Many winegrowers produce their own wine, planting technical grape varieties for this purpose. But few of them are familiar with the recently bred Neretinsky grapes, which produce a good harvest and are suitable for making wine. Therefore, it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with the features of the new variety, as well as some of the nuances of planting and caring for the grapevine.
History of selection
Neretinsky grapes are the fruit of the labor of Russian scientists from the Research Institute named after. A. I. Potapenko. Two quite popular varieties were used as a parent pair - Vitis amurensis and Tsimlyansky black. To obtain a new species, breeders used the method of return crossing - backcross. As a result of the experiment, a non-covering, frost-resistant variety was obtained, which in terms of quality and technical properties is not inferior to its “parents”.
Description and characteristics of Neretinsky grapes
The Neretinsky grape variety is distinguished by early-medium ripening and tall, strong bushes. The plant is capable of growing up to 5 m. Green shoots darken in autumn, turning brown. Starting from the age of two years, the vines become covered with a flaky brown crust.
The description and properties of the fruits are presented in the table:
| Bunch shape | cone-cylindrical |
| Weight of 1 bunch | 200 g |
| Berries shape | rounded |
| Weight of 1 berry | 2 g |
| Color | dark purple or dark blue with a waxy coating on the skin |
| Pulp | dense, juicy, yielding about 70% juice, contains several seeds inside |
| Taste | sweet and sour |
| Acidity index | no more than 6 g/l |
| Sugar content | 23 % |
One of the reasons why winegrowers rarely plant the Neretinsky variety is the low resistance of the plant to mildew. In addition, only female flowers are formed on the bushes of this variety. Therefore, Neretinsky grapes should be planted next to varieties that have bisexual types of flowers.
But the Neretinsky variety is distinguished by good ripening of shoots, high yields, and the ability to withstand 35-degree frosts. Therefore, it is often purchased for cultivation by winegrowers in the Northern regions and Siberia.
Features of planting and caring for the variety
To cultivate Neretinsky grapes, annual seedlings up to 1 m high with powerful roots up to 30 cm long are purchased.Choose a place for planting that is sunny, well-lit, and inaccessible to strong winds. It would be good if there were barriers nearby to protect the plants from drafts.
The Neretinsky variety is well cultivated on soil with an average level of fertility. The plant is not disturbed by groundwater that lies close to the surface.
The best time for planting seedlings is the beginning of spring, but preparation of the planting site is carried out in the fall. The area is dug up, removing remnants of weed roots. Then they dig a hole measuring 0.8 x 0.8 m and a depth of 0.7 m. A crushed stone drainage is laid at the bottom of the hole and more than half of the hole is filled with organic matter. In the spring, before planting, a mound is formed by placing a seedling in it.
Caring for Neretinsky grapes consists of following the basic rules of agricultural technology:
- Watering - the plant is watered for the first time 2 years after planting, pouring 1.5 buckets of water under each bush. In the future, the soil is moistened once a month.
- Loosening and weeding are carried out before watering so that the water is better absorbed.
- Feeding. The first application is carried out in the spring, before buds form, by treating the soil with an aqueous solution of potassium nitrate (10 g per 5 l). The second feeding - during fruit set - consists of a mixture of peat and compost, taken 1 to 1. At the beginning of autumn, superphosphate (60 g) diluted with water (14 l) is added.
- Trimmings. As they appear, remove dry shoots. Stimulation of fruiting is carried out using anti-aging pruning, leaving about 5-6 eyes on the vines.
Due to its high frost resistance, Neretinsky grapes do not require the construction of shelters for the winter. Only young shrubs of the first year of planting are covered.
Mature plants tolerate winter well under thick snow cover, so they do not need to be removed from their support. The only thing to be wary of is return frosts after the snow melts. During this period, the kidneys may freeze. But even in this case, the Neretinsky variety gives a high yield thanks to quickly restored dormant and spare buds.
Protection from diseases and pests
The Neretinsky variety is easily affected by downy mildew (mildew). You can fight it with Bordeaux mixture. To do this, 60 g of the substance is dissolved in 12 liters of water and the bushes are sprayed.
Grapevines are much less afraid of gray rot and oidium. But for prevention, plants are sprayed with colloidal sulfur, diluting 40 g of the substance in 8 liters of water. Neretino grapes are often attacked by birds and harmful insects (aphids, flea beetles). To kill insects, preparations with a high copper content are used.
Oxyx is considered one of the most effective fungicides. Treat the plants with an aqueous solution (50 g per 10 l).
But chemical sprays are powerless against birds. Therefore, if numerous flocks of birds are noticed near the site, it is better to cover the vineyard with special nets. Otherwise, 3 days are enough for pests to completely destroy the bushes.
Harvest and storage
The first fruits of Neretinsky grapes can be obtained already 3 years after planting the seedlings, and 4-year-old bushes will already give a fairly high harvest. Harvest dates depend on weather conditions. In the middle zone, this time falls at the end of August, beginning of September. The southern regions carry out cleaning throughout September.
Before storing grapes for long-term storage, the bunches are cleaned of rotten, dried berries.Store the crop in a well-ventilated, cool, dry room.
Caring for Neretinsky grapes is not at all difficult. The main thing is to adhere to all agrotechnical rules, treating plants from infections and pests in a timely manner. Then a rich harvest of delicious berries will not keep you waiting.
