Grape Harold

Despite the fact that the young Harold variety has not yet passed all state variety trials and is not included in the State Register of Plants of the Russian Federation, many amateur gardeners are happy to cultivate this type of crop and have been harvesting an enviable harvest for several years in a row.

The Harold table variety is a hybrid that was bred by breeders from the Ya.I. Protapenko All-Russian Research Institute of Plant Protection in Russia. The hybrid is complex, interspecific. It was obtained as part of a breeding task of research work by crossing the Vostorg variety with Arcadia, and then pollinated with Muscat summer. Harold was created as part of a breeding assignment as a sample called IV-6-5-pc.

Since 2016, the variety has been undergoing the necessary tests, but it is already allowed for cultivation on private lands. Until the decision to enter the hybrid form into the State Register has been made, it is forbidden to use Harold for commercial purposes and grow on an industrial scale.

The new variety was conceived as a variety with very early ripening periods and resistance to frost and strong temperature extremes. In addition, the berries should have a pleasant nutmeg aftertaste.

Presumably, the recommended region for cultivation is the North Caucasus, but the geography of cultivation on an industrial scale, after all variety trials, may be expanded to include the Anapo-Tamalinsky region and the eastern part of the South Coast of the Crimea.

Amateur gardeners successfully cultivate Harold in the regions of Central Russia and even in a short summer in Siberia and the North-West of the country.

Vines of medium and above average size, grow quickly, the shoots ripen well on them, forming sprawling bushes.

The leaves are light emerald, medium in size, cut into five lobes. The shape of the leaf is rounded. The leaf blade has a cannon coating on the bottom. The flowers are greenish-yellow, small in size.

Harold is a very early variety. 95-100 days pass from budding to the appearance of bunches of grapes at technical maturity, which allows you to get a ready, ripe harvest in the middle of summer.

However, it should be borne in mind that the farther north the region of cultivation of the hybrid form, the longer the grapes ripen and gain sugar content.

Grape clusters are medium and large, the shape is predominantly conical or cylindro-conical. The berries are tight, the rare bunch is loose. The weight of one brush is usually 400-500 grams, but it can reach 1 kilogram.

The size of the berries is average - 24.1 * 19.7 mm, their weight is 5-6 grams. Harold's fruit is resistant to peas and cracking. The shape is oval. When ripe, the medium-dense skin acquires an amber-yellow hue. A distinctive feature of the hybrid is a trail in the form of a brown dot on the top of the berry. It remains from the removed ovary.

The berries sit firmly on the stalks. Resistant to shattering even in strong winds and in overripe conditions. The pulp is fleshy and juicy, dense. Inside there are 2-3 easily detachable bones.

According to professional tasting assessments of the qualities of Harold's taste, an indicator of 8.0 points is indicated on a ten-point scale. The taste is sweet, harmonious, with a bright nutmeg aftertaste. The sugar content is 19-20%, the acidity is 4-5 g / dm3. In northern latitudes, the indicators can qualitatively change, gain less sugar content.

In addition to eating fresh fruits, Harold produces excellent juices, compotes, confitures and raisins.

Harold belongs to the fruitful grape varieties.The percentage of fruitful shoots is 75-80%. The fertility rate is 1.5-1.6, which is a high indicator.

Each bush can produce 20 excellent clusters of grapes with a total weight of 14-15 kilograms. The variety requires normalization for better sugar accumulation, but if it is not done, then the stepchildren will give a second harvest in the fall.

Despite the fact that the variety is young, it has already established itself as a fairly unpretentious form of hybrid. It grows on any soil, under a variety of climatic conditions. Does not require special agricultural technology. Therefore, any grower can note the ease and simplicity of Harold's cultivation. However, for a good and bountiful harvest, there are a few things to consider.

Harold loves to grow on a hill, which will be well lit by the hot, scorching sun. It is better to choose a southern warm slope. It is also worth considering that strong winds can negatively affect the grape harvest, but good ventilation of the bushes is still necessary.

The proximity of groundwater is undesirable: the roots can rot. The optimum depth is over 1.5 meters. In addition, when planting, you should take care of good drainage - sand, pebbles, broken bricks are suitable.

Harold's flowers are bisexual, do not require artificial pollination. However, to improve the yield, you can resort to this method. Harold can be planted next to female flowering grapes, Harold pollinates that too.

Pruning of vines is required in early spring before sap flow. Remove shoots that have suffered from frost. In the summer, stepchildren are pruned - this does not allow the bush to overload, contributes to airing, as well as a set of sugar content of the berries. In the fall, the vines are cut into 8-12 eyes before the onset of frost.

In the southern regions, it is not required to cover the bushes. But in the middle lane and northern latitudes, due to strong temperature changes, shelter is necessary. This prevents the plant from dying in winter, will allow it to "wake up" faster after winter and give a rich, sweet harvest.

The vines are lowered to the ground, arcs are installed in the ground, on which the covering material is covered. Loads should be placed on the free ends.

Harold is tolerant to mildew, which are local spots of necrosis up to 10 mm in diameter, his resistance is estimated at 2.5-3 points. Susceptibility to powdery mildew - 3.5 points. Leaves require chemical treatment 4-5 times per season.

Harold can be affected by any pests inherent in the culture - spider mites, leaf rollers. Birds can cause damage to the crop, wasps practically do no harm.

Bunches are stored for another 2 months after removal. Storage temperature 0-2 degrees. Even with a late harvest, the grapes look good and can lie for up to a month in a favorable microclimate.