Description and characteristics of the Kishmish grape variety Century, cultivation and care

The Century grape variety has a long history of cultivation throughout the world. A distinctive feature of the berries is the complete absence of seeds, which determines that it belongs to the raisin variety. Garden culture has proven itself to be the best because it has many worthy qualities that are worth learning about before planting.

History of variety development

The birthplace of the Century variety is the US state of California; the first experiments on its creation were carried out in the 60s. Kishmish was officially recognized in the 80s and was the result of crossing two varieties - Emperor, Pirovano 75.

Pros and cons of Century grapes

The advantage of the hybrid variety is its undemandingness to growing conditions. Many gardeners consider the stability of the harvest and its high performance to be the main advantage. Positive qualities include:

• stress resistance, ability to withstand difficult growing conditions;
• good immunity to grape diseases;
• decent taste of berries;
• attractive appearance of fruits and their ability to withstand long-term transportation conditions;
• frost resistance.

Grapes are a universal variety, as they can be consumed fresh or dried. At the same time, raisins act as a valuable source of nutrients in winter or when there is insufficient fresh fruit. The downside of the variety is the inability of the berries to retain their qualities during long-term storage.

Biological features and characteristics

Century refers to table grapes with an average period of fruit production. The ripening period of the bunches is 120-125 days.

Liana growing region

Despite the fact that the variety was first bred in the USA, over the past decades it has become widespread throughout the world. Today it is actively grown in the CIS, Chile, Argentina and South Africa.In our country, it has not passed official variety testing, so it is not yet in the register of breeding achievements.

Century is recommended for cultivation in the central and southern regions, since in the northern regions it does not have enough heat for ripening and cannot withstand extremely low temperatures.

Frost resistance

Century belongs to the frost-resistant types of crops. The eyes are able to survive at temperatures as low as -25 ⁰C. Despite the ability to tolerate cold, it is recommended to cover the plant in cold regions. For plants under 6 years of age, it is mandatory to provide a protective structure.

Immunity to infections

The garden crop has decent resistance to grape infectious diseases. The variety is distinguished by its high ability to resist the most dangerous grape enemies - mildew and oidium.

External parameters of the bush

The description of the variety emphasizes that the Century grape variety needs support, as it forms strong, tall shoots. In the first year they can reach a height of several meters. The plant is characterized by a strong vine and short internodes, which contributes to its stable holding.

Plant pollination

The plant produces bisexual flowers. Due to this feature, Century does not require nearby plantings of other grape varieties.

Harvest quantity

The berries are formed into large clusters, the weight of which reaches 700 g. The fruits themselves gain weight up to 10 g, which is a decent indicator for seedless varieties.

Gross size and taste of berries

The oval-shaped, white-yellow berries are formed into large clusters that take on a cone shape. The pulp of the fruit is distinguished by its fleshiness and harmonious taste.At the moment of full ripening, they acquire a pleasant nutmeg hue. There is a complete absence of seeds inside the grapes. The sugar content in the juice is 13%, acidity 6 g/l.

Landing technology

To obtain a harvest, it will take a certain time and go through certain stages, including choosing a seedling, preparing the soil for planting, caring for the plant and a successful wintering. The first fruit production can be expected in the 3rd year, so a certain cycle of work will need to be completed annually.

Sunny areas are suitable as places for permanent cultivation; in shaded areas, productivity indicators are reduced significantly. Planting can be done in spring or autumn. Before planting, the roots of the plant are disinfected and treated with growth stimulants for better survival. Plantings are formed in an even line, maintaining the distance between seedlings and rows. Planting along the walls of buildings will protect the plant from the wind, but at the same time a distance of 1 m is required from the foundation.

When planting in heavy soil, the depth of the hole should be at least 80 cm deep and 60 cm wide. Drainage will help improve the moisture passage and air permeability of the soil; for this, crushed stone, broken brick or sand are used. Mineral fertilizers and humus are added to the hole on top of it. When planting, the root shoots are evenly distributed, covered with fertile soil, compacted and watered.

Growing and care

The quality of grape growth and fruiting directly depends on compliance with the rules of agricultural cultivation. The basic requirements relate to ensuring the nutritional value of the soil for planting, pruning and timely watering.

Irrigation

The plant requires sufficient watering. Today, irrigation is carried out by drip, above-ground and underground methods.Particular importance is attached to autumn and spring watering, which promote the active growth of shoots, as well as during budding for better formation of berries.

Foliar and root feeding

Grape shoots are characterized by rapid growth, which requires sufficient nutrients to maintain. The soil is enriched with organic fertilizers in the form of manure and compost, as well as mineral additives in the form of potassium salt and superphosphate. One of the best fertilizers for grapes is bird droppings, which contain almost all the elements necessary for plant growth.

Organic fertilizing is required to be applied once every 2 years. When using chemicals, it is important to follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Nitrogen fertilizers are used in the spring to stimulate growth, and in the autumn, potash fertilizers or wood ash are used.

Pinching and shaping the vine

The plant requires periodic pruning of the bushes. Every 6 m² there should be no more than 24 shoots. They adhere to medium pruning, which leaves 6-8 eyes. Pinching young plants helps the bush grow and makes it stronger, in some cases it helps for faster ripening of the fruit.

Treatment and prevention of diseases and pests

Most often, plantings suffer from the leaf roller, which, after penetrating under the bark, begins to “devour” the plant from the inside. To combat the pest, targeted drugs are used.

Another dangerous pest for grapes is phylloxera, which can multiply very quickly. When they appear, damage to the leaves, roots, and petioles of the grape bush is observed.To combat insects, vaccinations with resistant rootstocks, chemical treatment and special traps are used.

Wintering

To winter in regions with cold climates, the young plant needs to be provided with shelter. Protective insulation is necessary for plants under 4 years of age. Further decisions on the design of the structure are made based on how low the temperature drops in winter. Shoots are able to withstand a decrease to -25 ⁰C.

To prepare for winter, shoots are removed from their supports and laid horizontally. Some gardeners form a protective layer of 20 cm from moss, fallen leaves or sawdust. Others are additionally covered with triangular structures or agrofibre on arches. It is important for the success of wintering the plant to prevent the effect of “overheating” of the grape shoots.

Methods to increase yield

To obtain decent yield results, it is important to follow the growing rules prescribed for the variety. The health of the plant and the quality of the berries depends on the sufficiency of nutrients. Timely pruning and removal of old and damaged shoots contribute to their correct distribution, which has a positive effect on the yield of the crop.

Fruit ripening period and berry picking

The description of the variety speaks of the ripening of its fruits after 125 days. Berry picking occurs in September, depending on the growing region, this may be the first days of the month or its second decade. Bunches of grapes are able to remain on the shoots until the first frost.

Useful properties, use of Century grapes

Since ancient times, grapes have been considered an excellent restorative and tonic.The product has a positive effect on the composition and properties of the blood, so regular consumption of berries has a positive effect on the bone marrow and circulatory system. A glass of juice can replenish potassium deficiency and the daily dose of vitamin B.

Grapes are used fresh for making juices, muesli, fruit salads and desserts. A special feature of the Century variety is the versatility of its use; it is considered an ideal raw material for preparing raisins.