Charlie grapes: variety description and cultivation, advantages and disadvantages

The virtues of cultivated grape varieties such as the Charlie grape variety are known to experienced and novice alike. He is unpretentious, fruitful, beautiful - what more could you want? In addition, it is not afraid of the snowy icy winter, characteristic of the northern regions of Russia. A distinctive feature of the variety is the dark, almost charcoal color of the berries.

History of crop breeding

The variety is relatively young: it was bred and registered in 2015. The second name, reflecting the shade of the peel, is Anthracite. The grapes were obtained by crossing the species Nadezhda AZOS and Victoria, the authorship belongs to E.G. Pavlovsky and the employees of the Kuban University of the Russian Federation who helped him.

Both varieties have been known for over 40 years and are distinguished by their resistance to temperature extremes. Charlie inherited the features of both "parents", generalized and improved them. Tests, during which the preliminary conclusions about the exceptional qualities of grapes were fully confirmed, were carried out for about 10 years.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The hybrid turned out to be very successful, in brief its advantages are expressed as follows:

• high yield from season to season;
• resistance to minor damage to the bunch, tolerates transportation well;
• does equally well in small plots and large-scale vineyards;
• minimum peat;
• easy to water, fertilize, pest control;
• uniform ripening of berries in bunches;
• rarely affected by insects (wasps);
• frost resistance - up to -24 degrees;
• buds are not afraid of spring cold snaps, the bush quickly adapts.

Charlie is exceptionally beautiful: elongated, full bunches, densely packed with black, shiny berries. With such obvious advantages, the variety is not without drawbacks. This is a light "nightshade" flavor, which is not to everyone's liking, as well as a small study of application in personal plots. But the variety has every opportunity to rehabilitate itself, to win the trust of winegrowers.

Features and external parameters of the hybrid

When describing the hybrid, a score of 8.4 points out of 10 is mentioned - quite high for grape varieties. It refers to taste, sweetness, bouquet, and the presence of acid. According to official statistics, Charlie produces up to 140 kilograms of ripe berries per hectare.

Unfortunately, when growing at home, this indicator is difficult to confirm (refute) - not the same scale.

In fact, amateurs get up to 20 kilograms of grapes from one bush. The variety is cultivated not only in Russia, gardeners from Ukraine and Belarus are experimenting with it.

Outwardly, the bush is indistinguishable from its counterparts of other species: medium height, unremarkable leaf shape of 5 petals. A feature of the variety is the uniform ripening of berries in bunches and ovaries along the entire length of the shoot, which is not so easy to achieve during selection.

The declared growing season (105-115 days) is actually even shorter, so the species is suitable even for a short summer. Grapes are successfully bred both by seedlings and cuttings. Shoots develop like an avalanche, on young bushes there are up to 30 of them. The proportion of successfully ripening is 0.9-0.95, this is a good result.

Another important feature: Charlie does not need forced pollination, he has bisexual flowers that cope with this themselves. Up to 7 bunches of grapes grow on each shoot, but for better ripening it is recommended to cut 5 of them.

Declared frost resistance is -25 (according to other sources - 24) degrees, this allows the vine to endure the winter without shelter. In the southern regions, it is not required at all. The variety shows sufficient endurance, even with the inevitable damage to the foliage, tendrils during spring frosts, the bush is restored, returning to its normal state.

When it rains, hail Charlie reacts by slowing down development. As soon as the bad weather recedes, the plant will immediately catch up. The clusters are large, the average weight is up to 800 grams (cases of maturation of 2 kilogram specimens are noted). The length is almost half a meter - 40 centimeters of a conical, densely packed toast with black berries and the same size.The harvest will not keep you waiting: already a year after planting the seedlings, juicy, ripe grapes appear that can stay without shedding for several days.

Bush and shoots

The bushes are medium-sized, show high growth rates, easily tolerate pruning, rain damage. Charlie's sprouts are starting to develop quickly and have to be limited (especially in young plants) so that the remaining ones can form and grow berries.

Characteristics of berries and brushes

The berries have a characteristic ellipsoidal shape, rich anthracite color, large size and weight (up to 9 grams each). The juice is clear, sweet, with a slight tart aftertaste. The core in the berry is not loose, it contains up to 22% sugar and almost no acid. There are few seeds - 2-3, the peel is dense, but almost not felt, easily chewed.

Brushes are heavy, saturated with fruits, elongated (usually conical) shape. Sometimes they reach a length of up to 40 centimeters and weigh more than a kilogram.

Yields

The variety shows high yields, this figure does not change from season to season. At first, you have to artificially limit the growth of "extra" clusters and berries, removing them. This measure is forced, otherwise the grapes will not be able to ripen at all.

Yield does not depend on temperature fluctuations in the region and the planting site, the variety copes well with "atmospheric problems", shows steady growth and fertility.

Resistant to frost and disease

Charlie inherited from his grandparents a low sensitivity to low temperatures. In the southern regions, it is not sheltered for the winter at all, in the northern regions it is gradually accustomed to the cold. The vine is able to endure frost down to -24 degrees without damage, slightly damaged leaves are quickly restored as soon as the sun warms up.The variety is not afraid of the most "terrible" and common grape diseases - mildew and oidium.

How to plant seedlings

Charlie's planting is no different from that of other varieties. The rule applies to choosing a sunny, but sheltered place from the wind - there the bush feels best. 2 cultivation methods are practiced - seedlings and cuttings.

Shanks

The simplest known way. The length of the prepared cutting is limited to 50-60 centimeters; before planting, the root part is soaked in water (possibly in a growth stimulator solution). An important condition is the air temperature - not less than 16 degrees Celsius.

Seedlings

Seedlings are rooted in spring (not recommended in autumn due to poor survival). Weak and sick, it is advisable not to use - this will affect the growth of the grapes. This method is more reliable and more familiar than planting cuttings, it is recommended for beginner gardeners.

Fitting technology

Charlie plants like other grapes: in dry, calm weather, better in spring than in autumn. It is not necessary to scrupulously dig and fertilize the entire plot, it is enough to prepare the place where the seedling will grow. It is allowed, as a protection against gusts of wind, to use nearby bushes of other plants: they will help the grapes to strengthen and not be afraid of cold air.

Choosing a landing site

It should be a light, moderately moist area. Any stagnation of liquid in the soil is excluded, they will lead to rotting of the roots. Better with well fertilized soil, drainage and breathability. If you plant grapes under the wall of the building, this will serve as additional protection from the wind.

Required soil composition

Charlie likes dry, light earth mixes, not clayey or waterlogged.The balance of minerals is provided by timely fertilizer with organic matter or mineral complexes. Drainage during landing is one of the necessary measures. Crushed stone, small brick breakage, sand are used. From the earth and fertilizers, they make up an evenly mixed "pie", which fills the internal volume of the hole.

Seating pattern and hole depth

For a seedling, a small hole measuring 60x60 centimeters at the same depth is enough. The distance between adjacent bushes is kept within 1-1.5 meters. If you immediately dig a trench and prepare it, then it will be more convenient to plant bushes.

Feeding young grapes after planting

A full-fledged top dressing is needed for a bush for the 3rd year of growth, when it has already depleted the supply of fertilizers laid down during planting. The main thing here is not to overdo it by adding compost, ash to the root zone, spraying the foliage with a weak solution of mineral compounds.

Caring for creepers

Grapes do not require special attention: watering, fertilizing, loosening the root zone and preventing parasites. It is better not to add water than to overfill. "Thirst" in the variety manifests itself during the period of growth and ripening of berries; before the autumn harvest (15-20 days) watering stops.

Tie bushes

The shoots are developing intensively, therefore, so that they do not break under the weight of the bunches, you should worry about supports - trellises, stretched rows of wire, pipes or pickets hammered into the ground. They tie up the vine not immediately, but 2 years after planting. For this, fabric strips are used, it is important not to pinch the delicate sleeves and shoots so that they do not dry out.

Cutting

Charlie is cut 3 times a year: in spring, summer and autumn. Each stage pursues its own goals: first, branches that have died during the winter are removed, then they carry out “sanitary” pruning to form a bush profile, and at the end they prepare for the cold.

Irrigation Rules

Watering is a delicate procedure: too much liquid will cause root rot, not enough will prevent berries from developing. Experienced gardeners advise not to add water, so as not to create a swampy area under the stem.

Feeding

Standard feeding with manure, compost, minerals is used. Usually, the dose laid down at planting is enough for 3 years, and only then there is a need for additional fertilization.

Formation of a fruitful vine

Carried out by pruning: successively removing "extra" eyes, it is necessary to leave no more than 30-35 on the bush. It is important during the summer procedure to open the bunches to the sun, getting rid of the weak and inferior.

Preventive treatments

This group of activities includes spraying with chemicals, loosening, pruning, fertilizing. The variety is resistant to most diseases, but as a preventive care measure, care will have to be taken to protect against the likely manifestations of fungi and lesions.

Preparing for winter

The variety is frost-resistant, it is covered more often in the northern regions (sometimes, to train the vine, it is advised to protect it in the first 2 years of existence). In autumn, before the first frosts, the vine is untied from the support, lowered to the ground and slightly dug. It is very important to ensure the stability of the bush in a bent position so that gusts of wind do not lift it, damaging the delicate branches and buds.

Diseases and pests - ways to deal with them

Charlie is not afraid of mildew, oidium, most pests - it is enough to carry out preventive treatment with insecticides and antifungal drugs. Sometimes it is advised to bury the vine for the winter, creating a roller of soil, and lay poison traps around it to prevent damage by garden rodents.

Recommended