As for grapes, the culture is very ambiguous, because each variety is good in its own way and has completely different qualities from others. Thanks to this, everyone, even the most demanding, gardener can find something for himself. Grapes Zest belongs to the early table varieties and is grown mainly in the southern regions. However, in cold regions, this plant is suitable for cultivation in greenhouses and gives an excellent harvest.
Grade description
Grape variety Zest is a hybrid of Chaush and Cardinal. He was bred in Ukraine by local breeders. The plant owes its name to a unique property: if its berries hang on the bushes for longer than the prescribed time, then they do not deteriorate, but turn into real raisins.
The highlight belongs to the tall varieties, its vine perfectly ripens along the entire length. Nevertheless, in the autumn it must be cut to 10-11 buds. It has female-type inflorescences, so for a good harvest you need to plant a variety with male inflorescences nearby. Pollination is very good.
Characteristics of clusters and berries
Grapes Zest, the description of which is given in this article, can have brushes weighing up to 500 grams. The branches at the same time have medium friability. The berries are about the same size. The clusters are wide, conical.
The variety is characterized by dense, tasty and crisp pulp. The bunch is medium-sized with berries. The peel, although dense, is perfectly chewed during meals and almost imperceptible. Berries are painted in maroon color or in all its shades, have a large size, oblong shape.
Pros and cons of the variety
For everyone who is interested in Zest grapes, the description of the variety gives an idea that it has both a number of advantages and a number of disadvantages. The benefits are primarily attributed to the unusual taste of the fruit and juiciness. Bunches are characterized by excellent presentation and weightiness. It tolerates long transportation. Crop volumes can be increased gradually. Ripe berries are very rich in vitamins and organic acids.
The disadvantages of the variety are primarily associated with its moodiness. To grow it, you need fertile soil, constant fertilizing with potash fertilizers. If the soil is depleted, the plant can slow down growth and produce very small leaves. Also, Zest grapes have a fairly low immunity to diseases, especially to fungal ones. In view of this, he needs constant protection and handling. It is a non-frost-resistant variety, and a young plant can give the first crop only after two to three years. This fact is somewhat confusing for most summer residents.
The minuses also include a very strong growth of a young vine. This problem can not be solved even by frequent cutting, as the bushes begin to grow with double strength, and the yield drops significantly.
Essential care
Grapes Zest, reviews of which are very mixed and have a grandiose discrepancy, is a heat-loving culture. As experienced growers say, it needs to be covered for the winter. During the last pruning, the maximum number of shoots should remain on the vine. In the first years after planting, pruning should not be done at all.
At first, Zest grapes may not please you with an abundance of harvest. To increase it, the plant needs good care. First of all, it consists in preventive measures against diseases and pests. Also, the plant responds gratefully to timely dressing and watering.
Pest Prevention
The main preventive measure in pest control is the timely spraying of Bordeaux mixture. Such prevention is done no less than three times per season. The introduction of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers will help increase immunity. If infection has occurred, then the affected shoots should be removed immediately, and fungicidal preparations should be carried out in the vineyard.
At the initial stage of the defeat by bacterial cancer, the affected part is removed and treated with special preparations. If the defeat is strong, then the bushes must be completely uprooted and burned.
Oidium can be defeated with a powder or an aqueous solution of sulfur. With this tool, you can not only carry out preventive measures, but also treat the plant. If signs of gray rot are found, then it is necessary to spray with a solution of soda, and the affected berries should be removed immediately.
Pest Prevention
Grapes Zest is most often affected by a spider web and grape mite. To prevent this, acaricidal drugs are used. From folk remedies, dandelion and garlic infusions have proven themselves well. But with a phylloxera defeat, the bush will have to be cut down and burned. The leaf variety of this pest is defeated with the help of a special drug.
Beginner growers should remember that timely preventive measures will help not only save money on subsequent treatment, but also save the life of your plant. Not all diseases and pests can be treated, many of them can destroy the bushes forever, and nothing can be planted at the place of their growth for several years. That is why you should not be lazy - you need to carry out preventive treatment on time.
Berry value
Grapes Zest has not only an amazing taste, but also a number of useful properties. Its composition has a positive effect not only on the formation of blood, but also on the formation of strong bones. The use of grapes favorably affects mental and intellectual development, the formation of a normal nervous system. It also has a beneficial effect on the digestive system and has contributed to the rapid restoration of strength.
The use of grapes Zest is noted in the treatment of diseases such as bronchial asthma, diseases of the cardiovascular system, headache, fatigue, impaired blood cholesterol and many others.
Despite the huge number of useful properties, there are some contraindications for use. For example, you cannot eat these berries for patients with diabetes mellitus, obesity, peptic ulcers, as well as people with impaired kidney function. The use of grape juice with dairy products and vegetables is unacceptable.