Alpha grapes: description and characteristics of the variety, yield and cultivation

Alfa grapes summer residents actively plant trees and shrubs. This is a well-known technical variety. Vigorous bushes beautifully braid arbors and pergolas. The hedgerows are covered with purple clusters in autumn.

Growing grapes is quite simple: this variety is suitable for working gardeners. Alpha produces excellent dry and semi-dry wines. Summer residents receive enough raw materials in autumn to prepare natural drinks.

History of Breeding

The Alpha variety is quite well known. He is over 70 years old. Received grapes in the USA. Two varieties were taken as a basis: Labruska and Ripariya.

Alpha was tested first near Odessa, then in a vineyard near Brest. As a result, grapes became widespread throughout the USSR. It began to be grown as a technical one.

Variety description

Alpha is an excellent pollinator. It is often used to pollinate self-fertile varieties. Variety Description:

• plant is easy to root and adapt;
• bush prone to overgrowth;
• late maturing variety (150 days from awakening of the vine to harvest);
• bush vigorous (vine stretches up to 9 m);
• vine dense;
• bush prone to fruit overload;
• leaf bright green, large (25 cm long, 30 cm wide);
• variety resistant to temperature changes;
• fruits do not fall off the bush for 2-3 weeks after the harvest ripens;
• active shoot growth (requires regular chipping);
• excellent cutting rooting (98%).

Alpha has a number of advantages: it gives a consistently high yield (10 kg per bush), unpretentiousness, frost resistance.

Features

Alfa variety has characteristics:

• frost resistance of vines up to -45 degrees Celsius, root system up to -12;
• color of berries is purple, with a slight brownish bloom;
• berries are rounded;
• maximum grape weight 3g;
• brushes of medium density, elongated;
• average brush weight - 90g, maximum - 250g;
• pulp firm, juicy, sour;
• sugar content - 16%;
• the skin is thick.

Alpha is stored in a cool place without loss of taste and marketability for up to a month.

Pros and cons

Alpha grapes are liked by gardeners. His merits:

• unpretentiousness;
• frost resistance of the vine and root system;
• easy to grow;
• fast survival;
• resistance to changing weather;
• consistently high yields;
• fast growing vine;
• use as a pollinator for self-fertile varieties;
• use of both own-root form and scion;
• possibility of using variety for landscaping.

But Alpha also has disadvantages:

• poor disease resistance;
• low tasting score;
• prone to overgrowth;
• need for constant pinching.

Alpha variety is suitable for growing raw materials for wine in regions with a short warm period.

Selection and planting of seedlings

Alpha is unpretentious in care. But to get a harvest, you need to follow the recommendations:

1. He althy rooted cuttings are suitable for planting. The root system, underground and ground parts should be well developed.
2. You can use any grape variety as a rootstock. For the scion, a he althy cutting of Alpha is taken. It is recommended to graft in any convenient way (split, overhead).
3. The landing site should be sunny, protected from the north and northeast winds. Grapes should be planted near the southern and southwestern walls of suburban buildings. It is recommended to take into account the size of the bush: it is required to step back from the walls 2.5-3 m.
4. The grower must take care of the support for the vine in advance. The plant overloads itself with fruits. Untied stems break, the crop is lost.
5. The depth of groundwater at the site is 3-4 m. Grapes do not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. To prevent wetting and rotting of the root system, drainage is required before planting. To do this, it is necessary to grind crushed stone, brick, tile and pour a layer of 7-10 cm on the bottom of the planting hole. This simple measure will prevent stagnation of water at the roots.
6. Soil variety prefers fertile, loose, with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. It is recommended to deoxidize acidic by adding lime (1 liter per square meter). To obtain a permeable soil, add perlite, neutral peat, sand.
7. Alpha takes root well when planted in early spring or mid-autumn.

It is recommended to buy grapes in nurseries or specialized stores: this way you can avoid disappointment.

Features of care

Alpha is an unpretentious variety in cultivation. It grows quickly and bears fruit even among inexperienced growers. But you need to follow the basic rules:

1. Alpha is responsive to watering. The soil should be moistened during flowering and the formation of ovaries. It is recommended to stop watering during the fruit ripening period: excessive soil moisture leads to cracking of the berries.
2. It is recommended to combine watering with top dressing. In the spring, be sure to apply nitrogen fertilizers. In spring and autumn - mineral complexes.
3. Very vigorous variety. It needs to be trimmed to evenly lighten the maturing brushes. Be sure to carry out chipping and pinching during the ripening period.
4. Preparing for winter is impossible without shaping pruning. All immature vines (they are green) should be removed. Then leave a replacement shoot (2 eyes) and above it a fruiting vine (6-7 eyes). Up to 6 such segments are required on the main vine.

Grapes winter well without shelter. To protect the root system, it is recommended to mulch the near-trunk circle with sawdust with a layer of 15 cm.

About diseases and pests

Alpha grapes are resistant to fungal diseases. But it is affected by chlorosis, mildew, oidium, anthracnose. Wasps, birds love to eat fruits.

To prevent diseases, it is recommended to observe the regime of watering and fertilizing. Traps should be placed to fight wasps. Stretched protective nets help against birds.

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