Grapes are one of the most favorite crops of every gardener. Fragrant, sweet berries are great as a dessert. Why did we choose Elegant grapes as the main character of our article? The answer is easy to find, especially if you ask summer residents who already have experience growing it on their site. It feels great even in the northern regions and ripens well in a short summer period. And its main advantage is the surprisingly tender and juicy pulp, which usually distinguishes the southern varieties.
general description
The first characteristic that Elegant grapes received: super early. And this is not surprising, because the ripening of berries occurs already on 100-110 days. This is a hybrid form that was bred by the Y. I. Potapenko Institute. A variety was created for cultivation in conditions of the middle zone and the north of Russia. Therefore, the focus was on the timing of maturation. Only three months are required for the flowers to turn into juicy clusters.
Origin
Elegant grapes were bred by crossing Frumoase Alba and Delight. Gardeners liked the result so much that it quickly hit the top ten varieties. The hybrid took all the best from both ancestors. Delight gave resistance to disease and the ability to accumulate sugar, and Frumoase Albe - a unique muscat. Light-colored table variety is very useful in the garden plots of our compatriots. Recommended for cultivation in the south of the country, but is successfully cultivated almost throughout the territory.
Bush characteristic
Elegant grapes delights summer residents not only with delicious, but also with very early berries. By the end of July - beginning of August you will have beautiful and fragrant clusters on your table. It can be grown on a stretched mesh or set special supports. The bush grows slowly, during the warm season, not reaching large sizes. The vines mature perfectly. The bush can be attributed to undersized, especially if it is well looked after, in time removing axillary shoots.
Cluster characteristics
The plant blooms in early spring, after which umbrella brushes are formed on which berries will develop. This is the main reason why Elegant grapes are grown. The description of the variety confirms that this is the best of what the Russian selection can offer. The bunch is formed of a cylindrical shape, very neat, perfect for serving. Usually the brush is dense, but under adverse conditions it can become loose. One cluster weighs approximately 400 g.
Ripening berries
They are quite large, each individually weighs up to 7 g. Light green, after full maturity, they become almost transparent, golden. It was at this time that the nutmeg taste was most strongly felt. The shape of the berry is slightly elongated, with a sharp tip. The berries form a white, almost milky color. But as it ripens, the hue changes to almost yellow. For this, it is very important that sunlight falls on them. Therefore, when the clusters are poured, the leaves around them need to be cut. Thus, the optimal appearance of the berries is achieved. Without sunlight, they will remain pale and, despite being edible, will not withstand competition in the market.
How to plant grapes in spring
With the onset of the first sunny days, you can go to the market or the nearest agricultural nursery to purchase high-quality seedlings. Over the summer period, they will gain strength in order to winter well, and with the onset of a new spring they will quickly start growing.
Since it is recommended to plant grapes in spring no earlier than April, planting pits can be prepared immediately before buying seedlings without bothering with autumn work. The Elegant variety loves heat very much, therefore it is necessary to plant a plant on the south side. It is very good if there is a brick wall nearby. It will accumulate heat, and at night give it to the plant. In winter, it will serve as protection from the cold wind.
You can not plant plants in wetlands, where groundwater lies very close. The best option is to plant on light soils. However, if on your site the soil is not the most suitable, do not despair. You can build a high bed and fill it with a mixture of sand, humus and peat. Grapes are very fond of good nutrition and a sufficient amount of oxygen, so the bush will certainly thank you with an excellent harvest.
Before buying, make sure that the seedling is really healthy and strong. To do this, evaluate the size of the kidneys and the condition of the root system. The ideal option is a seedling grown in a container. So he will suffer the least from transplantation. The first bunch in this case will appear next year, and in two or three you will already enjoy the delicious fruits. If you believe the reviews, this is the best table grape of Russian selection.
Care
And now let's talk about what difficulties a summer resident will encounter who has planted Elegant grapes on his plot. Cultivation is quite simple, even a beginner will cope with this variety. The main thing that I want to note: the variety is resistant to the most formidable diseases - it is mildew and gray rot. Therefore, even if you forget about preventive treatments with fungicides, the vineyard will calmly tolerate this. Of course, it is better not to give up prevention completely in order to get a guaranteed good harvest.
This variety is so unpretentious that it will even suffer the absence of top dressing. But if you want to get a really good crop, you should take care of feeding the vines a little more carefully. It won’t take you much time, just feed the bush with potassium salt in the fall and ammonium nitrate in the spring. During active vegetation, bird droppings are recommended. Once a year, it is recommended to feed with ash - this is an excellent source of mineral fertilizers. However, you should not get involved, otherwise the plant will burn.
Watering
Cool weather allows you to do without additional watering. The roots of the vine allow you to collect moisture over a long distance. If the summer turned out to be dry and hot, then the grapes must be supplied every day with a new portion of precious moisture. But you need to do this correctly. This variety does not like when water gets on the leaves. They are covered with brown leaves, as if they were hit by a fungus. Therefore, automatic sprinkler type irrigation systems are not suitable for the vineyard.
Mold on the trunk is another consequence of improper watering. She can destroy the vine. Therefore, water it so as not to touch the green part, and after that, loosen the soil.
Wintering
This is another point for which you should pay attention to the Elegant grape variety. Parent varieties gave the variety the best properties, resulting in a plant that has large berries that can be stored on the bush for a long time and high fruitfulness. In winter, the shoots are stable and viable, and the fruit buds withstand frosts to -25 degrees. But it will not hurt in the fall to roll up, lay down and cover the vine with spruce branches well. There are other special methods that will help protect the plant from temperature extremes, wind and rainfall. This is the installation of a wooden box into which the plant is folded, and then the whole space is filled with sawdust or leaves.
Reviews
Elegant grapes are one of the favorite varieties of Russian gardeners. Experienced summer residents say that it is the most delicious of all that they have ever planted on their site. It always ripens early and does not get sick; the vine ripens to its full length. The pulp is tender, with good nutmeg, but it tastes best when overripe. A relatively small vine can produce up to 15 kg of crop, which is a fantastic result.
The variety is not only fruitful, but also transportable, which is especially important if you plan to send berries to the market. Delicate and juicy, they are protected by a dense shell. Therefore, even a few days on the road carry easily. Wasps are practically not damaged, unlike later varieties. The only negative is that seedlings of this variety are quite difficult to find on sale. Not many nurseries are engaged in its breeding, and in the market you can easily buy something completely different from what you wanted.