Nowadays, breeders have bred a huge number of different types of garden plants. Viking grape variety is very popular. He deserved a lot of praise and positive feedback from those people who are already familiar with these delicious fruits. In this article we will talk about how to grow a Viking (grape), how to care for it, get acquainted with the description of the plant and find out how connoisseurs of grapes speak about the variety. The information is useful to those who decided to plant a bush of grapes in their area, but have not yet decided on the choice.
Viking grapes: description
Viking is a table-hybrid form of grapes, it belongs to very early varieties. The ripening period of berries is 100-105 days, shoots during the growing process also ripen completely quite early.
The plant is distinguished by strong, strong branches, a flower - of two sexes. The cone-shaped grapes are beautiful and large.
The berries are dark blue medium-loose, with dimensions of 22 x 34 mm. Brushes can reach a weight of 500-900 grams. The taste is wonderful, the pulp is dense and at the same time very juicy. Fruits can be stored on the vine for a very long time, it happens that until the very end of September. When transporting, the presentation is preserved, the berries withstand transportation over long distances.
Leaves are large, five-lobed with an open petiolate notch.
Viking (grapes) is characterized by good frost resistance, can withstand temperatures up to 21 degrees below zero.
Cultivation and care
Viking is great for growing in the country. Choosing a place for a new "resident" of the garden, you need to stop the choice on the southern or south-western territories with soft soil, which is easily warmed up. It is unacceptable to plant a vineyard on marshy places and clay soils. An ideal place for a plant is one that is protected from cold winds and where snow quickly melts in the spring.
Before planting seedlings, you need to pay attention to where the groundwater passes. If the water is close to the surface, then you need to fill the earth with one and a half meters.
The Viking grape variety does not need any special care, but there are still some rules. The plant does not like heavy watering, especially this should be monitored from the end of July. It is necessary to make fertilizers, to loosen the soil in time and cut off the stepsons.
After the end of winter, young bushes should not be opened immediately, as they have not yet gained strength and may suffer from even slight frosts. If you follow all the recommendations for care, then the harvest of delicious grapes will be provided.
Planting seedlings
Viking (grapes) is able to bear fruit for many years, if you plant bushes in the right way. The distance between the seedlings should be 1-1.25 meters, this distance can not be changed to greater or lesser. The roots and shoots on the planting material are checked before planting, so that there is no damage.
Suitable material is cut into 2-3 buds and the upper parts of the shoots are placed in paraffin, garden var or wax. Pour humus into the pit for planting. Before the placement in the prepared hole, the roots are dipped in a special mixture. It is prepared from clay, mixed with sour cream mixed with water, and rotted mullein. After that, the grapes are lowered into the pit, covered with soil and carefully tamped with earth around the plant. After this, watering with warm water is necessary.
After planting grape bushes, you need to remove the extra shoots in time, leaving only 2-3 shoots.
Viking grapes: reviews
To better learn about the positive qualities of this plant, we turn to the generalized reviews of experienced gardeners:
- Viking (grapes) lives up to its excellent reputation: already with the first harvest it gives 6 large brushes of juicy berries. The variety is ideally suited to the market category. By the beginning of August, the fruits fully ripen and go on sale.
- The berries are very beautiful, not prone to peeling, the taste is at the highest level.
- Viking grapes have a crispy, good balance of acidity and sugar content. There are notes of prunes, ripe cherries and grapes;
- Pollination is excellent. For many years it bears fruit.
Not a single person speaks badly of this wonderful grape, he deserves such praise and is able to take far from the last place in the list of the best early varieties.