More recently, a crop such as grapes was considered exclusively southern. Therefore, the inhabitants of the northern regions, where the harsh climate reigns, had to admire this plant only on TV or in pictures. But with the advent of new modern varieties, not only productive, but also resistant to low temperatures, grapes began to be cultivated everywhere.
general information
This perennial plant with powerful roots and a flexible trunk resembling a vine, is often called the "vine." Thanks to the numerous green tendrils, grapes in nature cling to trees. And when growing it on personal plots or on plantations, props are established for it. It is believed that the first grapes began to be cultivated by the peoples living in Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. And only then did culture spread across all continents. Well, today in almost every corner of the world you can meet the vine of this plant.
On the European continent, in particular in central Russia, grapes began to be cultivated in the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries. At the moment, so many different varieties of plants have been bred that it is sometimes difficult to select the best quality ones. The most popular are table and wine varieties.
Grapes grow in clusters, rather dense and therefore heavy. In each of them, depending on the variety, there can be from a dozen to a hundred berries. To date, the popularity rating among domestic winegrowers is headed by varieties developed by breeder Y. Potapenko.
One of the best achievements of his many years of work is the Delight grape, the description and photo of which are given in this article. This complex-resistant hybrid variety was so successful that almost immediately found distribution far beyond the borders of our country. Today, almost throughout Europe and even in South Africa, you can find Delight grapes.
Grade description
The initial species for obtaining this hybrid were Zarya Severa, Dolores, and at the second stage of selection, Russian Early. Grape variety Delight is an early ripe table. Its main characteristics are so attractive that it is sometimes difficult to believe in the existence of such an “ideal” culture. Nevertheless, this is exactly what Delight is. Grapes, the description of which indicates that it is large-fruited, frost-resistant and gives a high yield, is classified as medium-sized. The vine ripens well. The fruiting of each is about 80%. This variety is characterized by stable and high productivity. With sowing on an area of one hectare, subject to all agrotechnical conditions, you can collect up to one hundred and thirty centners of excellent berries.
Grade Benefits
Grapes Delight easily tolerates a drop in temperature. Even at -20 ° C he does not need shelter. The fruits of this culture ripen in the fourth month after the appearance of vegetative buds.
It belongs to species characterized by large clusters and abundant fruiting. Berries have good taste and a pleasant muscat aroma. Harvest on the bush is stored for more than a month. At the same time, the fruits do not lose either taste or appearance. Bunches can be transported without problems over long distances. According to the reviews and the description of the variety, Rapture grapes are easily propagated by cuttings. The rooting rate of planting material is at a good level.
Fruit
Large conical or shapeless clusters of Rapture grapes have moderate density. They reach a weight of 500 grams. The fruits of this grape variety are large, white, oval. The weight of one berry averages seven to eight grams. The peel of the fruit has a moderate density, and inside there is a sweet crispy pulp with a harmonious taste and a touch of muscat.
Varieties
Frost resistance, relevant for many Russian regions, excellent taste and ease of transportation became the reasons for further selection. To get many varieties with similar qualities, Delight grapes began to cross with other varieties. Most of the resulting hybrids have white fruits. However, other modifications appeared, for example, Rapture red, black grapes, etc. They are distinguished not only by color, but also by taste. For example, Delight Perfect grapes, ripening a little longer, give fruits not oval, but elongated greenish. Its berries are sweet and juicy.
Productivity
This issue, along with other characteristics, is of no small importance when choosing grapes for planting on the site. However, with enthusiasm, the gardener should not worry about this. This variety bears fruit abundantly and regularly. The average yield per hectare of grapes planted Delight is approximately one hundred and twenty centners. Up to two clusters are formed on each shoot. Vostorg grape bushes in some regions can be not only medium, but also vigorous. Therefore, the optimal load on each plant should be from thirty-five to forty-five eyes.
This crop is able to show the best results in terms of fruiting when growing it on the stocks of perennial wood: as a result of grafting cuttings to the stock of an old bush. Another effective way to increase the quantity and improve the quality of the Rapture grape crop is to ration the load of the vine during pruning. For example, if you leave only twenty or thirty eyes on the bush, then it is quite possible to obtain large clusters, reaching a weight of one and a half or two kilograms.
Breeding
Best of all, Rapture grapes are propagated by cuttings, by grafting onto a stock with a sufficient supply of wood. Thanks to this method, it is possible to avoid the main, perhaps, the disadvantage of this variety - its low resistance to aphylloxera. In general, experts call this option of propagation of grapes one of the simplest and most effective. The reason is as follows: after grafting to a stock that has a large amount of wood and a well-developed root system, the young cuttings do not need time to independently accumulate these resources. He just needs to take root. And then the handle, developing very quickly, will create a whole bush.
Sometimes grapes are grown from seed, however, experts believe that a bush grown by grafting begins to bear fruit much faster than a seedling.
Landing time
Grapes Delight can be planted both in spring and in autumn. In the first case, the young bush gets the opportunity to adapt well to a new place and gain strength for wintering. However, when planting in April or May, the gardener will have to carefully look after the bush and often water, because the spring soil is not as saturated with useful substances as the autumn one. And having planted or planted a culture, for example, in October, the bush will only need to be carefully covered and forgotten before the onset of cold weather before the onset of spring. In a place well protected from the cold, both the grafted cuttings and the seedlings grown on their own roots will be perfectly stored and will quickly begin to grow with the onset of the first heat.
Landing places
Grapes Delight, like all other varieties of this culture, is warm and sun-loving. Therefore, it must be planted in such open areas that do not shade during the day. Moreover, with severe thickening of the bushes, experts recommend removing part of the leaves so that the berries, having received enough sun, have time to ripen.
A very important factor when choosing a landing site is the lack of drafts. The bush cannot be planted where there are streams of cold air. Based on the foregoing, we can conclude: the best places for planting grapes are the southern or south-western areas next to the house, which will be protected from the wind, but so that it does not obscure the culture. Rapture grows well also on small hills and hills where the air does not stagnate. It is strictly forbidden to plant grapes in pits, yars or valleys.
Landing rules
An important role is played by the soil of the site where Delight is to be planted. It should be fertile and have an average moisture content. In the first case, the desired state can be achieved by feeding the soil over several years with mineral fertilizers and organics. But if the earth is not wet enough, it will be much more difficult to achieve the desired result. The gardener will have to water the vine bush almost every week, spending not only a lot of energy, but also water supplies.
Conversely, with an excess of moisture, the root system of the plant can rot, and in addition, it can be struck by a “thunderstorm of winegrowers” - phylloxera, and the fruits may begin to crack. Therefore, in marshy areas, this grape is never planted. The ideal soil option is chernozem or light loam.
For Delight grapes, the depth of groundwater should be up to 2.5 meters. When planting, you need to take into account the distance between the bushes, taking into account that one vine does not intertwine with another and does not obscure or thicken the neighboring bush. Therefore, for almost all varieties of medium-grape grapes, it is optimal to leave indents of four meters.
Care
All grape varieties need a lot of moisture for root growth and fruit formation. And although the bushes of this plant tolerate drought well, they must be watered both before and after flowering. The grape variety Rapture is no exception. Reviews of it indicate a certain “moodiness” of culture in terms of the formation of a bush. Therefore, every autumn, the plant must be cut off, removing eight to ten eyes from each shoot.
In addition, experienced growers are advised to mulch the soil around the bush after each watering with a three-centimeter layer of moss or darkened sawdust. For the winter, young and only planted plants should be covered by installing a large vessel above them that does not have a bottom and filling it with sand. For reliability, you can also cover with fir branches. So that grapes do not get sick and in order to protect it from various pests, it is necessary to regularly carry out preventive spraying with special preparations. Typically, this process is carried out before flowering, until the fruits have begun to form.
Reviews
Delight today is perhaps one of the most popular grape varieties grown in the middle lane of our country. It has very tasty juicy berries and high productivity, but the most important, judging by the reviews, is that the plant tolerates frosts perfectly. Those who have already managed to get acquainted with this grape say that this is one of the best varieties created by domestic breeders. True, there are also reviews in which gardeners complain that they were not able to grow this culture due to the defeat of aphids.