Grapes - the berry is very tasty and healthy. Therefore, many gardeners in their areas want to plant several bushes or even a small plantation. Naturally, they are looking for such universal varieties that would combine ease of care, and good ripening speed, as well as yield and excellent taste. Resistance to diseases and pests, to the abrupt changes inherent in the current unstable climate, are also taken into account. Experienced specialists in the grape industry consider Augustine one of the best varieties.
Sweet phenomenon
Augustine is a grape fully justifying its second name - The Phenomenon. It was bred in Bulgaria, where it was widely used under the name Pleven stable. It belongs to the most valuable table varieties in viticulture and is characterized by enviable stability in terms of high yield indicators. Augustine is rarely ill. Grapes are susceptible to infections that can affect its root system, leaves or shoots, but are easily recognized and successfully treated. As for the frosts, the adaptation to them in the variety is indeed almost phenomenal for this crop. It tolerates a decrease in temperature well to -25 - 26 degrees, at which most table varieties simply freeze and die. Here is such a promising Augustine - grapes that fruit and vegetable farms are planted whole hectares, removing clusters of bushes weighing from 400 grams to 1 kilogram from the bushes. The shape of the brush resembles an inverted cone or a pyramid - top down. The pale green color of the berries is Augustine. Grapes, reaching maturity, acquires a sunny yellowish tint, as if each berry begins to glow from the inside. Yes, and in bright light they shine through right through - the sight is very beautiful! The taste is sweet, refreshing, juiciness is good.
Wine, by the way, is also made thanks to such indicators from this variety that are sweet without additional additives. After all, its sugar content is 20%! And the weight of the middle berry is about 6 grams, but if the care is proper, they grow much larger. The aroma of Augustine grapes shows a delicate, perfectly in harmony with taste.
Culture Specifications
The variety grows best on soils with good watering or natural moisture: nutritious chernozems fertilized with deciduous and organic humus. Under such conditions, it develops well, rather unpretentious. Harvest reaches high rates. Under favorable weather conditions, an average of 130 hectares is collected per hectare. What is considered an excellent result for cultural viticulture. Berries are well tolerated by transportation, so Augustine is regularly exported to different parts of the entire post-Soviet space and abroad. Another undoubted plus of the variety - when fully ripened, the brushes do not require immediate removal from the bush.
Clusters without any danger of being damaged can wait for their “comrades” for another three weeks. This allows you to organize a massive, planned harvest at all plantations of the economy at the same time. In the southern regions of ripeness, the variety reaches mid-August, in the more northern ones - in late August - early September.
Augustine at the infield
It is recommended to owners of country houses and summer cottages to buy grape seedlings and cultivate such a wonderful variety. In addition to all the positive qualities, it is worth mentioning how tall the vines are. The bushes reach a height of several meters, so from Augustin grapes beautiful arches and arbors are obtained, giving a life-giving dense shadow in the summer heat and ennobling, decorating the garden landscape. Just choose sunny places, well-lit from all sides, so that the berries ripen evenly. And do not forget about regular watering for the entire fruitful period, timely pruning in the spring and the obligatory garter of the vines and shoots so that they do not break under the weight of grape brushes.
Good luck, growers, and excellent harvests!