Description and characteristics of the Livadia Black grape variety, history and cultivation rules

The selection qualities of grape varieties determine the main direction of use of the fruit. For fresh consumption, it is recommended to work with table varieties. If you want to obtain high-quality raw materials for making wine, you must give preference to technical ones. There are generally recognized leading varieties that have proven themselves only on the positive side, one of which is the grape called Livadia Black.

Description of the variety Livadia Black

The name of the variety immediately speaks of one of the characteristics of the grape. The plant produces berries that have a rich dark color and become almost black when ripe.

Historical reference

Livadia Black owes its appearance to the famous Magarych winemaking institute, thanks to whose work many worthy varieties have seen the light. The plant was obtained by growing on experimental sites, where the new species demonstrated good resistance to grape diseases and high yields.

Bush structure

The grape bushes are formed tall, but they do not have a fast growth rate. They are able to withstand a significant number of bunches. Mature plants can support 80 buds. At the moment of flowering, bisexual flowers are formed.

Vine

A powerful grape vine gains strength in the 4th year of cultivation. The number of fruiting shoots can reach 80%. On average, there are 1.4 clusters of grapes per shoot.

Bunch

Clusters of cylindrical grapes are not large in size. On average, their weight varies within 250 g.

Advantages and disadvantages

The grape variety is considered an ideal raw material for making wine. It is unpretentious to grow and can withstand low temperatures.Its advantages include:

• good yield indicators;
• optimal combination of sugar and acid in fruits;
• high juice content.

One of the advantages of the grape variety is its increased resistance to diseases of fungal origin.

Technical characteristics of Livadia

The grape variety is in demand today in the horticultural market due to its technical characteristics. The crop is actively and successfully grown on private plots and large farms.

Type of grape

Livadia Black belongs to the technical varieties, which indicates the possibility of its cultivation on an industrial scale and use as a raw material for the preparation of wines. The taste qualities of the berries received high tasting marks, and today the variety is one of the most famous industrial grape crops.

Compliance with technical grade standards

When compared with known other grape varieties, one can notice that Livadiysky’s performance is not inferior to them. Some of them, for example, Krymsky, surpass it in sugar content, but at the same time the acidity in the berries is higher.

Ripening period and yield

The variety is characterized by an average ripening period. On average, 130-140 days pass from the beginning of flowering to harvest.

Typical diseases and pests

Livadia grapes are resistant to the most dangerous grape diseases and successfully cope with mildew, oidium and gray rot. Plantings may suffer from apoplexy, powdery mildew, and white rot.

For preventive purposes, spraying with Bordeaux mixture and vitriol solution is carried out.

A decrease in yield indicators is observed during the invasion of aphids, weevils, and scale insects. To combat them, special drugs are used.They negatively affect the fruit production of wasps, so their nests need to be destroyed and the fruits protected with shelter.

Description of the berry

The grape berries are medium in size, each weighing from 1.5 to 2 g. They have a dark color and juicy pulp with muscat notes, and there is a purine coating on the skin. The juice content can reach 90%. At the moment of ripening, the fruits are easily removed from the stalk. They contain 26% sugar and 8 g/l acid, this combination is considered optimal for making wine.

Tasting assessment

Thanks to optimal acidity, sugar content and color saturation, grape berries are used today in winemaking. It produces light dessert wines with hints of nutmeg and prunes, and notes of chocolate. Experts appreciated the taste of the fruit and gave the variety high values ​​on a 10-point scale. Dry wine received 7 points, dessert wine - 8 points.

Energy value

The significant sugar content causes the berries to be high in calories. 100 g of fruit contains 70 kcal.

Acidity level

The acidity of grape berries is 8 g/l, which is considered the optimal indicator for technical varieties.

Benefits and harms of consumption

Grapes are a valuable source of vitamins and minerals, which can compensate for the deficiency of nutrients in the body. Due to the high sugar content, fruits are not recommended to be included in the diet of overweight people and people with diabetes.

Grapes are useful for problems with blood pressure, they have a positive effect on blood vessels and prevent the risk of atherosclerosis. They have the property of thinning the blood, therefore reducing the risk of blood clots.

Due to their high iron content, fruits help fight anemia.

People suffering from hypersensitive teeth should not include grapes in their diet, as acid worsens the situation. For the same reason, its use should be approached with caution by those who suffer from high acidity of gastric juice.

Planting in open ground

The start of planting in open ground depends on the region. Before planting, the root system is soaked in a plant stimulator, which increases its survival rate. The planting pit is prepared in advance; approximately 2 weeks before the start of work, a pit with a depth of 80 cm is formed. For heavy soil, it is necessary to create a drainage layer, which will help avoid stagnation of water and rotting of the root system.

Disembarkation dates

For central regions, planting work begins when there is no return of frost and the soil is sufficiently warm. In most regions, this period is considered to be May, when the ambient temperature reaches a stable value of +5 ⁰C.

What to pay attention to when landing

Livadia grapes are demanding on the soil, so you should carefully choose a place for permanent cultivation. It should not be in the shade, there should be a lot of light and heat. To do this, choose a sunny area protected from gusts of wind.

The soil must be black earth; when planting, it is enriched with mineral fertilizers, and the plant must be provided with support.

Agricultural technology and care

Agricultural technology for growing and caring for the plant is standard. It is necessary to control the sufficiency of soil moisture, do pruning, and carry out preventive treatments to protect against diseases and pests. During the growing season, fertilizing is carried out with organic and mineral fertilizers.

Trimming the vine

The formation of grape bushes is carried out in the second year. Pruning is carried out several times:

• in the spring - remove broken, damaged shoots that have not survived the winter;
• in summer - non-fruit-bearing branches are removed, pinching and thinning of the green mass is carried out;
• in the fall - the bush is prepared for wintering and covered.

When pruning in spring, use the method of fan formation of shoots. When forming a bush, leave 6-8 strong “sleeves”, placing them in different directions on trellises. On each of them, 5-6 vines are left, which are cut to 2-3 eyes.

Watering and fertilizing

During the season, at least 3 full waterings are carried out. For every square meter of planting there should be 50 liters of water. The first abundant watering is carried out with warm water until the first buds bloom. The second is repeated at the time of flowering, and the third - 14 days before collecting the brushes. Additional irrigation is determined based on climate characteristics and sufficiency of precipitation.

In the spring, nitrogen-containing preparations are introduced, which helps to stimulate plant growth. During the flowering period, the soil is enriched with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.

Preventive measures

In order to prevent diseases, fungicides are sprayed before and after the plant begins to flower. If signs of an anomaly are detected, the procedure is repeated. To reduce the risk of infection, shoots are thinned out and diseased parts are removed. The soil needs to be loosened periodically to avoid stagnation of water. A good effect is achieved by mulching; for this, a 5 cm layer of straw, mown grass or peat is formed near the trunk.

We fight diseases and pests

To combat pests and diseases, targeted drugs are used, of which there are a huge number on the market for gardening products today. Spraying with Bordeaux mixture and copper sulfate is effective. Following the rules of watering, pruning and fertilizing will help prevent plant health problems.

Harvesting and application

Harvesting in the southern regions begins 130-140 days after flowering. In the northern regions, the ripening period is determined by the climate and the number of warm days; it may occur at the beginning of October. You should not delay the work, as if left for a long time, the berries lose their taste and begin to fall off.