Grapes have long been considered one of the best indicators of fertility and we alth. And to this day it is very difficult to find a person who will be absolutely indifferent to these ripe and juicy berries. Grapes can not only be eaten fresh, but also make amazing jam from it. Also making wine. Since today there is an incredibly large number of bred varieties, each of which has distinctive features, in this article we will separately consider the description of the "souvenir" grape. Let's talk in detail about planting and growing grapes and study the latest information based on feedback from the most experienced gardeners.
Grapes "souvenir": variety description
This variety is also called "satellite", "black souvenir". He is the grape "Odessa souvenir". The description of the bush is quite simple - it is a medium-sized, powerful plant with reddish-brown shoots. Young shoots are light green in color. The three-lobed leaves are medium in size and lightly hairy, similar to a bristle. Flowers of this cultivar of both sexes. Clusters of grapes "souvenir" haveconical shape, rather loose, reach a weight of three hundred to five hundred grams. The variety is characterized by large berries, ovoid and elongated, which at the beginning of ripening have a dark red color, and by the time of harvest they become dark blue, acquiring a white bloom. A very dense and rather thick skin hides a juicy and fleshy flesh underneath, with incredibly tasty nutmeg and thorn shades. In each berry you can find two or three seeds, which by the time of full ripening become almost invisible.
History of grape variety breeding
Obtaining this variety became possible thanks to the hard work of Ukrainian breeders. The crossbreeding of the "Hamburg Muscat" Moldavian black hybrid took place within the walls of the Tairov Research Institute of Vitality. Already from Ukraine, the grape variety "souvenir" began to gradually spread throughout the Black Sea region and other regions with a pleasant, warm climate. The creators of the variety themselves claim that the best place for planting this wonderful grape is the territory of Odessa and Kherson, which was originally envisaged.
Characteristic yield
The undoubted advantage of this variety is its high yield, the ability to easily endure transportation and rather long storage. And, of course, the most important indicator for grapes is the assessment of taste. The variety "souvenir" has a rather high score - 8.64 points on a ten-point scale. The sugar content is within fifteen grams per milliliter, the acidity is from seven and a half to eight percent. Berries give more than seventy percent of the juice of the total mass. Such characteristics are most important for winemakers and grape juice producers.
Reviews about grapes "souvenir"
There are a lot of them. Judging by the most reliable reviews of the "souvenir" grape variety, a number of advantages can be distinguished:
- high yield - more than one hundred and twenty centners per hectare;
- stable indicators of acidity and sugar content;
- highest taste and aroma qualities;
- high-quality mechanical composition (percentage of juice and unused parts of the berry);
- long-term storage (about three months) and transportation;
- resistance to many diseases (for example, such as gray mold and grape leafworm).
Undoubtedly, this variety also has its drawbacks, consisting in a long period of full ripening (at least one hundred and forty-two days) and complete intolerance to low temperatures (below minus twenty degrees Celsius).
Planting grapes "souvenir"
For landing, you must choose the most sunny place. It is best to prefer the hilly terrain on the south side. Due to its location on a hill, the bush will always be supplied with fresh air. Since the bush has a powerful root system, dig a hole for the seedling with a depth and diameter of at least eightycentimeters. At the bottom, it is desirable to pour a layer of the most fertile soil and compost. Only after that should the seedling be covered with ordinary soil. The next step when planting is abundant watering - at least fifteen liters of water for each seedling.
Tips for growing and caring for grapes
The first year of growing grapes is the most troublesome. Mandatory loosening of the soil with complete removal of weeds is required. Proper and regular watering is also important. The first watering should be carried out a couple of weeks after the planting. After the first winter, abundant growth and opening of the bush begins. At this point, it is necessary to cut and tie up the bush. When cutting young fruitful shoots, leave at least six to seven eyes on each. The garter is best done with a cloth or soft rope, but not with fishing line or nylon thread. Fertilizing the soil and feeding the bush for the first time is done just after the garter. In the future, it is necessary to follow the schedule for feeding the bush with mineral and organic fertilizers. Literally from the second year of cultivation, caring for a bush is greatly simplified and comes down to autumn pruning of weak and damaged branches.
Diseases, pests and methods of dealing with them
The main pests that continually strive to spoil the crop are wasps and birds. Only the establishment of a net will help to protect the grapes from birds, which will be an obstacle if you want to get on the grape bush. To save the grapes from the harm caused by wasps, it is necessary to destroy absolutely all the nests in the vicinity. You can also use baits that should not be overly scented, because in this case, the wasps will quickly understand the substitution. As for the diseases that affect the grape bush, it is worth highlighting the three main ones.
The oidium virus is hard enough to detect with the naked eye. And the most unpleasant thing is that he endures even severe cold. It is very important to remove infected branches as quickly as possible, and spray he althy ones with specialized chemicals. The best time for this procedure is early morning or late evening.
Another misfortune that affects many types of plants, including grapes - powdery mildew. Sulfur-containing drugs, such as Karatan or Rubigan, can save you from it. It is best to spray with sulfur in the early morning, because if the heat is too strong, you can simply burn the bush.
Finally, the most terrible disease is bacterial cancer. Your job is to prevent disease. To do this, it is important to provide ventilation to the bush and monitor the condition of the shoots as a whole. Avoid minor damage and scratches. Since it is useless to fight this disease, the infected bush should be destroyed.
