Grape "Cardinal": a description of the variety, types and cultivation

Today it is almost impossible to find a summer cottage where grapes are not grown.And probably there is no such person who would not love these fragrant and juicy berries. Experienced gardeners know for sure that there are a large number of varieties of vines that "fit" in the conditions of almost any climate. There are about 10 thousand varieties of “sunny berry”, and each type of grape has its own advantages and disadvantages. Among all these varieties, one of the most popular is the Cardinal variety.

"Cardinal" is a common grape variety grown for making jam and compotes, as well as for the production of muscat wines. If you comply with all the rules of preparation, then strong and tasty wines will be stored. To learn a little more about this grape, you need to consider a detailed description of the variety. It ripens quickly enough and in 105 days it will be possible to taste the harvest. Bunches of grapes "Cardinal" have a slightly elongated, cone-like shape. Their weight can vary from 200 to 900 g, but sometimes there are more heavy clusters.

The berries have a pronounced oval shape and thin skin. When they mature, they acquire a rich red or purple hue. The flesh itself has a light green color and a very pleasant taste. Differs in the intoxicating aroma of nutmeg. Inside each berry there are two seeds. "Cardinal" contains up to 18% sugar, and per gallon of grape juice accounts for 8 g of acid.

The only drawback of the variety is that it is afraid of severe frosts and can easily “catch” any disease.

Taking the variety “Cardinal” as a basis, breeders developed new hybrids of this family, having improved some characteristics of the original.

The variety "Lux" has turned out due to the crossing of the grapes "Cardinal" and "Kriulyansky". However, it slightly surpassed its predecessors in resistance to fungal diseases and is more resistant to frost. But at the same time it ripens longer, therefore it is necessary to wait for the harvest up to 125 days. Grape bushes grow very quickly, its clusters are quite large and, as a rule, weigh about 500 g, and some can even reach a weight of 1 kg.

Each individual berry weighs up to 20 g and can be red or dark blue. Grapes are distinguished by a sweet taste with nutmeg flavor. "Lux" contains up to 21% sugar, and in one liter of juice is up to 8 g of acid.

Variety "Azos" was bred in Anapa. Specialists made it more resilient to extreme cold. This variety can withstand frost up to 23 degrees Celsius and perfectly resists various diseases affecting the plant. However, the aging period is even longer than the previous one. Grapes will be ready for use only 130 days after planting. This variety has a rapidly growing vine, which consists of a large number of shoots. They are located along the entire length.

The clusters are shaped like a cone and are very heavy. Ripened fruits have a beautiful pink or purple color. They contain 22% sugar, and in a liter of fresh grape juice - 10 g of acid. Berries have a sweet taste and a pronounced nutmeg aroma.

Variety "Sustainable" can be collected early - after 115 days after planting. Bushes of this variety develop well and quickly. The bunches are quite heavy. Ripe berries have a purple hue, pleasant and full-bodied taste. The berries contain up to 19% sugar. The peculiarity and advantage of the “Sustainable” - it can withstand low temperatures of up to 22 C. And from the shortcomings of the variety, we note the instability to some diseases and pests.

One of the earliest varieties is considered "Crimean", which begins to ripen after 100 days and pleases the owners with its first berries at the end of summer.Seedlings can withstand frost up to 22 C, which means that they can be planted in more northern regions. Also, the species has resistance to the most common diseases. Bunches "Crimean" consist of very large berries that have a pink hue. However, many experts, breeders and experienced gardeners say that this hybrid turned out to be worse than the original - with an estimate of 8 on a 10-point scale.

Grapes "Cardinal" has many advantages that allow you to grow it without putting too much effort. For many years he has received excellent reviews from breeders. Here are the main advantages of this variety of grapes:

• grapes ripen very early;
• Yield throughout the season is quite high (on one bush can form up to 70 shoots, which will give a rich fragrant harvest);
• The fruits of the Cardinal are usually very large and can be used both for making wine and for preparing various original desserts;
• no matter how long the carriage may be, the grapes of this variety do not spoil and retain their original appearance for a long time;
• the taste of the Cardinal is highly appreciated by experienced tasters;
• does not require special care, so this variety can grow even inexperienced gardener.

However, this variety has its drawbacks, which you should know at the beginning of cultivation:

• the main disadvantage is the fear of frost, which means that most varieties will have to be grown in the southern regions;
• in rainy weather, both shedding flowers and rotting berries are possible;
• grapes affect fungal diseases - for example, gray mold;
• the disadvantage is the high sensitivity of the plant to sudden temperature changes;
• the soil for cultivation should be as fertile as possible;
• fruit ripening is uneven in time.

"Cardinal" is recommended to grow in temperate climates. That is, it is best to grow it where in the fall and in winter there are no severe frosts and temperature drops. However, with proper care, grapes can be grown in settlements, where the temperature is usually extremely low. Grow bushes best on black soil. But in the sandy or loamy lands you can get a good harvest.

All cuttings must be planted in places where there is a lot of light, so that they are well lit and warmed. It is better to start the process in spring, since in winter time a young vine may not survive in frosts. Landing is carried out as early as possible, as long as the earth has time to warm up to 10 C.

The hole for seedlings is dug up to 1 m deep. One or two buckets of organic fertilizers are poured at the very bottom. It depends on the quality of the soil. Then a layer of earth is poured in and a support stake clogs right in the center of the pit. After this, a small mound of earth is added. This is done for convenient placement of the root system of grapes. Then its roots gently straighten and covered with earth, which must be properly tamped. After this, it is necessary to form the sides for watering the plant and pour it over with three buckets of warm water.

Although the “Cardinal” grapes do not ripen in any climatic zone, with proper care, you can still get a good harvest. The first and most important thing to know is that excessive watering the plant can destroy it. The vine itself is watered only twice per season. For the first time this is done before flowering, the second time - after its completion. But if the harvest is threatened by a severe drought, an exception can be made.When heavy rains also need to think about drainage, so that there is no stagnation of water, from which the crop may be lost.

But just watering is not enough for grapes to be pleased with a big harvest. It is imperative to take care of regularly making the necessary fertilizers. This is done 3 times for the whole season:

• in order to ensure more vigorous growth of the grapes, it is necessary to introduce any nitrogen fertilizers in early spring (these can be nitroammofoska, urea, etc.);
• the next stage of feeding occurs immediately after the flowering of the grapes;
• The last fertilizer application should be made after the entire crop has been harvested;
• Both the second and third supplements are made with the help of such fertilizers as superphosphate and sulfuric potassium;
• You can also use any other fertilizers, which include potassium or phosphate;
• organic fertilizer should be applied once every two seasons.

Since the variety “Cardinal” is too afraid of fungal diseases, after the completion of the flowering of the grapes it should be treated with any fungicides, following all instructions. Also, in order to preserve a good root system, plants are recommended to be covered tightly for the winter period. To do this, use different materials. The most common are hay, straw, or leaves. In this case, the vine is also laid on the ground and covered with the root zone of the bush itself.

If the climatic conditions of your region are tougher, then you must additionally cover the vine with wooden shields, slate or use cardboard. From above you can cover all this with a film and sprinkle the edges with earth. This will help protect the plant not only from frost, but also from strong winds. Do not forget about mulching grapes. This should be done 2 times a year: in early spring and late autumn. Around the entire root zone, it is necessary to lay it in a layer of about 3 cm. Compost or any other organic fertilizer will do.

Both beginners and experienced summer residents are probably concerned about the problem, how best to plant such a grape variety and how to properly care for it. Breeders argue that it is best to cut this variety. The advantage of this method is that a new graft is grafted onto an older grape trunk.

Before starting the vaccination, it is necessary to prepare the cutting itself. It must be at least two eyes. Its lower part should be cut a couple of millimeters below the main eye. The cutting is cut from two sides. The result should be a wedge. At the same time, its upper part is treated with paraffin so that moisture is preserved in it. To do this, melt the paraffin and dip a cutting into it for a few minutes, and then immediately cool it in water.

The lower part, which has already been cut, should stand for a couple of hours in room temperature water to form a good root system. The stock used for grafting should also be prepared in advance. In order to succeed, it is necessary to remove the old bush and leave only a very small penechek. Its surface must be perfectly cleaned. Right in the middle, it splits so that it is possible to place only the finished cutting in this split. You need to do everything very carefully.

It is placed in the slot so that the "hangers" are connected to the edges of the tree. Then penechki need to be well pulled off and tied up so that it is more tightly pressed to the handle. To do this, you need to find a cotton fabric, which in the process of plant growth will be able to decompose on its own. The place where the vaccination was done is well smeared with a clay mixture, which will help retain all moisture. And, of course, you need to make abundant watering, using at least 3 buckets of water.

When growing a grape variety like Cardinal, it is better to listen to the advice of experienced gardeners.The plant on the site is best planted on the south side. The place should be flat, without hills and depressions, and also be protected from possible drafts and winds. So that the bushes of grapes delight summer people with a rich harvest, it is worthwhile to carry out preventive work in time to combat various diseases and pests. To do this, it is better to read the necessary literature and empirically choose the most appropriate option for caring for plants.

All preventive spraying should be carried out without fail. You should not wait until the disease appears. It is necessary to spray the grapes before flowering and after, if the disease still manifested itself, then it is necessary to repeat the procedure.

Also very important step in the cultivation of grapes is pruned bushes. For this type of circumcision is suitable in the form of a fan. It is necessary to cut in such a way that there will be no more than 30 buds on one bush. This is done to avoid unnecessary stress on the grapes. Shoots must also be left a little. 14-16 pieces will be enough. Start cutting the bush is better in the fall. But if this was not the time, then you can pruning and spring. However, this must be done early, even before the buds bloom. Variety "Cardinal" should be cut short enough. You can leave no more than 5-6 eyes on one shoot.

As can be seen from the foregoing, such a variety as the “Cardinal” is not a bad fit for novice gardeners, and for those who have long been keen on viticulture. If you properly care for this plant, you can grow it in any regions of our country and get an excellent harvest, which is enough to eat berries and make aromatic wine. Although it is preferable to grow this variety in a temperate or southern climate.

How to root a grape, see the next video.