Once grapes were considered to be exclusively southern plants. They tried to grow the culture in regions with a harsh climate, but the vine partially or completely froze during the cold season, despite the fact that it was sheltered for the winter. But over time, forms of grapes appeared, tolerant to low temperatures and showing high yields. Currently, the culture is successfully grown in the Siberian regions. Today we have prepared a review of Northern grapes, which refers to frost-resistant species.
From the history
There is no exact information on the origin of this variety. There are several versions. The most common says: the creator was a famous breeder I.V. Michurin. In fact, Ivan Vladimirovich did a lot to promote the grapes in the northern regions, but among the Michurin varieties the name of the grapes is Northern Sweet. In the study of its origin, information was found that in 1936, breeders Ya.I. worked on the development of frost-resistant species. Potapenko in collaboration with E.I. Zakharova, they managed to develop the Northern grape, crossing the Amursky variety with the Michurin Seedling of Malengra. Later, the word "sweet" was added to the name of the variety.
Description
Northern - winter-hardy grape variety. The shoots of this plant are famous for their great growth power. Vines are characterized by such quality as good maturation, which contributes to high frost resistance. Grapes quite resistant to low temperatures (up to minus 30 ° C). Sweet North refers to the technical varieties of medium-term ripening.
About 135 days elapse from the moment the buds open to the start of the harvest. In the south of our country, grapes begin to be harvested from late August to the first decade of September. In the suburbs and more northern regions, the crop ripens in the twenties of the first autumn month.
Characteristics of clusters and berries
The grapes in the grapes are small (their weight reaches no more than 80-120 g), conical in shape, moderately dense. The shape of the berries is round, classic, the weight of each on average is 1.5-2 g. On one bunch you can simultaneously meet both large and small berries. Coloring can be dark blue or blue-violet with a slight waxy coating on the skin.
Northern grapes have excellent characteristics: juicy pulp with a sweet and sour harmonious taste, high sugar content - its rate is 19-25%, acidity ranges from 6 to 11 g / mol. The indicators depend on what time the clusters were removed from the vine. It is believed that the longer the crop is not harvested, the more sugars and acids accumulate in it.
The peel of the berries is strong, dense, but rather thin. They have high portability and keeping quality. The advantage of such a dense skin is that bees, wasps and birds cannot damage it, and therefore it is not necessary to protect the crop from them. In grapes, the skin is easily separated from the pulp, the berries themselves have high taste. Advantages of Northern grapes:
- productivity;
- good ripening of shoots;
- frost resistance;
- It is resistant to oidium and other diseases.
Among the shortcomings, it can be noted that with a lack of water, taste not only worsens, but productivity also decreases. Despite the fact that Severny is declared as a frost-resistant variety that can tolerate low temperatures, it is recommended to grow a crop under light shelter in the Urals, Siberia and northern regions. Also, before winter, you can lay the vine on the ground, in which case the grapes will be reliably covered by the fallen snow.
The variety is high-yielding. It can be used to make high-quality homemade wine, which will have a rich pleasant taste. In most regions of our country, summers are short and cool, with few sunny days. Winter is usually frosty and lingering. In order to get high yields, you need to know and observe some of the subtleties of agricultural technology.
Features of growing Northern grapes
In spring, one should not rush to plant seedlings in the ground. You need to wait for it to warm up to a depth of 50-60 cm. Usually, landing is carried out in the last days of May or in the first decade of June.
Until this time, the seedlings of the North can be buried in the ground. You can also drop them in special containers. But in this case, the vine needs to be put in the yard, so that it gets maximum sunlight. Also, seedlings should be covered from the wind.
Experienced growers believe that the more north the grapes grow, the more severe the weather and climate, the more useful the berries and the tastier the juice and wine. All the subtleties of caring for this crop can be found in the video presented.
Landing
In order to ensure uniform heating of the soil at an air temperature of 18-22 degrees, trenches should be made along the rows of grapes, preferably from the southern side of the plantings. This will contribute to faster thawing of the earth in the spring, drainage of melt water and heating of the soil to the required depth.
In the event that you do not have such an opportunity, you can plant grapes in bulk ridges: their height should be about 80 cm. Direction from west to east, thanks to this placement, 1-2 degrees of heat will be added. In addition, fruit buds will be laid more intensively. Please note: planting in ridges will avoid overmoistening.
However, this method has its drawbacks: nutrients are consumed more intensively, and the soil is washed out by rain to slow down these processes, grapes should be enriched with useful substances.
How to feed grapes
After May 15, about 10 kg of manure (rotted) should be made under each plant. It is laid out on the surface of the soil under the bushes itself, without being embedded in the ground. This method gives high efficiency when growing crops in the beds. Manure placed in this way will provide the grape bush with the necessary amount of organic matter.
How to feed grapes? Can i use organic fertilizers? Note that they are widely used as top dressing, it can be ash, compost. Weeds, fallen leaves are also a source of nutrients. However, they must be promptly removed from the area around grapes and other plants, otherwise they can cause the development of pathogenic microorganisms and lead to plant diseases. To use them for fertilizer, you should make water infusions from them or mulch the soil.
Humates
The most useful and popular fertilizers for grapes are humates. So called artificially created concentration of nutrients. They help to grow a good harvest not only of grapes, but also of other crops. It is recommended to start planting precisely with the treatment of the roots of seedlings with humates. Thanks to this procedure, the natural potential is activated, and the genetic program is fully implemented in practice. Commonly used are sodium and potassium humates. However, there are heavy metals in sodium, so potassium is more popular.
Gibberrellins
In addition to humates, gibberellins are used. This is an extract of natural phytohormones, which significantly accelerate the implementation of the genetic program, and also help plants grow stronger faster. It is noted that the use of gibberellin does not relieve grapes from peas, but it is not a fact that this is somehow interconnected. The effectiveness and safety of this substance has been proven.
It should be noted that grape fertilization with superphosphate gives good performance. Experienced growers note that he responds well to them.