Description and characteristics of the Atos grape variety, cultivation rules and care features

When planning to grow grape bushes in a garden plot, they study the characteristics and characteristics of the varieties. Based on the description, a variety is selected that meets the requirements of a particular region. If you take into account all the rules for growing and caring for the vine in advance, you will be able to harvest the harvest declared by the manufacturer and keep the plant healthy. The Atos grape variety belongs to the hybrid species of early ripening. Its advantages are obvious, and its disadvantages can be eliminated with the help of well-executed agricultural technology.

History of breeding of the species

A grape variety named after one of the musketeers was born in the Lugansk region. Its author is Starobelsky breeder Bondarchuk V.K. He crossed two popular varieties of grapes: Kodryanka and Talisman and offered seedlings for experimental cultivation. In 2012, the first fruits were collected from Athos, and it turned out that the hybrid fully confirms the characteristics declared by the breeder.

Today it occupies a leading position among winegrowers and is grown in Ukraine, in the southern regions of Russia and in Crimea.

Characteristics of grapes

The Athos grape variety is ideal for those gardeners who like to enjoy the fruits of the vine in the summer. The hybrid is an early ripening hybrid; the first berries will ripen on the bushes in mid-July if the weather is favorable. The average time before harvest is up to 110 days.

In addition to this advantage, the sweet taste and rich aroma of the berries are also noted.

Application of Atos grape variety

Although the hybrid belongs to table varieties, due to its balanced composition of sugars and acids it is successfully used for making aromatic wine. Housewives close grape juice and compotes for the winter, and children enjoy eating ripe berries almost the entire second half of the summer.

Botanical description

Before purchasing an Athos seedling, it is worth studying its botanical description. This will help you make the right choice and take into account all the nuances of caring for the bush.

Bushes and shoots

The bushes are vigorous; when fully ripe, the shoots are brown in color with reddish internodes. Powerful vines are characterized by almost 100 ripenings per season.

Productivity and description of the fruit

Athos can also boast of high productivity; with proper agricultural technology, up to 120-130 centners of berries are harvested from 1 hectare. The bunch of grapes has a conical shape, and the weight reaches 1.5 kilograms. Unlike the parent variety (Kodryanka), Athos has virtually no tendency to pea.

The hybrid berries are large (up to 12 g), finger-shaped. The flesh is burgundy and the skin is dark blue. The taste of Athos fruits is sweet, crunchy when bitten, and a slight sourness is noted. Gardeners unanimously call the advantage of Athos berries the ability of the fruit to hang on the bushes for a long time, without crumbling or cracking. Also, the advantages include good transportability of the bunches.

Disease resistance

The Athos hybrid has a resistance level of 7 points to the most common fungal diseases of the grapevine. The variety is rarely affected by powdery mildew, but regular prevention will have to be carried out against gray rot.

Place of growth

To grow Athos, select a sunny area, protected from drafts. This can be a place along buildings, but you must retreat at least 1.5 meters from the wall. In a shaded place, the hybrid berries will not ripen on time and will have a sour taste and small size.

Landing rules

Before planting a hybrid, they study the planting rules in order to avoid mistakes and not harm the young bush. Experienced gardeners usually plant Athos from cuttings, and those who decide to take up this business for the first time are recommended to purchase annual seedlings in special nurseries.

How to choose a seedling

Before purchasing planting material, carefully inspect its root system:

• There should be no damage or growths on it.
• The seedling must have at least 3 roots.
• The absence of spots on leaves and shoots is a sign of a healthy seedling.
• Do not purchase planting material with dried roots.

Soil requirements

A place with close groundwater is not suitable for cultivating the Athos hybrid. The plant will be sick and will not produce a good harvest. If it is not possible to select a suitable site, prepare drainage for the root system and drainage grooves so that water does not stagnate near the seedling. Athos bears fruit well on sandy, light soils.

Planting scheme, dimensions of the landing pit

The depth of the planting hole should be around 70 cm. At the bottom, drainage must be made from crushed stone from broken red brick; gravel will also do. To prevent adult bushes from subsequently interfering with each other and taking away useful components from the “neighbor,” maintain a distance of 2.5 meters when planting.

Seedlings can be rooted both in spring and autumn. In the spring, this is done when the earth has completely warmed up, and in the fall no later than the third week of October.

Applying fertilizer after planting

Rotted manure mixed with black soil and mineral fertilizers is added to the planting hole. This food will be enough for the Athos seedling for the first season. Subsequently, annually feed three times per season:

• In spring, mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen are added.
• Before fruiting, preference is given to potassium and phosphorus components.
• Before preparing for winter, organic matter will come in handy.

Care rules for good growth and productivity

Athos is not particularly demanding of care, so it is successfully grown even by novice winegrowers. Loosening the soil and removing weeds, watering and fertilizing, forming vines and pruning are the main agrotechnical measures for the hybrid.

Regularity of watering

The regularity of moistening depends on the climatic characteristics of the region and the prevailing weather. You shouldn’t overwater the grape bushes; this will cause rotting of the root system, but Athos doesn’t like dry soil either.

Typically, irrigation is performed 4 times a season:

1. In the spring before the buds open.
2. At the moment of flowering.
3. During the fruiting period.
4. In the complex of preparatory measures for winter.

Loosening the soil

To improve the supply of oxygen to the roots of the grape bush, loosen the soil after each watering. If necessary, mulch and remove weeds.

Fertilizing

Spring fertilizing is combined with watering. Scatter fertilizer granules in the tree trunk circle and moisten the soil. Together with water, nutritional components will reach the roots. In summer and autumn, fertilizers diluted in water are used. Both foliar and root feeding of plants is carried out.

Pinching and trimming

A few days before flowering, pinch out (remove growing points) green shoots. This will allow the fruiting shoots to receive more nutritional components for the full formation of bunches. Stepchildren are also removed.

In the spring, cut to 6-8 eyes for better fruiting. Before wintering, sanitary pruning is carried out.

Formation of a fruiting vine

When forming a fruit-bearing vine, leave no more than 35 eyes per bush or 20-22 shoots.

Preparing the vine for wintering

Before wintering, grape vines are removed from their supports, divided in half and tied. The soil under the bush is covered with roofing felt and shoots are laid on it. A frame is installed on top and covered with plastic film.

It is important to ensure that the film does not touch the vines, as this can lead to burns to the plant.

Fruit ripening period and harvest

The ripening period for Athos grapes begins at the end of July and continues until mid-August. There is no need to rush into harvesting, since the taste of the berries does not suffer from hanging on the bushes for a long time. In addition, they do not crack and do not attract wasps.

Even after removing the bunch from the bush, the berries hold tightly and do not fall off, which allows them to be transported over long distances.

Fungal and infectious diseases of grapes

The most common problem when growing Athos hybrid is gray rot. If the disease affects the hybrid, then treatment will take at least 2-3 years. Fungicidal drugs are used, such as Topsin, Boskalid, Kaptan. Downy mildew and powdery mildew rarely cause the death of Athos grapevines.

Methods of control and prevention of diseases and pests

As a preventive measure, hybrid bushes are treated three times per season: in spring, before flowering and after harvesting. They use biological products and folk remedies, for example, infusion of onion or garlic peels, wood ash. To prevent birds from damaging the Athos berries, nets with small cells are used, and traps are set for wasps and other insect pests.