Crystal Grapes: description and advantages of the variety, planting and care with a photo

The main application of the Crystal grape variety is the use as a raw material for the production of fortified dry and sweet wines of the Sherry brand. But, due to the high sugar content in berries and high palatability, it is very popular with amateur gardeners - for fresh consumption, preparation of natural juices, compotes, marshmallows, jams, raisins.

Variety history

Crystal variety was obtained by Hungarian viticulturists by two-stage crossing of Amur grapes with Hungarian varieties: Challoczi Lajos - 1st stage and Villard Blanc - 2nd stage of selection.

From Amur grapes, Crystal got endurance to adverse weather conditions and severe frosts, and from Hungarian varieties - noble taste and resistance to diseases and pests of the crop.

This variety is grown in the zones of the North Caucasus and the Lower Volga region.

Description of Crystal grapes

Crystal - technical grape variety, high in sugar, self-fertile (with bisexual flowers), does not require pollinators.

Variety description:

• bushes of medium height, with cut leaves of dark green color;
• medium sized bunches with medium berry density;
• bunch of conical cylindrical shape;
• berries of medium size (weight of berries - from 2.0 to 2.5 grams), oval shape;
• berries are light green, yellow, in a state of ripeness, a pink tint appears;
• grapes have juicy, tender flesh, small seeds, dense skin, covered with a waxy coating, which serves as protection against pests.

Characteristics of plants and berries

Crystal - an early ripening variety, full ripening of berries occurs 4 months after the spring awakening of the vine. On the territory of the Saratov and Volgograd regions, the mass harvest of grapes occurs in mid-August, in the Astrakhan region and the territory of the North Caucasus, the harvest begins in early August.

The variety gives consistently high yields - from 160, on average, to 200 centners per hectare.

The weight of one bunch is 180-200 grams. Berries retain their flavor in bunches on the vine until the onset of cold weather.

Crystal can gain sugar content from 18 to 23% of the mass of berries on the Brix scale, which is considered a good indicator.

The tasting evaluation of Sherry table wines from Crystal grapes is 8.5 points, and sparkling wine - 9.1 points on a scale of 10.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Advantages of the Crystal variety: high and stable yield, early ripening of berries, resistance to fungal diseases and gray rot (at the genetic level).

The variety tolerates frosts with shelter from -29 С to -35 С, depending on the methods and quality of covering material.

The disadvantage is the formation of small berries (peas) in the bunch - this is due to poor-quality grape care during the formation of the bunch and negative climatic conditions in the spring.

Selection of seedlings and plot

Selection of sites for grapes: lowlands, areas with close groundwater, areas blown by winds are not suitable for planting. In such areas, the grapes and its root system rot, the plant grows slowly or dies, becomes infected with fungal diseases.

Slopes of hills are chosen for plots, seedlings are planted on the south side.

When choosing seedlings, pay attention to the state of the root system. The roots should be up to 10 centimeters long, he althy roots are light brown, young roots are green, inner fibers are white.

It is better to choose seedlings rooted in the ground.

Grapes reproduce well by cuttings (3-4 buds) sprouted for 2-4 weeks in water; after the formation of roots 3-4 centimeters long, the cuttings are planted in the ground.

Fit Tips

Planting seedlings or cuttings is carried out in holes with a drainage layer of pebbles, clay shards; nutrient soil is laid out on top of the drainage with the addition of wood ash and complex mineral fertilizer.

Seedlings are laid at an angle, covered with earth, leaving the root neck 3 centimeters above the ground. To stimulate growth and rooting, the seedling is watered with a solution of Potassium Humate and Heteroauxin (root growth stimulator).

Seedlings are best planted in spring, when the air warms up to +15 ^C.

The distance between plants is 80 centimeters, and between rows - 2.5 meters.

Growing and care

Growing and caring for grapes includes agrotechnical and technological cultivation procedures.

It is necessary to carry out annual pruning, pinching shoots, to prevent thickening of the bush, which leads to a decrease in yield, disease of the bushes. Shoots should be pruned in late autumn or early spring when the vine is dormant.

When pruning on the sleeve, a replacement shoot of 3-4 buds is left and the main shoot - up to 10 buds. On an adult vine, a total of up to 60 buds can be left. Watering is carried out depending on weather conditions. In dry weather, watering is carried out every ten days, in rainy summers, watered as needed.

Top dressing is carried out with mineral fertilizers. Potassium humate is a universal growth and development stimulant for grapes.

Carrying out weeding under the bushes, mulching the soil with needles will protect plants from pests.

About diseases and pests

The main diseases of grapes are mildew, oidium, gray rot, of pests grapes suffer from ticks and wasps. The crystal has a rot-proof gene and good resistance to fungal spore penetration.

Prophylactic treatment (2 times a year) with combined fungicides provides protection against diseases and pests.

Traps are made to protect against wasps, bunches are wrapped in mesh cloth.

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