Witch's fingers grape

At the moment, a huge number of varieties of wine are known. Someone prefers the classics, while others like to try exotic varieties. Among the unusual varieties of grapes, the variety Witch's fingers stands out. The advantages of the variety, the history of breeding, and its characteristics will be discussed in the article.

This is a fairly ancient variety, bred even before our time. The updated grape variety was introduced by scientists from California in 2002. They got it as a result of crossing modern varieties with Mediterranean varieties. This was done in order to emphasize the specificity of the species, the richness of the taste. American scientists argue that this is an ordinary hybrid, not a genetically modified variety.

To date, grapes are cultivated only on one plantation in California. You can acquire culture by purchasing seedlings from scientists. The analogue is the Russian variety Alenushka.

It is clear that the name of the variety comes from the appearance of the berries. They are oblong in shape, have incomprehensible curvatures along the entire length. In structure, they resemble the crooked fingers of a fairy witch. But some admirers of the variety call it Chile because of its resemblance to the shape of hot pepper.

The vine is powerful, so the plant needs pruning, tying.

Witch's fingers can be attributed to early maturing varieties. 4 months after the appearance of the leaf mass, the whole berry ripens. But we can talk about amicable ripening if all natural, agrotechnical growing conditions are observed.

The bunches are long and narrow. The bunch weight can vary from 470 to 550 grams.

The berries have an unusual curved, pointed and oblong shape, the skin is of medium density, not sour. Wasps do not touch berries due to their dense skin. The fruits are very juicy and crunchy when eaten. The acidity of the fruit is 4.12 g / dm³ - this is not a lot. And the amount of sugars is 206 g / dm³. The pulp contains a large amount of flavonoids, minerals, vitamins, glucose. Low calorie product: 95 kilocalories per 100 grams.

The taste is harmonious, unusual, somewhat reminiscent of a plum from afar. The aroma of the grapes resembles a duchess.

The yield of the variety is average, but growing conditions must be observed. As a rule, the harvest takes place in the middle of summer. Approximately 125 days after the appearance of the first leaf. The rest of the mass ripens by the beginning of August.

The bushes grow quite quickly, reaching powerful sizes. During the period of vines activity, two-level trellises with a height of 3-3.5 meters must be installed.

For seedlings, it is recommended to prepare slightly acidic soil. The well is prepared in advance, deepening it by 70 centimeters. The internal space is filled with organic matter and superphosphate. After planting around the plant, the soil is mulched with sawdust or moss.

They plan to land in early spring. A seedling with a pole and an irrigation pipe is buried in the prepared hole.

Pollination occurs on its own because the flowers are bisexual.

The witch's fingers bushes need shaping. Therefore, it is recommended to plan pruning several times a year:

• in the spring, before the start of bud activity, the frozen branches are removed;
• stepchildren are pruned as needed;
• during the appearance of the ovary, remove unnecessary clusters;
• cut off excess foliage before fruit ripening;
• in the fall, the shoots are shortened to 2 eyes.

Pruning methods depend on the shape of the formation of the bush. In southern countries, one vine is left; in a harsh climate, 3-4 sleeves are formed for insurance.

Witch's fingers are bred taking into account the resistance of the roots to drought. Therefore, abundant watering is not required. It is recommended to moisten the soil under the plant no more than once every 10 days. A mature plant can be watered once every 3 weeks. The last watering is done 2 weeks before the first frost.

Fertilization is combined with watering from the moment the leaves appear. In the spring, a nitrogen complex is introduced, in the summer - potassium and phosphorus, and in the fall - a complex mixture.

The vine can withstand frosts below 23 degrees without damage. If the temperature drops below 25 degrees, then it is recommended to cover the vine.

The preparation of the plant for winter begins when the temperature is set at around +8 degrees. First, the trunk circle is mulched with a thick layer of sawdust or needles. After that everything is sprinkled with ashes. After pruning, the remnants of the vine are bent to the ground, covering with burlap. Sprinkle with leaves on top.

Breeders bred the variety as resistant to powdery mildew, some types of fungus, viruses, bacterial cancer. But still, it is necessary to process the vine as a preventive measure. The plant is treated during the active opening of the buds, at the time of fruiting. Biological agents "Topaz", "Extrasol", "Skor" are used.

The variety is not subject to long-term storage. A few days on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator - that's all the shelf life. Consumed immediately only fresh.

Despite the fact that the variety is cultivated only in California, some fans still bring berries as a gift to the vine. It is impossible to propagate the variety by seeds. Users note the amazing taste of the berry, its size. But many complain that the plant has to be constantly looked after in order to get a good harvest.

The Witch's Fingers grape variety is still a curiosity for Russia. Not many can afford to prescribe a plant with a delicious fruit from abroad. We really hope that this variety will soon appear on the free market in the territory of the Russian Federation.