Grapes Kishmish Radiant: variety description and characteristics, pros and cons

Kishmish Radiant is ranked among the best seedless grape varieties of medium early ripening from Moldova. This hybrid is distinguished by a consistently high yield and cold resistance, which makes it suitable for cultivation in adverse climatic conditions. The sweet taste of berries and large-fruited grapes also brought wide popularity to the variety.

A bit of history

The Kishmish Radiant grape variety is relatively young - it was bred by a group of breeders from the Moldavian Institute of Viticulture about thirty years ago. The hybrid inherited the characteristics of two other varieties used in its creation: Cardinal Kishmish (American origin) and Pink Kishmish (Armenian).The result of the researchers' work was a high-yielding table grape variety with large berries.

Description of grapes Kishmish Radiant

The hybrid belongs to varieties of medium ripening - clusters ripen within 120-130 days. Berries Kishmish Luminous light pink color, juicy, crispy, with elastic thin skin and light nutmeg aroma. Despite the fact that in the description the variety is indicated as seedless, in large berries there are occasionally barely noticeable rudiments of seeds. The size of the berries ranges from 25 to 30 millimeters in length.

Blusters of the variety have an oblong conical shape, their weight, on average, varies from 200 to 800 grams.

The structure of the bunch is loose. Grape bushes Kishmish Radiant are tall, branchy, with a strong vine. The leaves are small, heart-shaped. The sugar content of the variety is 17-21%, the acidity is 6-7 grams per liter.

Important! The variety is often confused with another table hybrid - Kishmish Radiant, which is the result of breeding varieties Kishmish Talisman and Kishmish Radiant.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the variety?

Kishmish Radiant stands out from other varieties with a number of advantages:

Good ripening shoots - 60-70% of them are fruitful.
The structure of the vine - for the winter it can be removed from the support. This allows the grapes to be sheltered for the winter, making the hybrid popular in cold climates.
Seedless - rudiments of seeds are found only in especially large berries.
High yield - 30-40 kilograms of grapes are harvested from one bush.
Good transportability - the elasticity and thickness of the skin make it easy to transport berries over long distances.
Resistant to many diseases - in particular, the variety rarely suffers from gray mold and oidium.
Retaining taste and attractive appearance for a long time - ripe berries can remain on the branches for a long time.

The disadvantages of the species include the exactingness of the level of care and the weight of the bunches - their mass, with proper care, can reach 2 kilograms, which is fraught with breaking off the vine. Also, a high level of sugar content attracts wasps.

Timing and planting tips

Unlike most other species, Radiant Kishmish must be planted in a well-ventilated area. In addition, this hybrid loves space - the distance between two adjacent bushes should be at least 2.5 meters. Planting pits for seedlings are prepared 1-2 weeks before planting. The optimal dimensions of the pit are 80 by 80 centimeters.Fertilizer formulations are placed at the bottom of the pits.

Plant grapes in spring or autumn, with a focus on local climatic conditions.

How to properly care?

Caring for a variety consists of regular watering, periodic top dressing, pruning of branches and the timely creation of supports, with which heavy branches are prevented from breaking. The type of fertilizer depends on the quality of the soil - on alkaline soils it is recommended to feed the grapes with potassium, on acidified soils - with phosphorus and sodium. Excess fertilizer can affect the formation of ovaries and delay the start of flowering.

Also Radiant Kishmish must be cut, while its dry parts are removed. This is done in order to stimulate the growth of shoots and provide a better set of berries. Grapes are watered every 3-4 days, while each bush should take no more than 6 buckets of water. Waterlogging the soil can cause the characteristic taste of nutmeg to disappear in the berries.

When can we expect the harvest?

With proper care and regular pruning Kishmish Radiant begins to bear fruit in the second year of life. Berries usually ripen by mid-August-early September.

Features of reproduction

Kishmish Radiant is propagated both by cuttings and by seedlings, but the first method is especially popular. The yield of seedlings from cuttings reaches 70%. In addition, there is an opinion that propagation by cuttings is more rational - self-growing and planting cuttings reduces the risk of infection in the vineyard.

Diseases and pests of the variety

The hybrid is resistant to most fungal diseases, including gray mold, powdery mildew and oidium, but prevention is never superfluous.In order to prevent the development of infection, plants are treated with fungicidal preparations, but it is recommended to do this before flowering begins.

High sugar content attracts a large number of wasps, which can be repelled with chemicals. However, most gardeners use more gentle methods - you can distract insects with jam traps.