Grapes of Catalonia: description and characteristics of the variety, fruiting and cultivation

The Talisman and Burgundy Magnolia (Mantle) varieties became the progenitors of Catalonia grapes. The aesthetic appeal of the plant, its clusters, came from the Burgundy Magnolia, and the sophistication of the taste of the berries was obtained from the Talisman. This table self-fertile grape variety with bisexual flowers was presented to gardeners by breeder Aleksandr Vasilievich Burdak.

Description of Catalonia grapes

Fruiting variety Catalonia begins from the first season after planting. Grapes growing in Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova do not require any special care. For the cold regions of the North-West, the Moscow region, the B altic states, this variety is not the most suitable, it will have to be carefully covered in anticipation of winter.

The grape bush of this variety has a powerful structure, massive clusters weighing from 600 g to 1 kg are easily held on the vine. The bushes are generously strewn with massive conical clusters.

Depending on the region of growth, the variety can be attributed to both early and mid-ripening. In warm regions, berries begin to ripen by the end of July; in mid-latitudes, you can enjoy their taste not earlier than the last decade of August.

Origin of variety

The variety was bred by the usual crossing of the vines of two grape varieties with large red and blue fruits. What improved the taste of one and the appearance, transportability of the other.

Description of the bush

Bushes are vigorous, sprawling, hardy to loads. Shoots growing together reinforce each other. The leaves are dark green and medium in size. The veins do not differ in color, but clearly stand out on the leaf plate.

The seedling takes root quickly in fertile soils. The adaptability of the plant is high to climatic conditions. Immediately after planting, the plant begins to take root intensively, simultaneously with this stage, the formation of the vine occurs.

The first harvest consists mainly of bunches not exceeding 500-600g. Proper plant care will increase yield by increasing the weight of each berry (from 12g to 18g).

Key Features

Catalonia is not very cold hardy. The maximum cold snap that the bush will withstand during wintering without consequences is -23 ° C. Resistance to fungal diseases and pests from the world of insects. Fruiting abundant, annual.

Sweet and juicy berry

Catalonia grapes attract with their aroma and juiciness of wasps and birds. It is extremely difficult to damage the thick skin of wasps, but the harvest can be badly damaged by feathered beaks.Large berries growing in weighty clusters are more often used for making wine than for eating raw. The tasting score for Catalonia is 8.9 out of 10.

To the sweet taste of the pulp, the tart aroma of the skin is mixed, which gives an astringent aftertaste. This combination of flesh and skin flavors is typical of grape varieties grown for wine production.

Immunity from diseases and pests

Vine bushes of Catalonia are resistant to fungal pathogens - mildew, oidium, gray rot. Most insect pests do not like this variety of vine. The tart aroma of the peel of berries repels leafworms, phylloxera.

What is special and how the variety differs from others

The peculiarity of the variety lies in its tendency to fasciation - fusion of stems. This cannot be considered a disadvantage, because the shoots of the vineyard have to withstand a solid load.

Bunches of grapes ripen simultaneously and evenly, withstand a long shelf life without loss of presentation and taste. When ripe bunches are left on the vine, the berries also do not shrivel and do not lose their taste. Berries of the Catalonia grape variety are not prone to peas.

The plant develops poorly on soil with high acidity, does not tolerate waterlogging, is prone to chlorosis, mold fungus. The roots freeze during severe frosts, which affects the he alth of the bush and the quality of the crop.

Ground landing

Before planting grape seedlings in the ground, their roots must be soaked in water for a day. If the soil is not fertile, then a growth regulator can be added to the water. It promotes better rooting and shoot formation.

Preparing the landing site

The landing site must be leveled, weed roots and stones removed from it.When choosing a place, it is necessary to take into account that the seedlings must be opened to the sun's rays and sheltered from the winds. Lean soil must be saturated with mineral fertilizers, acidic soil should be normalized with powdered lime, and preferably ash.

Choosing seedlings

The young seedling has brown shoots with a greenish tint. The gray, dark brown color of the bark indicates that the seedling is old. It is not suitable for landing, its adaptation to a new place will be long and painful.

Peeling, tuberosity on the bark - these are signs of diseases. Damage to the bark, broken branches are the places of greatest risk for damage by fungus and bacteria. Such seedlings are also not suitable. There should be no damage to the rhizome of the plant.

Seating calendar

From the middle to the end of October, it is necessary to plant a seedling in a prepared hole.Every year, favorable days for planting change. What remains unchanged is that it is recommended to transplant plants on a growing moon, and not on a waning one. If grapes are attributed to berry bushes, then suitable days are 2, 3, 11, 12, 15, 16, 20, 21, if Catalonia is attributed to fruit trees due to its high growth and sprouting characteristics, then it should be planted on 11, 12, 15 , 16, 20, 21, 25, 26 numbers. You can not plan planting on the 8th, 9th, 10th, 24th, it will be more difficult for the plant to adapt and enter the stage of painless rooting.

Sequence of disembarkation steps

The landing hole is prepared in advance, approximately 10-14 days before planting. The recommended width and depth is 1m. It is partially filled:

• 15-20 cm - drainage layer.
• Soil mixed with humus and mineral fertilizers necessary for autumn feeding (the exact list of mineral additives is specified in accordance with the characteristics of the soil of the area).
• Enriched soil is covered with soil selected from the hole.
• Hydration is produced - 10 liters of water.

One day before planting, the root system of the seedling is soaked in water. Immediately before planting, the roots are treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This will protect the roots from pests, worms:

1. The treated seedling is installed in the middle of the hole on an earthen elevation.
2. Its roots are neatly straightened.
3. The hole is 2/3 filled with soil (in black soil regions simple, in non-chernozem regions enriched with compost, humus, manure).
4. Irrigation in progress to compact the soil a bit.
5. The hole is filled to the top with soil.
6. After the soil is compacted, the area is mulched.

Garter for the fast-growing shrub of the Catalonia grape - a must-have step.

Growing and care

Proper care ensures the he alth of the shrub and a quality harvest for the grower.

Pruning the bush

During autumn and spring pruning, old shoots are removed, they differ from the rest in gray, flaky bark. Pruning of vines, leaves, shoots affected by disease or insects is carried out immediately after the discovery of the disease. Weak and thin shoots are also cut off, they only drain the juice from strong shoots, which will affect the size of the bunches.

Irrigation

Systematic watering of Catalonia grapes during the vegetative stage of the plant is recommended in areas with a hot arid climate. Catalonia will not withstand strong moisture, it can be affected by a putrefactive fungus. In cold regions, abundant watering is recommended for the plant at the stages:

• bud break;
• flowering;
• forming clusters - gaining weight;
• before the winter freeze.

Attention! No watering is done 4 weeks before the planned harvest. The more moisture the grapes receive during this period, the more acids and less sugars will be in its juice.

Fertilizer

Before the flowering period and during the formation of ovaries, the soil at the roots is enriched with nitrogen-containing fertilizers. Mineral dressings are applied as needed, which depends on the soil in which the vineyard is planted.

How to protect against diseases and pests

Preventive measures:

• timely frost protection;
• quality top dressing;
• spraying with insecticides before the vegetative stage;
• cleaning from under the bush of fallen leaves and fruits;
• regular replacement of mulch after winter and harvest;
• pruning affected and damaged shoots as they are found.

Preventing disease is easier than curing it, risking the harvest.

Berry ripening

Maturation of the Catalonia grape variety occurs at a time. In Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, the Krasnodar Territory, it occurs on the horses of July, in central Russia on the horses of August - early September.

Fruiting terms

After planting, for the first season, the bushes of Catalonia delight with a worthy harvest. From the beginning of the growing season to harvest in different climatic zones, it takes from 90 to 110 days.

Preparatory work before winter

In a climate where winters are not particularly severe, the thermometer does not fall below -23 ° C, the Catalonia grapes are not threatened by freezing roots and shoots.Here it is enough to carry out high-quality soil mulching. Where there is a threat of frequent thaws, it is necessary to make drainage and removal of melt water from plants.

In cold regions, it is necessary to cover the vineyard with a film, creating greenhouse conditions for wintering for it, with each snow fall, increase the snowdrift next to it. The thicker the layer of snow, the less the ground will freeze.

Harvest and use of crops

Catalonia grapes are harvested at the stage of full maturation. For some time, ripe bunches can hang on the bushes without any damage to the grower. After harvesting, the grapes can be sent for storage, sale, processing into wine must.

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