History, description and characteristics of the Early Magaracha grape variety and cultivation rules

On the horticultural market, the number of interesting grape varieties increases every year, but this does not reduce the popularity of long-bred varieties. Gardeners are often in a difficult choice situation, trying to decide on the best option. If you want to plant a dark-colored technical variety, you should pay attention to one of the oldest grape varieties - Early Magaracha.

Description of the grapes Early Magarach

Grapes are a table species with a universal scope of application. This feature makes it possible to use it as a raw material for wine production. The berries of the plant have a rich dark blue color, and the juice obtained from them is pink.

Historical data

Early Magarach is considered one of the oldest grape varieties. It was bred in 1928 by crossing two varieties - Kishmish black, Madeleine Anzhevich. The crop was adopted for large-scale cultivation in 1964. It is officially included in the atlas of the best grape varieties of the USSR.

Morphology

The shoots grow powerful and spreading. One bush can support up to 40 buds. The plant produces bisexual flowers and green leaves, which have slight pubescence on the underside. In autumn, their color changes and becomes red.

Advantages and disadvantages

The variety has good survival rate in regions without strong changes in seasonal temperatures; it can withstand temperatures down to -18 ⁰C. The advantages of the variety include:

• high yield rates;
• stability of fruiting;
• versatility of use.

At the same time, Early Magaracha is quite demanding on soil quality and sufficiency of heat, so it cannot be called unpretentious. Fruit ripening is possible only if the total number of temperatures is 2,300 ⁰C, which places a limit on possible growing regions.

Characteristics of the variety

The variety belongs to the early variety.On average, 120 days pass from the beginning of flowering to harvest. Harvest occurs in August.

Harvest quantity

The average weight of one bunch varies from 200 to 500 g. They have a classic cone shape. In a favorable climate, with proper care, the plant is capable of producing from 100 to 120 centners per hectare.

Known diseases and pests

Early Magaracha does not have good resistance to grape diseases, so preventive measures for this variety must be carried out. Plantings are most often affected by mildew, phylloxera and black spot. At the same time, the plant is rarely affected by gray rot, which is largely due to its belonging to early varieties. Among the pests that are dangerous to it are wasps and ants.

Description of berries and bunches, tasting assessment

The berries have a characteristic oval shape. The weight of one berry is 4 g, each contains 2-3 seeds. The fruits are collected in a large bunch, the length of which reaches 22 cm. The dark blue skin has a purine coating on the surface.

The tasting qualities of the grapes are assessed by experts as “without special features.” The taste may sometimes contain notes of chocolate. The juice content of the berries is 84%.

Vine propagation methods

Early Magaracha is propagated using cuttings taken from healthy, powerful bushes. It is not recommended to take the upper parts of the shoots for these purposes. The diameter of the shoot at the cut site should be from 7 to 1.2 cm, the length should not be more than 50 cm. For the winter, the cuttings are placed in damp sand and stored at a temperature of +2 ⁰C.

Planting seedlings

Before planting, the cuttings are soaked in water for 48 hours for rooting.Several small cuts are made on the lower part at the base for better rooting. The upper part is immersed in paraffin at a temperature of +75 ⁰C, which will retain moisture. Next, the shoot is placed in a growth stimulator to increase its ability to root.

The shoot is planted in a container with fertile soil, moistened and sent under a greenhouse.

Landing dates

Cuttings stored during the winter are taken out 3 weeks before the planned planting and the rooting procedure is carried out.

Technology of planting in open ground

Planting is carried out in previously prepared soil. You need to choose a sunny place, not exposed to gusts of wind. A 50 cm depression is formed, fertilizer is applied, watered abundantly and then the seedling is planted. There should be a distance of 1.7-2.2 m between two adjacent bushes.

How to grow and care

The plant requires careful care. It requires timely watering and fertilizing; it reacts negatively to moisture deficiency and requires shelter in winter.

Bush pruning

Pruning is carried out in the spring. The volume of shoot removal depends on the age of the grapes and its branching. It is recommended to leave 5-8 eyes on the bush, their total number should not exceed 40.

Irrigation and fertilizing

At the moment of bud break, fertilize with rotted manure. When the first leaves appear, irrigation is carried out. During the formation of inflorescences, this is prohibited, since all flower stalks will be discarded by the plant. During the growing season, watering is required, which is stopped from the moment the berries begin to “fill”, otherwise the risk of their cracking will increase.

Preventive actions

Preventive measures boil down to spraying with targeted preparations and monitoring the health of the shoots. It is important to avoid excessive moisture and provide the grapes with quality protection during the winter.

We protect the plant from diseases and pests

In order to increase the resistance of grapes to phylloxera, rootstocks are made using varieties of French or American selection. To combat black spotting, special preparations are used - “DNOC”, “Topaz”, “Thanos”. Sticky traps are used to control ants. Wasp nests need to be eliminated, and covering the bunches with mesh or gauze will help save the bunches from insects.

Preparing the vine for frost

Early Magaracha requires shelter when grown in regions with cold winters. There is a method of dry, full, half cover and digging in the trunk. Straw, dry branches and foliage are often used as an insulating layer. When forming protection for a plant, it is important to prevent the effect of overheating.