Not all summer residents know about the Akademik grape. This is a new table variety with improved characteristics. But those who dared to plant it were right: the menu was supplemented with delicious berries.
Gardeners prefer to grow industrial and table varieties. The first ones are used for making homemade drinks. The second ones are for fresh consumption. At the end of the season, Academician grapes are guaranteed to delight you with beautiful and sweet fruits.
Breeding history
This is a new variety.It was created by breeders of the Crimean nursery Magarach. Scientists took the following varieties as a basis: Podarok Zavolzhyu and Richelieu. Academician (Avidzba) successfully passed the tests. The plant has an additional name - In Memory of Dzheneev.
But ordinary summer residents do not always manage to purchase original seedlings: Magarach does not conduct free sales. Gardeners obtain planting material on occasion: from friends or at seasonal fairs.
The Academician grape is so successful that already in 2014 it was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements.
Description of the variety
Academician Avidzba does not require pollinating plants. It itself can serve as a source of pollen for self-sterile varieties. Description of the variety:
- early ripening variety (115 days from awakening of the vine to harvest);
- vigorous bush;
- the vine is dense;
- leaf five-lobed, slightly pubescent below;
- leaf bright green, large;
- frost resistance of the vine down to -25 degrees (the bush overwinters without shelter);
- brushes of medium density, heavy (up to 1.8 kg);
- the shape of the brushes is oval or cylindrical;
- The bark of a mature vine is light brown.
Pamyati Dzheneeva grapes have advantages over similar table varieties: frost resistance, excellent fruit taste.
Academician berries have improved characteristics:
- the fruits are dark blue with a pronounced waxy coating;
- elongated berry with a blunt tip;
- grape size - 35 mm x 20 mm;
- the taste is sweet with a hint of nutmeg, cherry and a chocolate aftertaste;
- the skin is dense.
The berries can withstand long-term transportation without loss of marketability.
What are the advantages of the variety
Academician Avidzba received the best from his parents:
- frost resistance of the vine down to –25 degrees Celsius (makes it possible to winter without shelter under the snow);
- unusual taste of berries (tasting score 9.8 out of 10 points);
- high rates of transportability and marketability;
- strong vine growth;
- resistance of fruits to damage by wasps and birds.
The academician is still undergoing testing. According to preliminary data, it will be recommended for cultivation on an industrial scale. There is also a place for it in private vineyards.
Selecting a location and seedlings for planting
Academician (Avidzba) gives a high yield when planted with high-quality seedlings. Be sure to choose the right place for placement. It is recommended to follow the rules:
- Healthy rooted cuttings are suitable for planting. The root system, underground and above-ground parts must be well developed. The material should be purchased only from certified centers. When purchasing, it would be useful to familiarize yourself with the documents for the goods.
- A grape variety with increased winter hardiness can be used as a rootstock. But you should know: there is no data on the propagation of Academician by grafting cuttings.
- When propagated by cuttings, the scion receives all the diseases of the rootstock. They will definitely appear.
- For the scion, a healthy cutting of Academician is taken. It is recommended to graft in any convenient way (in a split, in an overlay).
- The place for planting the rooted cuttings should be sunny, protected from northern and northeastern winds. Grapes should be planted near the southern and southwestern walls of country houses. It is recommended to take into account the size of the bush: it is required to retreat 2.5-3 m from the walls.
- The winegrower must take care of support for the vine in advance. The plant overloads itself with fruits. Untied stems break and the harvest is lost.
- The depth of groundwater at the site is 3-4 m. The grapes do not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. To prevent wetting and rotting of the root system, drainage must be done before planting.To do this, you need to crush crushed stone, brick, tiles and pour a layer of 7-10 cm onto the bottom of the planting hole. This simple measure will prevent stagnation of water at the roots.
- The variety prefers soils that are fertile, loose, with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. It is recommended to deoxidize acidic ones by adding lime (1 liter per square meter). To obtain permeable soil, add perlite, neutral peat, and sand.
- Academician takes root well when planted in early spring or mid-autumn. To do this, use a piece of vine with 3-4 eyes. The top cut is made horizontal. It is recommended to fill it with paraffin or wax. The bottom cut is made at an angle of 45 degrees. It is dipped in any root formation stimulator. The cutting is stuck into the moistened soil at an angle and placed in the greenhouse. After 30-45 days the vine will take root.
Academician grapes have vigorous bushes. When planting several plants, intervals of 2-3 m should be made.
How to plant correctly
When planting grapes, the sum of active temperatures should be taken into account. To obtain a stable yield, it must be increased to the recommended value.
Academician bears fruit when the sum of active temperatures is above 2100 degrees. When calculating, average daily temperatures are taken. For grapes, the active air temperature is +10 degrees and above. Below, development and growth stop.
Average daily temperatures are above +10 degrees Celsius. This figure (2100) is common for the southern regions. But in the northern regions, winegrowers resort to tricks:
- to preserve heat, bushes are planted on the south side of buildings;
- install reflective screens made of foil or metal;
- mulch the soil with dark non-woven material;
- stones are placed around the tree trunk (they heat up during the day and give off heat at night);
- Place a protective cover made of transparent plastic or film around the bush.
Planting according to these simple rules will allow you to get a harvest in unfavorable weather conditions..
Care instructions
Academician is a new variety. To obtain a harvest, you must strictly follow the recommendations:
- The academician requires soil moisture. Watering should occur when flowering and ovary formation. During the period of fruit ripening, it is recommended to stop watering: excessive soil moisture leads to loss of taste.
- It is recommended to combine watering with fertilizing. In spring, nitrogen fertilizers should be applied. In spring and autumn - mineral complexes.
- The variety is vigorous. It needs to be trimmed to uniformly lighten the ripening brushes. It is necessary to carry out chicking and pinching during the ripening period of the berries.
- Preparing for winter is impossible without formative pruning. All immature vines (they are green in color) should be removed. Then leave a replacement shoot (2 buds) and a fruiting vine above it (6-7 buds). It is necessary to leave up to 6 such segments on the main vine.
Academician grapes winter well without shelter. But at the same time, the bush must be completely covered with snow. To protect the root system, it is recommended to mulch the tree trunk circle with sawdust with a layer of 15 cm.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The academician is affected by oidium and mildew. For protection, it is recommended to use chemical treatments.
The variety has a dense skin with a waxy coating. The fruits are slightly damaged by wasps and birds.
Best Growing Regions
The State Register recommends growing the Akademik (Avidzba) variety in the North Caucasus District.But the technical characteristics make it possible to obtain fruits even further north. It all depends on the desire and skills of the winegrower.
