Carmen grapes: variety description and characteristics, planting and cultivation

The presence of zoned selection products in the arsenal of summer residents and gardeners makes it possible to grow vineyards even in areas with pronounced seasonality. Grapes of the Carmen variety are resistant to cold climates, unpretentious to cultivation conditions and high yields. Ease of care and excellent taste of the fruit explain the popularity of the hybrid among agricultural technicians and homeowners.

Description, characteristics of the variety

The variety Carmen, obtained as a result of selective crossing, is not picky about the composition of the soil, it is able to endure low temperatures and lack of moisture without consequences.An adult plant with bright green foliage takes the form of a large bush with two-meter shoots, along the entire length of which fruits form and ripen.

High yield due to self-pollination of the hybrid. Bisexual flowers bloom in May, and fruits ripen in August. The variety forms large clusters weighing up to 2 kilograms with a wide base at the point of attachment to the stem and tapering towards the end.

Carmen is a large-fruited variety with oval, elongated berries from reddish-lilac to deep purple. Thin-skinned fruits with elastic, juicy pulp have a sweet taste. The average sugar content is 20% with acidity not exceeding 8 grams/litre.

Characteristic of Carmen grapes:

up to 3.6 centimeters in lengthBerry weight8-12 gramsAverage bush yield6 kilograms Fruit ripening period100-110 daysLimit of the lower limit of plant temperature tolerance

Parameter	Description
Grape Purpose	Table
Medium bunch weight	0.6-1.0 kilograms
Berry size
-25°С

The cuttings, which have good rooting ability, grow quickly. The unpretentiousness of the plant and the quality of the berries, which ripen in a relatively early period, distinguish the variety from competitors.

Advantages and disadvantages of Carmen grapes

The Carmen variety is distinguished by a list of undeniable advantages, combined with a few shortcomings that must be taken into account when growing a plant.

Pros and consfrost resistance;unpretentiousness;high yields;taste qualities of fruits;relatively short period of fruit ripening;good preservation of the crop during transportation.the need for regular pruning of the vine in order to limit the number of fruit clusters;lack of resistance to common diseases affecting vineyards.

The advantages of Carmen grapes with minimal restrictions in cultivation cause the variety to be in demand in regions with different climatic conditions.

Fit features

The grapes are propagated by cuttings, layering and stock. Viable seedlings take root quickly. The optimal season for planting a plant is spring, when the average daily air temperature does not fall below +10 ° С.

For the vineyard choose a sunny site, preferably on the south, south-west side.

The place for planting is prepared in the fall, digging up the soil with the addition of complex fertilizer or humus. The plant is undemanding to the soil, but areas with stagnant groundwater should be avoided or their level should be adjusted by forming an embankment.

In the spring they dig a landing hole with a diameter of 0.5-0.6 meters and a depth of 0.7 meters. A layer of manure is laid at the bottom of the recess, which is covered with a layer of soil. A seedling is placed in the prepared hole so that the basal neck is visible above the surface. Sprinkle the plant with soil, ram and water.

Further crop care

Growing a variety on the site will not require much time and effort from the owner. Post-plant care for Carmen grapes includes:

• weed removal;
• loosening the soil around the bushes;
• watering;
• feeding;
• pruning vines;
• fight infections.

Watering is done as the soil dries out. In the dry period - 1 time in 405 days. Water the bushes before the fruit ripens. Then watering is stopped, but the need for loosening the soil remains.

Top dressing is carried out twice a year. In autumn, organic matter is applied under the bushes, and in spring - mineral fertilizers rich in potassium and phosphorus. Cut the vine in early spring, before the start of sap flow, leaving no more than 8 buds.

To avoid damage to grapes by diseases, in the spring, before flowering, preventive treatment of plantings from infections and pests is carried out.

Diseases and pests

Carmen grapes are susceptible to some fungal and viral infections, attractive to insect pests. Provoking factors for infection are:

• high humidity;
• hot weather;
• lack of nutrition and mineral components;
• moisture stagnation;
• lack of soil loosening.

To avoid crop loss, it is necessary to carry out timely preventive treatment of bushes and provide plants with proper care.

Signs of infection and ways to deal with common grape diseases:

1. Removal of affected leaves. 1. Fungicide treatment. 1. Removal and destruction of obviously affected parts of the bush.1. Destruction of affected bushes.

Disease	Signs	Control measures
Mildew	Whitish spots on the outside sheet plate, fine-grained light coating on the inside of the sheet. Over time, the lesions become necrotic, the infection spreads to the inflorescences, which eventually die off.	2. Fungicidal treatment. 3. Soil mulching. 4. Application of mineral fertilizers. , inflorescences. In the early period, the fruits dry out, in the late period they rot and crack. Rotting is accompanied by the smell of rotten fish.
		2. Ensuring air access to the bushes by tying and pruning. 3. Loosening the soil.
Anthracnose	Brown spot with a white border appears on the leaves. The affected areas darken and break down over time. Shoots and inflorescences darken and die.	2. Fungicidal treatment.
Phylloxera	Grape aphid attacks leaves or roots. Root phylloxera destroys roots and trunks, while leaf phylloxera infects leaves, shoots, inflorescences.	2. Insecticide treatment.

The best ways to protect against diseases of the vineyard are preventive treatment of plants, rational watering, regular loosening of the soil and fertilization. Fungicides and insecticides are best used in advance, in the spring, before flowering and fruiting.

Cleaning and storage

Harvesting is carried out as the brush ripens, from the first to the third decade of August. If good weather persists, the collection period is extended until the end of the first week of September. It must be borne in mind that unripe fruits do not ripen after being removed from the bush. The color of ripe fruits is rich and uniform, the stones are brown.

Ripe bunches are cut with scissors in the morning, in dry weather, and placed in 1 layer in wooden or plastic boxes lined with paper. Rotten and dried berries are removed. The harvest is stored in a cold store or in the cellar, with regular inspections of the brushes for damage.

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