Features of the elegant grape variety

Every avid gardener does not represent his plot without grapes. You can make amazing desserts and drinks from these sweet, aromatic berries, but they are just as good when fresh.One of the most popular varieties of this crop is the “Elegant” grape, which is distinguished by its fast ripening and unpretentious care. According to experts, it is perfect for novice gardeners.

Grapes "Elegant" was bred in the All-Russian Research Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking named after I.I. Potapenko by crossing varieties "Delight" and "Frumoas Albe". The result exceeded all expectations, so it is not surprising that a new kind of culture was in the top ten. From its progenitors, the hybrid took all the best properties and characteristics. Thanks to "Delight", he gained a high degree of sugar accumulation and disease resistance, and "Frumoas Albe" gave him a nutmeg taste.

“Elegant” is a super early grape variety that can be grown with equal efficiency in any territory of the country, not only in the southern regions. The vegetative period lasts 110-120 days, so you can enjoy the berries in early August or even at the end of July. The growth rate of the bush and its final height are average, so it is convenient to harvest from it.

The yield of grapes "Elegant" is quite high, since 95% of its shoots are fruitful, while the coefficient of fruiting is up to 1.8. The clusters of the hybrid grow in the form of a cylinder or a cone, and each of them, when ripe, reaches a weight of 0.3-0.4 kg. As for the density of the brushes, it is average, but it can be loose if the plant has been exposed to negative factors.

The “Elegant” variety is distinguished by large oval-shaped berries with a pointed end, the weight of each of them is about 7 g. They have a light green color, and when fully matured they become golden and almost transparent. When growing this crop, it is important to ensure that it is well lit by sunlight, especially berries, otherwise they will be pale and not sweet enough.

Berries of grapes "Elegant" are very sweet, their sugar content reaches 20-22%. At the same time he feels the taste of nutmeg and a slight sourness, which is not more than 9 g / l. The shell of the fruit is quite dense, and when crunching crunches. Inside there are only 2-3 small bones, so it is convenient to make jams, juices, jellies and jams from it. But for making wine "Elegant" is not suitable, since it is a table grape variety.

Due to the dense skin, the clusters retain their integrity during transportation, and do not crack during ripening. In addition, they do not overripe, even if cut them a month later than the due date. On the contrary, the berries will become even more juicy and sweet.

The shoots of grapes "Elegant" ripen well, so they can be successfully used for further reproduction. The disadvantage of this variety is not a high degree of rooting of cuttings, so with this method of planting a hybrid, you will have to try to create the most favorable conditions. In order for culture to take root, you must perform the following manipulations:

• cut the cuttings with the same number of eyes, but no more than four;
• From the bottom there should be a short mustache and a kidney, and also it is important to make an even cut;
• pour some purified water to the bottom of the can and put cuttings into it, and cover it with a plastic bag;
• remove the jar from direct sunlight and store for 3-4 weeks, but do not forget to change the water;
• when roots of about 3 cm in length appear on the cuttings, they must be planted in a pot with light, nutritious soil;
• In this form, seedlings must be stored before planting, not forgetting to water them so that the earth does not dry out.

In order to plant another grape variety for Elngant, it must also be properly prepared:

• cut the cuttings into 3-4 eyes;
• make a sharp wedge on both sides about 2 cm under the lower kidney;
• when preparing the stock, cut the stalk above the upper peephole;
• to make a wedge so that it is firmly inserted into the graft of the graft, then tightly wound them to each other;
• Store the harvested material in a cool, dark, wet place, for example, in a refrigerator or cellar.

The yield of grapes depends largely on the place of its landing. Since this berry loves the sun, you should choose a well-lit area for it. Experienced gardeners know that the plantation should be located in a direction from north to south. And also a good option would be the landing of bushes near the wall, which is located in the north. Thus, the grapes will be protected from cold winter winds, as well as receive much more heat in summer from the surface heated by the sun.

In order to get a large and high-quality harvest of Elegantt, it is necessary to provide him with the most favorable conditions. An important component is the soil - it should be light, therefore, excess moisture should be removed, and then fertilizer should be applied. For planting crops should choose a plot without trees and other objects that create a shadow. Vine should be protected from poultry and animals, as they can damage it.

When the place and the soil for the future plantation will be prepared, you can begin to choose seedlings. They must be purchased in special nurseries or from trusted vendors. You should not cheap with such a purchase, if in the end you want to grow a well-fruiting and strong shrub. A quality and healthy seedling must meet the following criteria:

• well developed light roots;
• the absence of dark spots and damage;
• slice root cream color.

The most successful period for the purchase of seedlings will be March - April. But you can also make a purchase in the fall, only in this case there should be no leaves on the stem: during storage it will lose a lot of moisture through them and will be unsuitable for planting.

The grapes "Elegant" can be planted in spring or autumn, although experienced gardeners tend to prefer the first option. It should be noted that this hybrid is quite possible to plant in February, but subject to the absence of frost. This option is most suitable for the southern regions.

Spring planting should begin as early as possible, and in order for the sapling to settle well, it is important not to forget about frequent watering. In the autumn, this manipulation also needs to be done early, before it freezes. Otherwise, in the frozen ground, the grapes will die, as it will not receive the necessary nutrients and moisture.

In order for the vine to grow and develop properly, it is important to give it as much space as possible, therefore gardeners adhere to special schemes for planting seedlings. Their choice will depend on the type of trellis supports. Single and two plane lanes are suitable for the “Elegant” variety. In the first case, between the bushes it is necessary to observe a step of 3.5 m, and in the second - 2 m. If the plantation has several rows, then there should be at least 2 m distance between them.

The immediate planting of the grapes begins with digging holes for each bush with a depth of 1 m, after which you must perform the following steps:

• fill the bottom 15 cm with rubble, level it and tamp it;
• departing from the edge of the pit 10 cm, insert a pipe with a diameter of at least 5 cm, while its end should rise 15 cm above the surface;
• fill the pit with 60 cm of earth, plant grapes with neatly leveled roots, which had previously been soaked in a clay “talker”;
• fill the remaining space with fertile soil and fertilizer, laying them in alternate layers;
• Finally, fill the plantation with good soil, tamp it gently and pour water abundantly.

About 2 buckets of water should be spent on each bush. In the future, watering the grapes will be made through a dug pipe, a hole which looks out on the surface. Thus, you can enter the feed for plants, diluted in water.

Table grapes "Elegant" is unpretentious in care, but if you create the most comfortable conditions for it and follow all the rules of cultivation, This can significantly increase the yield.

• Watering. The hybrid is resistant to heat and drought, but young plants under the age of three years need abundant watering. Adult grape bushes independently extract water from the soil, and underground watering is necessary in late autumn. It is important to remember that “Elegant” does not like water falling on the leaves, therefore only the soil should be watered.
• Fertilizers and lure. This variety of berries does not need fertilizers. Nevertheless, experienced gardeners recommend feeding bushes with bird droppings during the growing season. In addition, the soil can be fertilized with ash 1 time per season. To increase the yield of lure should be introduced during the blooming of the kidneys, 2 weeks after the appearance of the inflorescences, during the ripening of the clusters and after they are cut.

• Crop. If other grape varieties need to be cut in the fall, then Eleganta does not need to do this. Such a manipulation may be needed only to drain the bushes. Long pruning is acceptable for this variety, in which shoots are left with 6-8 eyes.
• Wintering. The hybrid is frost-resistant - it withstands temperatures up to -25 degrees, so in the southern regions it does not need additional protection in the winter. In other cases, to avoid icing of the vine, bushes can be covered with a tarp or a black garden film.

Experienced and novice gardeners leave only positive feedback on the elegant grapes. In addition to a large and incredibly tasty harvest, this variety is unpretentious, so even without fertilizers and frequent watering the bushes will bear fruit well.

Review grade "Elegant", see the following video.