Lydia grapes: description and characteristics of the variety, yield and cultivation with photos

Russian novice gardeners are in no hurry to plant vines on the plots, as they consider the culture demanding on growing conditions and taking a lot of time to care for. And in vain. Breeders have bred many hybrids that are resistant to harsh weather conditions and common diseases of this plant. Experienced growers advise to pay attention to Lydia - a grape variety that has won fans around the world.

History of variety breeding

The credit for the appearance of a new hybrid belongs to American breeders. Based on grape variety V.Labrusca, they have created a new variety that is distinguished by a special aroma, versatility of use and a fairly high resistance to frost and attack by insects and diseases, in particular fungi.

Today Lydia is successfully cultivated by viticulturists throughout the post-Soviet space and Europe. It can be found both on French plantations and on the plots of Russian gardeners.

Interesting! In the United States and European countries, Lydia berries are only eaten fresh. Wines from this grape variety are not only not produced, but are generally prohibited from sale.

Description of Lydia grapes

Before you go shopping for a seedling, you should study the description of the Lydia grape variety and find out all its advantages and disadvantages.

The general characteristics of grapes are as follows:

• The weight of one bunch of berries is not more than 120 grams, the weight of one grape is about 4 grams.
• The shape of the fruits of the vine is round-oval.
• The taste is sweet, has a delicate strawberry aroma.
• Leaves are five-lobed, medium dissection, large or medium size.
• The color of the grapes is slightly pinkish, turning deep red when fully ripe.

The percentage of sugar is about 18-20%.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Like any culture, Lydia has not only advantages, but also disadvantages that should be considered when planning the planting of bushes.

The indisputable advantages of the variety include:

1. Aroma and taste of ripe berries.
2. Versatility in use (juice is made from grapes, jam is made for the winter and eaten fresh).
3. Use to decorate the site due to the attractive appearance.
4. Unpretentious care and survival.
5. Not afraid of soil waterlogging, frost and drought.
6. The high calorie content of fruits allows you to quickly get enough.
7. Good resistance to diseases such as mildew and powdery mildew (oidium).

Gardeners rank among the main disadvantages of the variety:

1. Small berry size.
2. Frequent infestation of grape aphids (phylloxera).
3. If the harvest is not timely, the berries may fall off from gusts of wind.
4. Low resistance to lime chlorosis.

After weighing the pros and cons, they decide to plant a vine on the site.

Ripening dates and yields

Lydia belongs to varieties with medium maturation. Clusters are cut not earlier than mid-autumn. The yield is quite high - with proper care and choosing the right place, they harvest up to 35-40 kg from one bush.

Fit Tips

In order to collect high yields of berries every year, it is necessary to carefully prepare the planting site. The vine bears fruit well in the near-wall areas (this can be the wall of a house or a farm building). The main thing is that the bush does not grow in a draft and receives enough sunlight throughout the day.

In warm regions, autumn planting is recommended, and in areas with cold winters, spring planting is preferable.

How to properly care?

Any culture will thank the gardener with a harvest if it is properly cared for. Irrigation of grape bushes is carried out in the spring during the formation of buds, the next time they are watered when fruit is set. Another addition of water is necessary when the berries are poured.

In hot, dry weather, moisten the trunk circle once a week.

They make foliar top dressings with mineral and organic fertilizers to saturate the vine with the necessary trace elements for growth and development. From mid-July, fertilization is stopped to give the plant the opportunity to prepare for winter and not provoke the growth of young shoots.

Vine and pruning is also needed. After winter, damaged and old branches are cut out. When the fruits ripen, stepchildren are removed.

Diseases and pests

With proper agricultural technology, the plant is resistant to fungal diseases of the crop and is rarely affected by pests. The only one that causes damage to plantings is grape aphids. If you do not take action in time, you can lose the entire crop. For processing, insecticides of the latest generation are used, which are effective only at the initial stage of the lesion.

Best Growing Regions

The best regions for growing are the southern regions of Russia, Moldova, east and south of Ukraine. In a cold climate, the berries will not have time to ripen.

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