A powerful bunch of sweet table grapes can decorate any table and at the same time leave few people indifferent. The appearance of breeding varieties makes it possible to grow this plant even in the northern regions of the country, in conditions of a very short summer. One of the hybrid varieties that have proven themselves well is Harold grapes. Reviews testify to a stable harvest and high palatability of this variety.
Variety Harold: grape description
Growing grapes for themselves and not for sale, people are guided by the criteria of high yield, disease resistance and palatability. Whereas for the market, the size and shape of the berries, the appearance of the bunch itself are important. But all of the above criteria are met by Harold grapes. The description of the variety should begin with the fact that it has an early ripening period. From the moment the first buds appear to the full ripening of the bunch of grapes, usually 90-100 days pass. The first fruits can be enjoyed in mid-July.
Hanging for a long time, until mid-September, clusters on the bushes - this is very similar toGrapes Harold. Vinegrowers' reviews indicate that with such storage, the bunches do not dry out, do not crumble, are not damaged by wasps, the presentation and taste do not deteriorate.
The bushes of this variety are vigorous. Grapes Harold has a medium-sized bunch weighing 400-500 grams, its shape is cylindrical. Berries have an interesting elliptical shape with a pointed end. They are quite close to each other. The pulp of the berries is juicy, the skin is dense, yellow-green.
The Harold grape variety has a balanced sweet and sour taste and a pronounced Muscat aroma, which allows winemakers to use it to make Muscat wine.
Another feature of this variety is the need to ration inflorescences, as the grapes are prone to crop overload, which can cause unripe clusters or even worsen the yield.
Dignity weighing half a kilo
Harold grapes have a number of undeniable advantages and are characterized by the absence of disadvantages:
- High frost resistance of the variety and a short ripening period make it possible to grow it even in Siberia. The plant is able to withstand frosts down to -25 °C.
- Great taste, aroma and beauty that characterize Harold grapes, photos, unfortunately, cannot convey.
- Hybrid type plant is highly disease resistant.
- This grape is transported very well.
- High yield of bushes will pleaseeveryone without exception. Up to 15 kilograms of grapes can be harvested from one bush.
Features of landing Harold
The Harold grape variety is considered unpretentious in terms of soil, and its bushes can be planted on almost any substrate. The plant is vigorous, so when planting, you must leave at least two and a half meters between the bushes.
Good frost resistance of the plant allows you to drop seedlings in spring or autumn. The main criterion is the air temperature, which must be above 15 °C.
When buying a seedling, you need to look very carefully at its condition. A good seedling should have at least four long, thick roots, without any damage. If the future seedling has traces of the disease or it breaks when bent, then a good, he althy bush will not come out of it.
Fruit grapes Harold, or rather its annual seedling, should be shortened to four or five eyes before planting. A day or two before planting, the shoot descends into the water, where it is desirable to add a growth stimulator.
An individual hole measuring 80 × 80 × 80 centimeters must be dug for each seedling. When digging a hole, the top layer of soil should be set aside in order to later be mixed with humus, which can be replaced with compost or peat, as well as add superphosphate and potassium s alt. This mixture should half fill each hole. A seedling is placed in the recess, sprinkledmixture, and then - plain earth. A small depression should be organized around the seedling, where mulch will be poured and water will be poured. The depth of this hole should not be less than 5 centimeters, the diameter - 50 centimeters.
How to water Harold?
Harold grapes will feel good both in a period of slight drought and in a period of excess moisture. Therefore, watering should be carried out regularly, from April to October. For proper watering, you should install a drainage system or make several circular trenches near the bush at a distance of 30 centimeters from each and a depth of 20 centimeters, where water will be poured.
Start the procedure in early spring, immediately after the bushes open after winter. The next watering is important to make in the period between bud break and the beginning of flowering. This is the moment when the bush most needs enough moisture.
During the flowering period, it is better not to water the bush. This may result in the shedding of flowers. But the formed first clusters need good watering.
The last watering should be done just before the bushes take cover for the winter. If before that it took an average of 40 liters per bush, then the water flow before shelter should be 70 liters per bush, which will ensure deep penetration of moisture.
Mulching variety
Mulch is similar in quality to organic fertilizers, but performs a completely different function. It is necessary in order to retain moisture in the soil.
Bas a material for mulch, peat, humus, straw, old fallen leaves or just mowed grass are suitable. Speci alty stores offer a rather large selection of special materials that can protect plant roots from dehydration, prevent the development of weeds, and improve aeration.
Harold Grape Shelter
Harold grapes, although a frost-resistant hybrid variety, still needs shelter, especially in the harsh northern winter. For protection for the winter, growers prefer to use polyethylene. Before covering the bush, it must be tied up, laid on the ground and secured. After that, iron arcs are installed above the grape row, to which the plastic film will be attached. One layer of film is enough for Harold.
In addition to shelter, some growers also abundantly sprinkle the vines with earth. But before laying the shoots on the ground, you should definitely lay something so that the process of decay does not begin.
How to prune the Harold variety?
Pruning a plant allows you to shape it, control the growth, quantity and quality of the crop. Before pruning, the condition of the bush must be assessed, and Harold, being a vigorous bush, feels good with any type of pruning, be it short, medium or long.
Young shoots should be shortened and leave an average of 35 eyes per bush. This is done in order to unload a bush that is prone to overload. On secondary shoots, extra inflorescences must be removed,which should remain no more than 20 pieces per bush.
How and when to fertilize this variety?
The seedling was planted in fertilized soil, so it will not need fertilizer for the first four years. Adult bushes most need mineral fertilizers, which must be applied annually, before removing the shelter from the bush and before the start of flowering. Adult bushes will respond well to the entire range of mineral fertilizers, that is, nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. They are introduced in the form dissolved in ten liters of water (superphosphate, ammonium nitrate, potassium s alt in proportions of 2: 1: 0.5, respectively).
Before the maturation of the brushes, the bushes can only be fed with ammonium nitrate. If you feed before the onset of winter, it is better to use potassium. Organic fertilizers should be applied no more than once every few years. Bird droppings, compost, rotted manure and other agricultural products are suitable as organic matter.
Harold's second harvest
The grape variety Harold, reviews of which are exceptionally surprised and delighted by beginner winegrowers and simple gardeners, will also please with the fact that it is capable of producing a double crop. The second crop appears on the stepchildren of the bush, but not on the main shoots. If you want to provide yourself with double joy, then you should remove all inflorescences on stepchildren before the beginning of July.
The clusters of the second harvest will be slightly inferior in size. The fruits can be harvested at the end of August. The ability to produce crops on stepchildren is veryconvenient in cases where spring frosts have damaged the inflorescences. Harvest on secondary shoots may well cover the losses from beaten inflorescences on the main shoots.
Protect
As already mentioned, the Harold variety is a plant that is not very susceptible to diseases such as mildew, which affects all green above-ground parts, and oidium (powdery mildew). However, even this strong hybrid will not be harmed by prevention. As a preventive measure, grapes before flowering can be treated with a phosphorus-containing fungicide or a one percent solution of boric acid. Against gray mold, which can affect grapes, a solution of baking soda, which is made from 100 grams of powder dissolved in 10 liters of water, with the addition of 40 grams of laundry soap, helps well.
The Harold grape variety, the characteristics and description of which were presented in the article, has recently taken root in Siberian gardens. And even there he was able to surprise many with his early ripening, excellent quality with weighty bunches, bright unforgettable taste.
