Far Eastern grapes

Far Eastern grapes are a great option for gardeners who want to grow tasty and aromatic berries in an unfavorable climate. This variety is resistant to frost, unpretentious in care and feels great in Siberia and the Far East.

The Far Eastern variety, or, as it is also called, the Far Eastern Novikov, was bred by the breeder D. Novikov at the test sites of the Ministry of Agriculture in the Amur Region. The scientist was faced with the task of developing a variety that would not differ in yield from varieties cultivated in southern Europe, and would not be inferior to them in taste and technical characteristics. And, I must say, the originator Novikov succeeded quite well.

The Novikov Far East grape is a liana with a trunk diameter of up to 10 cm and a length of up to 15 m, in rare cases it reaches 25 m.The bark of a branch is peeling, dark in color, young shoots have a greenish tint, turning into gray-brown or reddish by the end of the season.

Vine leaves in length can range from 9 to 25 cm closer to the base. They have sharp jagged edges, smooth and glossy above, and pubescent below, sometimes with roughness. During the summer, the leaves have a bright green color, but closer to autumn they change their color and become bright scarlet, orange, and burgundy. Leaves begin to bloom in early May, and are shed at the end of September - October.

The flowers of the Far Eastern grapes are small, have a dioecious structure. They are loved by honey bees.

The grapes of the described variety begin to ripen in September, and the farther north it is grown, the later it ripens. In the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Amur Region, these dates are shifted to the end of September, and in central Russia they fall into the middle of the first autumn month. Far Eastern Novikov grapes can be harvested within two to three weeks.

The bunches are not too large, but by the number of berries on one branch they are comparable to southern grape varieties. The length of a bunch does not exceed 25 cm, its maximum weight is up to 270 g. The average weight of a bunch is 170-200 g. The number of berries on one branch is not more than 100.

After ripening, the berries of the Far East grape variety have a violet-black color, sometimes with a blue tint. They have a rather dense and thick skin with a slight sourness. The stone is small, with sharp edges. The size of the berries varies from 8 to 12 mm in diameter.

The flesh of the berries can be very sour or sweet to taste, depending on the growing conditions and the amount of sunlight that falls on the vine during the growth process. The sugar content in grapes ranges from 210-220 g per dm3, which is a very good indicator for frost-resistant grape varieties.

Far Eastern grapes begin to bear fruit as early as 2 years of growth. On average, a young vine can produce about 10 kg of berries. This indicator is improving every year, and by the age of 10, up to 100 kg of tasty fruits can be removed from one vine.

Far Eastern Novikov grapes are able to take root almost anywhere, with the exception of heavily shaded areas. If a gardener wants to get the most rich and tasty harvest, it is necessary to choose the right place for planting it, properly and constantly care for the vine. If this simple condition is met, a great harvest can be produced with minimal effort.

It is best to grow Far Eastern grapes from a cuttings - this will allow you to get the first harvest much faster. The landing site should be as sunny as possible, open, without shading. If possible, you need to protect the plant from strong winds. Before planting, it is necessary to harden the seedling, taking it out into the open air, first for 20 minutes, then every day increasing this time by 10 minutes. After about 3 weeks of hardening, you can plant the cutting in the ground.

The hole should be located on a mound 20-30 cm high. At the bottom of the hole, drainage must be made in the form of a layer of gravel 20-30 cm. The roots are located on a layer of loose fertile soil and covered with turf. Next to the vine, it is immediately necessary to place a support so that it can rise up with its antennae immediately after planting.

Far Eastern grapes are dioecious, that is, bisexual, so pollination occurs with the help of wind and pollinators. Planting similar crops nearby is not required for good pollination.

During the growth process, the grapes always thicken, which inevitably leads to a decrease in yield. Excess shoots should be removed, but this should be done in such a way that the supply of the main vine with nutrients is not affected and the metabolism in the trunk is not disturbed. Therefore, you need to carefully monitor the appearance of new shoots and remove only those that have not yet become lignified.

More mature shoots are cut to 4 leaves so as not to disrupt the movement of juices. It is also necessary to remove the leaves located near the ripening bunches - so the fruits will absorb more sunlight, thereby becoming much sweeter.

Far Eastern grapes are resistant to long-term frosts down to -29 degrees. If the probability of the onset of lower temperatures for the winter, you need to cover the vine with a standard air-dry shelter.

If you plant grapes in a shaded and too humid area, then it is likely to be affected by powdery mildew, gray rot.With the right choice of the landing site, these diseases are practically excluded. Of the pests, it is possible to damage the grape aphid, scabbard, mealybug. To avoid this, vines need to be sanitized in a timely manner.

Fresh grapes are stored for a short time - up to 2 weeks. It can be used to prepare tinctures, wine, boil compotes and other winter preservation.