The Livadia black grape variety is one of the most favorite varieties of winegrowers. It differs from others with its incredible taste, as it combines moderate acidity and sugar content, and its rich color and pleasant nutmeg aroma will not leave anyone indifferent. This variety belongs to the wine variety, and the products that are made from its berries do not stagnate on store shelves for a long time. In the article we will learn how to care for grapes in summer and winter, and also study its features.
Variety description
This grape variety is notable for its unpretentiousness. It was bred at the Institute of Winemaking, which is called "Magarach", was recognized as one of the best wine varieties. When grapes had not yet entered the culture, they were grown on experimental fields, where they were convinced of their endurance, resistance to various diseases and pests. Taste qualitiesberries won the highest tasting score.
The beautiful cylindrical bunch has an average weight of 250 grams. The berries are rounded, slightly elongated. The color is very close to black, the purine coating is clearly visible on the fruits. One berry reaches a weight of 2 grams. Berries ripen for about 130 days, after which they can be easily separated from the stem.
The variety easily withstands temperatures as low as -25 degrees. Livadia black has its own characteristics that have made it one of the most sought-after varieties in winemaking. It has a good taste, where the acidity and sugar reach ideal levels, and the color and aroma of the berries allow you to create delicious dessert wines.
The grower must remember that such grapes must be harvested strictly on time. Otherwise, the berries will lose their taste and, accordingly, their value. Here is a description of Livadia black grapes.
Rules of planting and care
Despite its unpretentiousness, grapes have some "requirements". First of all, this concerns the soil.
- Livadia black can only grow on black soil.
- The place should be well lit by the sun.
- A strong vine support is essential.
- Immediately after planting, top dressing should be carried out using mineral fertilizers.
If you believe the reviews, Livadia black grapes feel best in the Crimea. Of course, it is grown in otherlocalities, however, it is quite difficult to achieve the same high yield and the same taste, and in some areas it is almost impossible. The main disadvantage of growing in other regions is the lower amount of sugar in the berries.
Caring for a variety is not difficult. The main requirement is top dressing and pruning. You should monitor the presence of pests and diseases on the bushes. After the autumn pruning is carried out, all the bushes are removed from their supports and pressed to the ground in order to cover them for the winter.
During the ripening period of berries on the vine, only those clusters that the grower considers the best should be left. Usually their number is correlated with the age of the plant. Bad clusters are removed along with dry leaves.
Even experienced growers do not always manage to grow this variety and get a high yield from it. The climate is mainly to blame, since the Livadia black, as we said, needs a sunny climate with dry and warm air. Some people think that this variety has a drawback - its clusters are not very attractive and often grow branched, but since it is used mainly for making wine, this fact does not really matter.
Possible diseases
The main diseases of the Livadia black grape variety include:
- Apoplexy. You can detect this disease quite quickly, since the bush almost immediately begins to fade. The advantage is that apoplexy is treated simply. It is enough just to make the necessary fertilizers on time andprovide the plant with proper care.
- Powdery mildew. This disease does not bypass, perhaps, not a single plant. It is better to protect yourself from it before it appears, so you should clean the bush from the dried leaves on it in a timely manner.
- White rot. This disease attacks only berries. All of them must be removed, and the bush itself must be treated with the Funzodol solution.
This variety is resistant to various diseases, so such chores do not occur often, but you should constantly monitor the condition of the leaves and vines in order to cure the plant in time.
Dangerous insects
Insects quite often settle on the leaves of this variety and greatly spoil the crop. These are mainly aphids, mealybugs, woodworms, weevils. Getting rid of them is not so easy, since the entire bush should be treated with special means. You can do it by hand, or you can spray it. You can carry out timely prevention, which consists only in the removal of dry leaves, or you can treat the grapes with special insect repellents.
Dignity of the variety
Based on the above, a number of advantages of this variety can be distinguished:
- Grapes are resistant to frost and tolerate air temperatures down to minus 26 degrees. This suggests that it can be grown not only in the south, but also in regions located in the Middle lane.
- The variety is widely used not only inwinemaking, but also in the food industry, due to the high palatability of the berries.
- If you provide good care, the grapes will produce a high yield every year.
- Resistant to diseases such as gray mold, mildew, oidium.
- Tolerates shipping well.
But the variety has practically no drawbacks. The only thing is the appearance of the bunches, which is not considered too attractive, but for the grapes that are more often used to make wine, this indicator is not decisive.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that it is possible to grow Livadia grapes only if the owner is ready to take care of the grapes in summer and winter in accordance with all the rules. Only if all requirements are met, the grower will achieve high yields. The variety cannot be called very whimsical, but there are still some requirements for growing conditions.
