selected.
Description
Bushes of this type are distinguished by their vigorous growth. The vine ripens well up to 2 meters. Leaves are green, medium-sized with 3 lobes, there is a section in the middle of the leaf. There is a slight hairiness underneath.
Ripening period
The Venus grape belongs to the early maturing varieties. The growing season is 120 days. Harvesting occurs at the end of August in the southern regions, in the central part - in the first decade of September.
If the vines are overloaded with clusters, then the ripening period may increase by 10-20 days.
Bunches
Bunches of grapes are of medium density, in some places they can be friable. The weight of one brush is 300-400 g. The clusters are cylindrical-conical in shape.
Berries
The berries are small, on average 2-3 g, round in shape. Shade of dark blue. The skin is thin and cracks easily. The berry has a waxy coating and shine. The pulp is juicy and fleshy.
Venus belongs to the 1st category of seedless varieties, therefore, seeds are completely absent in the fruits.
Taste
The taste of this variety is very different: one of the gardeners says that the berry is sweet, with a taste of strawberry and nutmeg. Others argue that the berry is sour and has a currant flavor. The sugar content of the culture is 180-200 g / dm3, the acidity is 7%.
Yield
The hybrid has an excellent yield, up to 250 centners per hectare.
Growing features
To harvest a large amount of crops, you must follow all the rules and features of cultivation.
The Venus grape does not like too watery or swampy soil. Also, you do not need to plant bushes near water bodies. The land should be loose, sandy; if there is clay in the selected area, then it should be removed if possible.
It is not worth planting near the fence, as a shadow will fall on the bushes, which will lead to a decrease in yield.
For support, you can choose a place next to arches or gazebos, but it is recommended to plant only from the south side.
Landing
You can plant seedlings both in autumn and in spring. In the first case, there will be no need to store the seedling all winter, and in the second, the seedling will take root better in warm weather and will endure the winter more easily.
Favorable terms for disembarkation in the spring are from the second half of April to mid-May. For autumn, it is October before severe frosts.
Before planting, you need to prepare the soil.The selected area is dug up and fertilized. Then pits are dug with a depth of 0.5 m, with a diameter of 0.8 m. The seedling is processed before planting, the roots are cut by 10-15 cm if they are too long. The branch is lowered into the hole and carefully covered with earth, tamping. Spill a bucket of water. Can be mulched if desired.
The planting scheme should be as follows: the distance between the bushes is 2-2.5 m, between the rows - 3 m. If possible, it is necessary to immediately build trellises.
Pollination
The flowers of this hybrid are bisexual, so they do not need additional pollination.
Pruning
The variety is famous for the fact that the bushes can be overloaded with fruits, so it is necessary to properly trim the eyes.
In the spring, as soon as all the snow melts, dry branches that have not survived the winter are cut off. Then, as soon as the bushes begin to pick up buds, 2-3 eyes are left on each shoot (depending on how strong the shoot is).
Shoots that have not bloomed are either completely removed, or cut in half and coated with garden varnish.
On average, 6-8 eyes are left per bush, on a small one - 3-4.
Frost resistance and the need for shelter
The bushes can withstand temperatures as low as -26 degrees Celsius. Wintering without shelter is practiced. But with repeated temperature drops, vine icing is possible. To avoid this, the bushes should be covered. The roots should also be insulated with spruce twigs or needles mulch. You should not cover with sawdust, as they absorb moisture too much.
Diseases and pests
The hybrid has a high resistance to a number of diseases: mildew, gray mold, powdery mildew. But at the same time, it is necessary to spray the bushes with fungicidal preparations for prevention.
If a grape is exposed to any disease or insect, this always affects its appearance.
Storage
Venus grapes are early ripe, and all such varieties are stored for about a month. The fruits should be kept in a basement or in a cool room with a temperature of + 2 ° to + 5 ° C. Wooden boxes, sawdust is first poured into them, then brushes are laid out. Since the skin of the berries is thin, it should be laid out in one row.