The Marquette grape variety is considered relatively young, but has already proven itself to be promising. It is excellent for fresh consumption and as a raw material for making wine, which is aromatic and has a pleasant aftertaste. If you want to evaluate the merits of a variety, you should learn about its characteristics and care rules.
- Marquette grape variety
- Breeding history
- External parameters
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Characteristics of the variety
- Frost resistance
- Susceptibility to mildew and oidium
- Pollinability
- Description of fruits
- Sweetness and acidity
- How much does a berry and bunch weigh on average?
- Planting seedlings
- Planting in open ground
- What you need to know when landing
- Growing and care
- Trimming the vine
- We irrigate and feed
- What you need to do to protect yourself from diseases and pests
- Removing top roots and extra shoots
- Harvest and storage
Marquette grape variety
Black bunches of grapes do not attract attention in appearance. Such a goal was not pursued when breeding the variety, since the grapes were created for use for technical purposes. At the same time, all other qualities of the plant are considered one of the best.
Breeding history
Work on developing the Marquette grape variety began in 1989. Seedlings for selection began to be selected earlier and two types of grapes were selected - Rava, a hybrid crop MS 1094. A new type of plant appeared thanks to the work of American scientists. The variety immediately received high marks, and the wines made on its basis successfully passed the tasting.
In Russian regions, grapes have been cultivated for 10 years, but remain unknown to most gardeners. Experts are confident that the situation will soon change, and it will take its place of honor, pushing aside well-known and popular varieties.
External parameters
An interesting feature of grapes is their vertical growth, which allows the plant to receive the maximum amount of sunlight. The clusters of dark-colored berries are medium in size and have a cone shape. The color of the fruit can be so intense that it appears black.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Marquette grape variety is considered an ideal raw material for making wine. When growing it, you do not need to spend a lot of effort on care, since the plant belongs to the category of unpretentious ones. The advantages of Marquette grapes include:
- decent taste characteristics;
- unique ability to survive at low temperatures;
- excellent immune properties, especially to diseases of fungal origin;
- ease of care;
- stability of fruiting.
Some gardeners note the lack of beauty of grape bunches and say that there are varieties that can form clusters of greater weight. The disadvantage is that young shoots are susceptible to spring frosts, even when the temperature drops to -3 0C shoots may die.
Characteristics of the variety
The Marquette grape variety is a hybrid species with an average ripening period. Vertical shoots produce black grape bunches with fruits, the tasting qualities of which are recognized as one of the highest.
Frost resistance
The variety has a unique ability to survive in regions with cold climates. He is not afraid of temperatures dropping to -38 0C. Due to this feature, many gardeners allow themselves not to waste time organizing shelter for the plant.
Susceptibility to mildew and oidium
The variety is highly resistant to diseases dangerous to grapes - mildew, oidium. To prevent infection, preventive spraying is carried out with Bordeaux mixture, copper sulfate solution or targeted preparations.
Pollinability
The plant produces bisexual fruits, so there are no problems with pollination. This property allows you to form plantings of only one variety and ensures independence from insects. Light pollen, which is easily transported even by a slight gust of wind, contributes to good pollination quality.
Description of fruits
Black fruits are characterized by a regular round shape and dark color. The pulp has a unique taste.
Sweetness and acidity
Increased sweetness is a distinctive quality of the Marquette variety.The acid content is 2.9%, sugar - up to 30%. To preserve the taste properties, it is necessary to organize timely harvesting.
How much does a berry and bunch weigh on average?
The plant forms medium-sized clusters. The mass of a bunch can reach 300-400 g. Up to 100 centners of berries are harvested from 1 hectare.
Planting seedlings
To purchase seedlings, you need to choose trusted sellers and give preference to specialized nurseries. The plant should not show signs of damage or rot. It is important to have “living” shoots on the root system, which should be elastic and have a whitish tint.
Planting in open ground
The soil is prepared in advance by carefully digging it up and freeing it from remnants of vegetation. The hole for planting seedlings should be 80 cm deep. The bottom is lined with humus, a drainage layer is formed and the evenly spread roots are covered with soil. The plant needs to be tied up and thoroughly watered.
What you need to know when landing
It is important to choose the right place for planting. The soil should be loamy or sandy. A location close to the groundwater surface will negatively affect the growth of grapes, so placing them higher than 2.5 m is a limitation. The site should be sunny and not subject to gusts of wind. It is important to take into account the compatibility of the crop with its “neighbors,” since the presence of some garden plants nearby can negatively affect the growth of vines.
The presence of tall fruit trees, potato and eggplant plantings nearby is extremely undesirable.
Growing and care
Caring for grapes is standard and does not have any special nuances. The plant needs pruning, watering and periodic feeding.
Trimming the vine
The plant needs pruning. Excess shoots are removed, leaving 35-40 eyes on an adult bush.
We irrigate and feed
Marquette does not need a lot of watering. Abundant watering is required before flowering begins, which will “awaken” the plant and become an impetus for its active growth. During the growing season, the need for moisture is determined based on the sufficiency of natural precipitation and the degree of drying of the soil.
It is enough to humidify once a month, and the water should be warm, and the optimal temperature is +15 0C.
Simultaneously with watering, you can provide feeding to the bushes. Grapes can only absorb liquid fertilizers, so the preparations must be water-soluble. In the spring, nitrogen-containing and potassium products will help accelerate growth. It is especially necessary to support the plant during flowering and ripening. Potassium-phosphorus salts and ash can help with this.
What you need to do to protect yourself from diseases and pests
Despite the resistance of grapes to diseases, preventive measures should not be neglected. Once a year, they are treated with fungicides to protect the shoots from fungal infections.
Removing top roots and extra shoots
After 3-4 shoots appear, you need to select the strongest one, and the rest must be removed. During the growing season it will stretch, and by autumn a powerful vine will form. Adult plants are inspected in the spring, and dry shoots are removed before buds open. In the last days of June, it is recommended to pinch the upper shoots, which will allow the brushes to receive more nutrition. They also prune the bushes, leaving 5 leaves after every second vine.
Trimming the top roots close to the soil surface will allow the plant to develop a stronger root system. The presence of such shoots will lead to the fact that in winter they will begin to freeze, which can negatively affect the health of the grapes and their “awakening” in the spring. To do this, dig a hole 20 cm deep and cut off the visible part of the shoot with a sharp pruner, trying to do this as close to the root as possible.
Harvest and storage
20 days before the planned harvest, it is recommended to thin out the leaves and remove the lower leaf blades, which will improve aeration and provide the bunches with more light. In the northern regions, it is recommended to remove clusters of small berries and leave the 2 largest clusters on the shoot.
When collecting, you need to carefully cut off each brush with sharp tools and place it neatly in a container. Fruits must be stored at a temperature of +3 0C to +10 0C. Some gardeners practice hanging bunches in the cellar on a wire, but the bunches should not touch. Regardless of the chosen method of storing the crop, it is necessary to carry out periodic inspections and remove spoiled berries.
