To obtain a rich and high-quality grape harvest, proper care is not always enough. It is also necessary to select seedlings successfully. Karmakod is considered one of the most unassuming grape varieties. But, since it appeared relatively recently, not all winegrowers are familiar with the characteristics of the variety. Therefore, before purchasing Karmakoda seedlings, it will be useful to familiarize yourself with the features of planting and growing.
- Description and characteristics of Karmakod grapes
- Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
- Features of cultivation
- When to plant
- Where to plant on the site
- Landing technique
- Plant care
- Watering and fertilizing
- Support and garter of shoots
- Pruning and protection from cold weather
- Diseases and pests
- Harvest and storage
Description and characteristics of Karmakod grapes
Several years ago, Russian breeders, by crossing three grape varieties - Cardinal, Magarachi, Kodryanka - obtained a new table variety - Karmakod. Karmakod is an early ripening variety with bisexual flowers that are well pollinated. The number of fruiting shoots is quite large, more than 80%.
Shoots can reach a length of about 5 meters. Each vine produces 1.5-2 clusters weighing up to 0.5 kg. There are specimens weighing up to 800 g.
The table shows the characteristics of the berries:
| Form | oblong, pointed towards the end |
| Size/weight of 1 berry | 2.7x1.2 cm / 9-12 g |
| Color | reddish purple |
| Taste | floral, with a light nutmeg aroma |
| Pulp | dense, juicy |
| Skin | thin, not noticeable when used |
| Acidity level | 9 g per 1 liter of juice, decreases as the berries ripen |
| Sugar content | increases with maturity from 16% to 22% |
In terms of taste and decorative properties, Karmakod is not inferior to many elite varieties.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
By combining the best qualities of the parent pair, breeders managed to obtain grapes with many advantages.
In addition, when exposed to sunlight, grape fruits wither well. Therefore, you can prepare high-quality raisins from Karmakod.
Features of cultivation
For Karmakoda seedlings, it is better to contact specialized stores or nurseries.Purchasing planting material from private individuals does not guarantee that the grapes belong to the desired variety. For the successful growth and development of a grapevine, you need to choose the right site, prepare the soil, and follow the planting technology.
When to plant
Seedlings can be planted both in autumn and spring. The exact timing is regulated in accordance with the climatic characteristics of the region. The best time for autumn planting is considered to be the second ten days of October. In order for wintering to be successful, young shoots are covered for the winter.
In the spring, grapes are planted after stable, warm weather has established. Usually this is the 3rd ten days of March, the 2nd ten days of April for the southern regions, mid-May for the middle zone. When night frosts return, young bushes will need shelter.
Where to plant on the site
Karmakod is suitable for growing in summer cottages. Like most representatives of this culture, Karmakod is susceptible:
- to drafts;
- temperature changes;
- lack of light.
Therefore, a sunny area is chosen for cultivating grapes. The level of groundwater is also important, which should not be less than 2-2.5 m from the surface. Grapes grow best on loam and clay soil.
Attention is also paid to neighboring crops. It is recommended to plant Karmakod away from fruit and fruit trees. Plants suffering from white rot, mildew, and oidium are considered a bad neighborhood.
Landing technique
10-15 days before planting Karmakoda seedlings, prepare a planting hole. The dimensions of the hole depend on the dimensions of the rhizome, but usually it is 80x80 cm. Nutrient soil consisting of humus and turf soil is placed at the bottom of the hole.
Before planting, the grape shoots are pruned, leaving only 2 vines with 2 eyes. Planting technology:
- The seedling is placed in the center of the hole so that the root collar is flush with the edge of the planting hole.
- Cover with earth and compact.
- Abundantly moisturize.
- Install a trellis.
- Sprinkle with mulch (cut grass, peat, sawdust) around the tree trunk.
The bushes are placed at a distance of 2 m from each other.
Plant care
Karmakod is easy to care for. It is enough just to follow all the rules of agricultural technology: watering, fertilizing, pruning.
Watering and fertilizing
Karmakod does not require frequent watering. Water the vineyard only during drought, once a week. 1-2 buckets of warm water are poured under each bush. Do this slowly as the liquid is absorbed.
They begin to feed the vineyard at the age of 3, provided that nutrients were added during planting. Feeding is carried out 5 times per season.
An approximate fertilizer application scheme is shown in the table:
| Application period | List of feeding ingredients |
| Before the start of the growing season | the nutritional composition of a mixture of superphosphate (20 g), potassium salt (5 g), ammonium nitrate (10 g) is dissolved in a bucket of water.
Complex formulations applied in accordance with the instructions |
| Before flowers form | 30-35 g of nitrophos, diluted in 5 liters of water |
| After flowering ends | Calimagnesia (5 g) is mixed with ammonium nitrate (10 g), diluted in 5 liters of water |
| 1-2 weeks before harvest | 20 g of potassium-containing mixtures mixed with superphosphate (20 g), diluted with water (10 l) |
| in autumn | organic mixtures: humus (2 kg per 1 sq. m.), chicken manure diluted in water (1 kg per 1 l), wood ash (150 g per 5 l) |
After watering, it is necessary to loosen and remove weeds.
Support and garter of shoots
To grow Karmakoda, the trellis method is used. To ensure that the plant grows evenly and is not susceptible to diseases, the grape bushes are tied up.
The garter is carried out twice: in spring and summer. The vines are tied up with soft material to prevent damage to the shoots.
Pruning and protection from cold weather
To increase productivity and rejuvenate the vines, regular pruning is carried out. In the spring, frostbitten shoots are removed; in the summer, sanitary pruning is carried out, removing diseased, damaged stems. A fan formation is used for Karmakod; the length of the shoots should not exceed 2 m. When cultivating grapes in the south, Karmakod need not be covered. In regions with harsh climatic conditions, shelters are indispensable. To do this, the shoots are removed from the trellises, placed in grooves, sprinkled with earth on top. Before laying, you can twist the vines and place them in bags, covering them with slate on top.
Diseases and pests
Karmacode can do without special treatment for diseases such as mildew and oidium. The plant is treated only after flowering. Sometimes Karmakoda berries are pea-peeled. Remove small fruits with a paint brush, passing it over the bunches.
Harvest and storage
The first harvest of Karmakod can be obtained within 3 years after planting. The berries ripen 115-125 days from the beginning of the growing season. For the southern regions this is the end of July, and for the middle climatic zone - the first ten days of August. Ripe clusters can hang on the bush for a long time, picking up sugar and becoming sweeter.
Karmakod is one of the best grape varieties for growing in a personal plot.Decorative vines will decorate the yard, and juicy, tasty berries will bring a lot of pleasure.
