Augustine grapes: description and characteristics of the variety, planting and care with photo

The Augustine grape variety has a good ability to withstand low air temperatures, so it is grown not only in the southern regions. Clusters with berries begin to ripen early, and their use is possible without processing. Care does not require a lot of time and effort. Under certain conditions, it will be possible to maintain a numerous and sweet harvest for many years.

History of Breeding

The Augustin grapes were bred by breeders in Bulgaria, in the city of Plevna, as a result of crossing Pleven and Vilar Blanc varieties.Table grapes also have other names: Pleven Steady, Phenomenon. The resulting hybrid has the best characteristics, which are determined by the increase in the number of crops, the taste of berries and the ability to withstand adverse factors.

Variety description

Description of the Pleven Steady grape variety is not complete without mentioning the following characteristics:

• belongs to the early ripe groups of plants, from the moment the ovaries are formed to the ripening of berries, an average of 118 days passes;
• harvesting begins in mid-August.
• Phenomenon shrubs are vigorous;
• bisexual flowers form on the branches;
• bunches of conical shape, their mass reaches 700 g;
• berries in bunches are formed large, of the same size, the weight of each of them is 6-7 g;
• color of thin but dense skin, greenish-yellow;
• the pulp is dense, sweet and juicy, there are few seeds inside, but they are quite large.

Variety Augustine Muscat has a high sugar content, up to 20%. The level of sugar content does not decrease even when exposed to adverse factors (cold, rain).

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of the Augustine variety include the following characteristics:

• opportunity to harvest early;
• abundant fruiting (up to 60 kg from one bush);
• ripe crop hangs on branches for up to two weeks without cracking or crumbling;
• ability to withstand frost down to -25 degrees;
• fruits are well transported over long distances;
• berries are rarely damaged by wasps;
• high enough resistance to fungal infections;
• seedlings after planting quickly adapt to a new place.

The disadvantages of the Augustine variety are:

• the presence of large seeds inside the berries up to 6 pieces;
• prolonged rains lead to cracking and rotting of fruits;
• not suitable for making fruit wines;
• do not keep ripe berries on the branches for more than 14 days, otherwise they will begin to crumble;
• in case of improper care, the berries become small and begin to crumble.

Before you plant a plant, you need to choose the right place and prepare the soil. To maintain yields, regular pruning of vines is necessary.

Distinguishing Features

It is possible to distinguish Augustine grapes from other varieties by the following characteristics:

• yellow-green berries with a whitish tint, almost transparent;
• berries are large, have an oval-oblong shape, there are large seeds inside;
• berries form a bunch of conical shape, loosely adjacent to each other;
• leaves are large, dark green, with little or no cuts, so the edges are more round;
• when ripe, the vine becomes red-brown in speck.

Fruits are intended for fresh consumption and do not require additional processing.

How much is ripe?

Augustin grape berries begin to ripen early. Since the beginning of flowering, 117-121 days have passed. If the spring came early and was warm, then they start harvesting in August.

Fit Tips

Planting seedlings start in spring or autumn. Working in summer or autumn has advantages and disadvantages:

• Seedlings planted in spring take root better and adapt faster to a new place, as there is a lot of light and heat. During this period, it is important to provide seedlings with sufficient and regular watering.
• In autumn, seedlings are planted long before the expected frosts. The plant should be provided with covering material that will keep the branches and roots from the winter cold. In the spring, these seedlings quickly enter the growth phase.

For planting, choose a site that warms up the most by the sun. It is better to plant on the south side of the buildings so that the plant is protected from the through northern winds. Augustine grapes prefer to grow in moist, fertile, loose soil.

Rules to follow when planting grapes:

• Dig holes 70 cm deep at a distance of 3 meters.
• Drainage from crushed stone or expanded clay is laid out at the bottom. The layer should be equal to 10 cm.
• Then a mixture of soil and fertilizer is poured in, after which comes the usual layer of soil.
• Pits are well watered with warm water.
• Seedlings are covered with earth up to the root neck, lightly compacted and watered again.

Dig a circular groove around each planted bush. It is needed for fertilization and watering.

Augustine grape care

Caring for Augustine grapes is simple and does not require much time and effort.

Irrigation

The Augustine grape variety needs regular watering, but you should not allow excessive waterlogging of the soil.Most of all, the plant needs watering in early spring and during the flowering period. Water intended for irrigation should be warm. Do not pour it under the root. Experienced gardeners dig a circular trench into which water is poured.

Fertilization

If the planting was carried out in accordance with all the rules, then the fertilizers that were laid in the pit will be enough for the next three years. In the first autumn, an additional layer of humus is placed at the base of the trunk. The humus will keep you warm and provide nourishment in the spring.

As the grapes grow, top dressing is carried out three times per season. Fertilizers containing nitrogen are applied in early spring. Before flowering, components containing superphosphate are needed. As soon as the berries begin to ripen, it is necessary to feed the plant with potassium-phosphorus components.

Cutting

Side shoots grow at high speed, so it is necessary to control the growth of the bush.If you do not carry out timely pruning, the yield will decrease, and the berries will become small in size and lose their taste. It is better to prune the bush in the fall, when the sap flow stops. Up to 10-12 eyes are left on each branch.

In the spring, they begin to remove damaged and dry branches, which will further slow down the development of vines.

It is recommended to remove excess greens. It is enough to leave 5-6 leaves above each bunch. Thinning the green mass contributes to better penetration of light and air to all parts of the plant.

Shelter for the winter

The plant withstands frosts down to -24 degrees, but it is better to take care of shelter for the winter. To do this, the grape lashes are freed from support, tied and laid on the ground. Then they cover with a film, fall asleep with a small layer of earth and mulch with straw or spruce branches. It is recommended to start organizing the shelter in dry, clear weather.

The air temperature should not be more than 0 degrees. Otherwise, a greenhouse effect will be created inside the film, which harms the grape branches. Shelter is removed in the spring, when the threat of frost is over, the snow has melted and the weather is warm.

Propagation of the variety

Reproduction of the Augustine variety is possible in three ways:

1. Growing grapes with seeds is not recommended, as the original characteristics are lost. If, nevertheless, it was decided to plant grapes with seeds, then the first days of June are considered the best dates. You can't do without vaccination. Fruiting does not begin until five years later.
2. Easier and faster plant propagation by cuttings. Each cutting intended for planting must have at least four eyes.
3. Propagate culture and layering. The method is suitable for those who already have the Phenomenon variety growing on the site. In the spring, the largest lash is dug into the ground.

When creating optimal conditions for the development of cuttings and cuttings, fruiting will be possible to wait two years later.

Which regions are best for growing?

The Augustine grape has a southern origin, but over time it spread to the regions of the middle lane. Thanks to the characteristics, cultivation is also possible in Siberia.

Diseases and pests

Variety Augustine is resistant to many fungal infections and staunchly resists the attack of insect pests. But experienced gardeners are advised to carry out preventive treatment of bushes. It is enough to spray the plant with a solution of soda or potassium permanganate.

The most common pest that sometimes damages a plant is the nail leafworm. If control measures are not taken in time, then the pest leads to a decrease in yield.Sulfur solution is suitable as a preventive measure. The component is diluted in a bucket of water, and the plant is sprayed with the finished solution in early spring.

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