Northern shoulder grapes: variety description, planting rules and cultivation

The northern regions of Russia are not suitable for growing thermophilic grapes. But for those who want to grow a crop in a cold climate, varieties with special characteristics are bred. Consider the Northern Shoulder grapes, its description, advantages and disadvantages, the subtleties of cultivation. How and when to plant grapes, how to care for a bush, water and feed it, cut it and protect it from diseases.

Characteristics and description of the variety

This is a hybrid of European and Amur grapes, mid-late, in the Rostov region the fruits ripen by mid-September.Bushes grow medium and above average height. The flowers of the vine are bisexual. Brushes of conical or cylindrical shape, large, medium in density, weigh, on average, 370 g, the largest - 700 g.

Grapes are medium in size, round in shape, the color of the skin is dark blue, almost black. Weight, on average, 2.2 g. The pulp of the grapes is juicy, the skin is medium dense, it is easily separated from the pulp. The taste is considered harmonious, from the pulp you can get a lot of light-colored juice - up to 85%. The sugar content of Northern shoulder grapes is 22-24 g/100 cm3, the acidity is 8-9 g/dm3.

The variety has an average resistance to fungal diseases, high winter hardiness, grapes can be grown without covering, with the exception of the regions of the Urals and Siberia. The yield level is high, the grapes are versatile, the berries can be used for food and table wines.

Pros and cons of Northern shoulder grapes

Variety advantages:

• winter hardiness;
• disease resistance;
• dense clusters;
• juicy pulp;
• great taste;
• yield;
• the ability to use berries for food and juice.

Disadvantages: Reduced yields and poor taste if bushes don't get enough water.

The subtleties of growing a plant

The Northern Shoulder variety needs to be planted correctly, choose the right place for planting and during it follow the recommendations on agricultural practices of the crop. Then the engraftment will be successful, the plant will not get sick, it will quickly continue to grow and develop.

Where and when to plant

Time for planting grape seedlings Northern Shoulder comes 2 times a season - in spring and autumn. On the site, you need to choose the south or south-west side so that the vine is illuminated by the sun and protected from the wind.

The culture prefers neutral, sandy or loamy, light and fertile soil.

Before planting, you need to prepare a landing pit, its width and depth must be at least 0.5-0.7 m. It is necessary to put a drainage layer down to drain excess water from the roots. You also need to prepare a fertile substrate, its composition: half of the excavated earth, sand, humus and ash. Mix the whole mixture well.

Boarding rules

A distance of 1.5-2 m in a row and at least 2 m between rows should be left between seedlings of the Northern shoulder. Each seedling is planted in a pre-prepared hole.The planting process is simple: spread the roots, put the grapes in the center, sprinkle with earth. Water and cover the surface with a layer of mulch.

Further bush care

After planting comes the period of plant care. Grapes need to be watered, fertilized, monitor its condition, pruning. After the end of the season, shelter for the winter.

Water and fertilize

A young seedling is watered often at first, 1 or 2 times a week, until it takes root. 2 months after planting, you can reduce the frequency of watering to 1 time per month. An adult bush needs to be watered only in a drought, this is especially important, since with a lack of water, the number of grapes decreases.

Top dressing is carried out starting from the next year after planting.At first, they fertilize only in the spring, after the start of fruiting, the bush is fertilized at least 3 times: before the leaves begin to bloom, after the fruit is set, and when they reach the size of a pea. At the first top dressing, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are applied, at the 2nd and 3rd - phosphorus-potassium.

Crop cutting

In the autumn or next year, in the spring, you need to cut the shoots of the Northern Shoulder grapes. Remove all old and fruit-bearing shoots, dry and damaged, frostbitten in spring. After flowering, leave no more than 2 inflorescences on each shoot so as not to overload the plant.

Winter period

Despite the fact that, according to the characteristics, the variety can withstand frost down to -30 ˚С, in the northern regions the grapes need to be covered. To do this, the shoots are removed from the trellis, tied together and put on the ground.

The top is covered with insulating material. In other, warmer regions, only the soil can be insulated.

Diseases and pests

Northern shoulder variety is resistant to mildew and other fungal diseases. But for prevention, the bushes are sprayed with fungicidal preparations even before the onset of the disease. If signs of damage appear, you need to prepare a solution, dissolving the therapeutic dose of the drug. With good care, bushes are resistant to pests, but weakened plants are attacked by aphids. You can get rid of it by treating it with insecticidal agents.

Collecting and storing grapes

The grapes are harvested when the berries are ripe. Remove them by carefully cutting off the bunches with pruners. Such brushes can be stored in a cold, dark place, such as a cellar, where they can lie until the middle of winter.From overripe grapes, you can prepare juice, canned preparations.

The main advantage of the Northern Shoulder is resistance to frost, this property makes it possible to plant and grow it even in cold climates. Like many varieties with this characteristic, it is unpretentious, standard care is enough. The grapes are sweet, tasty, juicy and make excellent table wines.

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