This grape variety is not distinguished by special taste. It is valued for resistance to frost, various diseases. And the wine from the Levokumsk grape is excellent. And not only in the village of Levokumskoye (Stavropol Territory).
Origin
Not every settlement can boast a registered grape variety. The Levokumsky region here is, rather, an exception.
The variety to which the article will be devoted is a hybrid seedling of folk selection. It was obtained from free pollination of the North American variety Vitis Labruska and is mainly zoned in the north of the Caucasus.
But its plantations are in Krasnodar and in the Stavropol Territory. The name comes from the village of the same name Levokumskoye (Stavropol Territory), famous for its two-century history of winemaking, where the described variety was born.
Destination
Grape variety Levokumsk technical. That is, it is intended only for the production of red, dessert, dry and sparkling wines, as well as juices. In its fresh form, it can also be consumed, although not worth it - these berries have a simple taste, moreover, they are quite small. What is the difference between Levokumskiy grapes and other grades?
Description
Grapes of Levokumsky variety - medium ripening period. Its berries become ripe 140 days after the leaves bloom. The bush is overgrown, and the ripening of the shoots is more than 80%.
Leaves of medium size, smooth, slightly stretched in width, dissected, light green in color. Bisexual flowers.
The berries are almost black in color, medium in size, up to 1.5 g, rounded. The taste is harmonious. Juicy pulp has no smack.
Like all technical grape varieties, Levokumsky is not distinguished by large berries. But for cooking wine is not the main thing. It needs to have as much juice as possible. It is colorless or pink in color, and the seeds are small.
The clusters are of medium size, 90-140 g, rather dense, cylindrical or conical.
Productivity
The average yield of Levokumsky grapes is 140 c / ha. But in successful years it can increase significantly, reaching 250 kg / ha. From one bush, as a rule, 4-6 kg of berries are collected.
According to breeders, the described variety is ideal for growing even in cold regions of Russia.
Resistant to disease and low temperature
Levokumsky grape variety is resistant to lower temperatures. It can withstand frosts up to 40 degrees. In the case of freezing of the fruit buds, bunches of the same mass are formed from kidney substitutions.
The plant is resistant to mildew and phylloxera. But in years with wet and hot summers, it can be affected by gray rot. Usually, Levokumsk grape does not require special treatments with chemicals against diseases.
Growing
Like any other, the variety for which the Levokumsky district is famous is very demanding on light. Therefore, it must be planted in a well-lit place. Otherwise, the berries will be acidic, and the bush is weak, it may freeze in the winter.
Its place of growth must be protected from the wind, especially the north. Therefore, it is best to land it on the south side of the building. By the way, in the northern regions of the country, it is necessary to retreat a few meters further from the wall than in the southern.
The quality of the soil Levokumsky grape undemanding. It grows poorly only in marshy and waterlogged places, as well as in salt marshes. It is advisable to plant it on sandy loam or loam. Their acidity should be neutral. If it is elevated in the area, ground limestone, wood ash (up to 2 kg / m²), and grated chalk can be added to the soil. These substances can be added immediately before planting, but it is better during the preparation of the pit.
A good result on the change in soil acidity is the application of slaked lime (5-10 kg / m² on loams and 1.5 kg on sandy loam). But she is very active, so you need to do this in advance, at least 4 days before planting shoots. Otherwise, you can burn its roots. Liming on loams reduces soil acidity by 7 years, and on sandy loam - by 2 years.
The stagnation of water Levokumsky grapes does not tolerate. From its effects, the roots can rot. Therefore, in places of possible flooding or groundwater discharge, it is necessary to arrange a drainage system before planting.
Levokumsky grapes do not need to be grafted onto other varieties. It is grown with its own root. For industrial landings in the zoning zone, it is recommended to place it on a high stem. The bush is formed in the form of a horizontal two-shouldered cordon. It is not necessary to cover the plant for the winter.
Landing
When planting bushes, it should be borne in mind that the nutrition area of each of them is 3x2 m, so the distance between them should not be less than 2 meters. You can do this both on the hill and in the hole.
The root system of a bush planted on a hill will be better warmed up by sunlight. Therefore, it will begin to develop faster. In order to plant a bush in this way, prepare a hole up to half a meter in depth. They lay drainage, on top lay the soil mixed with peat, humus and sand. Every 20 cm of height, the soil must be compacted. A mound is poured on top, about 30 cm high. Grapes are planted in it. When landing, they tilt a little to the north side. But the named method is suitable for the southern regions. And in the northern or during a snowless winter, a bush planted in this way may not survive the frosts.
In order to plant a bush in a hole, prepare it with a depth of at least 60 cm. Lay the ground mixed with humus and wood ash at the bottom. There should be enough to last for several years. After all, no one will dig a new hole and replant a bush. If you make it shallow, then the roots will have nowhere to grow. The planted bush is deepened by 8 cm.
Typically, technical grape varieties are self-pollinated. But on a site near Levokumsky it is better to plant other varieties. They will improve the quality and quantity of fruits by pollinating the plant.
Care
Levokumskiy grapes are cut in autumn, leaving 2, and sometimes 1 eye. In the spring, sanitary pruning is carried out, removing damaged and dried shoots.
In summer, during the period of active vegetation, they break out paired green shoots, remove stepsons and barren branches. Carbonization is carried out, cutting the roots to a depth of 5 cm from the surface. This provokes the growth of deeper roots, and the bush becomes more resistant to frost.
Top dressing
It should be borne in mind that Levokumsky grapes respond to top dressing and watering by increasing the mass of fruits and improving their taste. You can make humus in spring under an adult bush. If the young shoot is planted correctly, then it is not necessary to feed it for several years.
Foliar top dressing is carried out with mineral fertilizers, such as Plantafol.
Watering
The described grapes are watered once a week. Under a bush make a couple of buckets of water. But constantly watering is not necessary and even harmful. So, this should not be done during the flowering period so that the flowers do not fall. And during the ripening of berries, this can cause them to crack. Water on the vine and leaves do not pour. In addition, it should not be cold.
At the end of summer, watering is stopped until the harvest is harvested. If the autumn is dry, then you need to resume it in October. In humid ground, the bush is better preserved in winter frosts.