Grapes are a favorite treat for many of us. Large and small, green, red, blue, sweet and sour and sweet like honey - today there are a lot of different varieties. But the undeniable advantage is that you can grow almost every one of them in your own summer cottage. Today we will talk about one of the well-known varieties - a hybrid obtained by crossing the varieties Kuban and Gift to Zaporozhye - Ruslan grapes.
What kind of grape is Ruslan?
A productive hybrid form was bred by Ukrainian V. V. Zagorulko. The main advantage of this variety is that it has a fairly early ripening time. You can enjoy sweet and sour berries, literally bursting from juice, already in early August. The Ruslan grape variety is frost-resistant - it perfectly tolerates temperatures down to -24 degrees, so in some regions it is not even laid or covered for the winter.
It tastes somewhat similarwith plum. Ruslan is used to make jams and jams, and is also indispensable in a bouquet of red wine. However, more often it is simply frozen fresh, because, having melted, it does not lose its taste at all, delighting in winter with the sweet and sour taste of sunny summer.
Variety description
The grape bush grows very strong and tall. The vine of this grape variety grows very quickly, a standard bunch weighs up to 700 grams. Oval berries of dark bluish color weigh at least 12 grams each. The shape of the bunch resembles a cone, and what is very important, it is not prone to pea (there are no small berries in the bunch).
The pulp of the berries is very dense, it bites with a slight crunch. Each berry contains 2-3 large seeds, but the skin is easily eaten (unlike many other large grape varieties, whose skin is more like a peel). Ruslan's flowers are chocolate-colored, with dark red knots. The stalks are distinguished by increased strength and have a brown-green color. The grapes of this variety have very large, slightly cut leaves.
General Features
Very prolific - this is the main thing that can be said about Ruslan grapes. The description of its characteristics will look as follows. In this variety, even sleeping buds and stepchildren “shoot out”, on which its fertility directly depends. Up to three inflorescences can be tied up on one shoot. The vine matures completely, along the entire length of its growth. The norm is considered to be no more than 35 eyes per bush. This variety is not prone to decay, amongmature vine is very difficult to find even a slightly spoiled berry.
However, Ruslan grapes do not tolerate excessive moisture. But it treats top dressing very well. Another attractive feature of this variety is that the grapes are not afraid of either gray rot, wasps or powdery mildew. The only and main danger for ripe berries is birds.
Pests and diseases
As we said above, Ruslan grapes are not afraid of growing, wasps, or rot. Yes, and with birds, in principle, it is not difficult to fight - you just need to protect the vine with a net with medium-sized cells that even the smallest bird cannot get into. Phylloxera disease is considered the most dangerous for grapes. Small insects feed on the roots of the plant, damaging the leaves. It is very difficult to fight them, because this parasite can only be removed with volatile carbon disulfide (you must admit that not every gardener has this liquid on the farm). The calculation for spraying is as follows - 400 cubic centimeters per square meter (for preventive purposes, grapes are processed in the spring). It is worth noting that the treatment with volatile hydrogen sulfide also harms the vine itself. However, if you choose the lesser of evils, then it is better to remove this parasite once than to lose not only the crop, but also the vine itself.
Bacterial cancer
Another problem that can damage Ruslan grapes is bacterial cancer. It develops exclusively on damaged areas of the vine, so when buying it isvery carefully inspect the entire branch. If there is damage, it is better to immediately replace it with another one. After planting the grapes, you should not once again disturb the established seedlings. They are easily injured, and bacterial cancer can arise from even the smallest injury. There is only one result - the diseased bush has to be uprooted along with the rhizome and burned. It also requires the processing of grapes in the spring, both in the form of pruning to obtain a good harvest, and in the form of getting rid of possible parasites that could winter along with the vine sheltered from snow. It is only worth knowing that the grapes are sprayed after pruning in order to maximize the treatment of open and accessible areas of the vine.
Reviews
A real gift for a resident of the middle lane - that's what the growers call this variety. Unpretentious, frost-resistant, not afraid of parasites, Ruslan grapes are tasty and he althy. Reviews also indicate that this variety is very stable, perfectly adapts to different conditions, excellent fruiting both in single cultivation on a personal plot and on huge plantations.
This grape variety has flowers of both sexes. This greatly simplifies the pollination process. Ruslan's berries have many useful qualities - it contains a lot of vitamins and microelements, which contributes to a fruitful fight against anemia, kidney diseases and even cancerous tumors. Its large leaves are edible, as are the berries themselves. Meat rolls are wrapped in leaves or simply used for marinade. Perhaps the only drawback of this variety -berries cracking from their own juice.
