Gardeners in the Leningrad region know many subtleties about planting and caring for grapes. They harvest their harvest earlier than the winegrowers of the Crimea and the Caucasus. Success largely depends on the choice of variety (hybrid form). In the short summer, only early ripening varieties of the crop have time to ripen. The short growing season practically eliminates diseases, so most gardeners grow crops without the use of chemicals.
Features of cultivation
In the Leningrad region, where summers are short, grapes grow not only in greenhouses.It can be grown in open ground without any problems. The soils in this region are acidic, so ash and dolomite flour must be added annually, starting from the year of planting. The grapevine begins to bear fruit 3 years after planting. The grapes gain more sugar if the grapes grow in a well-lit area of the garden. Cover the vine only for the winter. Grapes are afraid of thaws and January rain.
Covering material is removed from the bushes immediately after the snow melts. A delay in removing polyethylene can lead to freezing of the shoots. A covered vine grows before the onset of consistently warm weather; return frosts are dangerous for it. It is recommended to spray grapes of any variety that have woken up ahead of time when there is a threat of low temperatures with agents that enhance immunity:
- “Tsitovit”, “Epin”, “Extrasol”;
- "Epinom" together with "Ecofus".
After processing, the grape bushes are covered with non-woven fabric (spunbond). To restore frozen grapevines, they are sprayed with the Zircon preparation.
The best grape varieties for the Leningrad region
The winegrowers of the Leningrad region have a lot of practice. You can safely choose varieties that they have already tested in their vineyards. It is worth planting proven non-covering varieties with early ripening periods.
The Latvian hybrid Zilga is always popular. The bushes can withstand 30-degree frosts. Ripe bunches can hang for a long time without losing their presentation. There are no problems with pollination; the variety is self-pollinating.
Ripe berries acquire a dark blue color, and notes of nutmeg are formed in their taste. One bush produces up to 12 kg of berries.
Express Early tolerates frost up to 32 °C. Dark ripe fruits contain up to 28% sugars, which explains their good taste. They make excellent homemade wines.The weight of one bunch can reach up to 300 g. The harvest is harvested from late July to mid-August. Productivity does not decrease due to bad weather.
The Supaga variety is suitable for frost resistance in the Leningrad region. Frosts down to -25 °C are not scary for him. The clusters fill early and weigh from 300 to 600 g. The berries weighing up to 5 g have a simple, no-frills taste. Their color is amber. The variety has weak resistance to phylloxera, but it is rarely susceptible to rot, mildew, and oidium.
Cognac lovers plant Vandal Cliche. This is a wine variety from Canada. It ripens early, is very disease resistant, and is productive. The berries are medium in size, white in color, apple-pear aroma. Not quite ripe grapes are cut off for wine. This takes the Isabella notes out of the drink.
Violet early was bred in the Rostov region. Berries are used in many ways (wine, juice, fresh consumption). The bunches ripen in 130 days. Their harvesting begins in early September. The load on the bush is normalized. The berries are not large (up to 3 g), purple with a waxy coating. They are collected in small clusters weighing about 200 g. The second wave of fruiting occurs on the stepsons.
The hybrid form Veres was bred in Ukraine, author V.V. Zagorulko. Grape fruits do not have seeds. They ripen early (90-100 days). The clusters are cone-shaped, large, weighing from 600 g. The taste of the pulp contains nutmeg.
Solaris is a wine variety bred in Germany. Ripens early. The fruits are white, round, and contain up to 22% sugars in the pulp. The variety has good resistance to mildew and oidium, but the berries suffer from wasps.
The Black Pearl variety ripens in September. The bunch size is medium. The berries are dark blue, medium-sized, round-conical.The pulp has a pronounced aroma of nutmeg, the taste is harmonious and rich. Frost resistance at -26 °C. The variety's immunity to mildew and oidium is average.
Other varieties for open ground:
- Khasansky Sweet;
- Galant;
- Regent;
- First Michurinsky;
- P34;
- P33;
- Danko;
- Muscat Blau.
Other varieties are suitable for greenhouses. For example, near St. Petersburg they grow Laura grapes. This is a table culture. The clusters are large, conical, dense. The ripening period lasts at least 120 days. Frost resistance is not bad (-23 °C).
Kishmish Radiant is an old Moldavian variety; the clusters ripen in 130 days. It is also successfully grown indoors. Ripe berries are pink in color. The shape of the fruit is oval, elongated. The taste has a hint of nutmeg. The plant is susceptible to mildew and oidium.
Greenhouse or open ground?
Early varieties grow well in open ground. Basic care for them comes down to pruning and covering the vines with cellophane for the winter. In a greenhouse, the berries ripen earlier, but from the observations of winegrowers, in closed ground one has to spend time fighting pests and diseases.
The berries of greenhouse grapes are fleshier, larger, and ripen by mid-July. In the soil the clusters are noticeably smaller, the berries are medium in size. In warm summers, the clusters ripen by mid-August, in the cool season - by mid-September.
Cons of a greenhouse:
- there is less snow than outside, the soil freezes deeper;
- in the spring, due to early awakening, the vine may suffer from frost;
- for good growth and disease prevention, it is necessary to use chemicals (growth stimulants, fungicides);
- In the summer, frequent, abundant watering is needed.
The advantages of greenhouse grapes include a wider list of varieties that can be grown in the conditions of the Leningrad region, and ripening periods. The berry picks up sugar 3 weeks earlier than in open ground. Supporters of environmentally friendly harvests and simple care choose open ground.
Planting dates and tips
Plant grapes needed on a pre-prepared area. At least 1 m² of land must be allocated per bush - 2 x 0.5 m. A deep hole is not needed. It is enough to deepen it 60 cm. In places with high soil moisture, drainage in the form of broken bricks, gravel, and crushed stone is poured onto the bottom.
In clay soil, the root system develops poorly, so in addition to organic matter, mineral fertilizers, and ash, sand is added to the soil mixture to fill the hole. Seedlings are planted in the spring immediately after the soil has completely warmed up. In summer the plant takes root and overwinters without problems.
In the summer months, you can plant seedlings with a closed root system; with good care, they take root no worse than grapes planted in the spring. Winegrowers in the Leningrad region also practice autumn planting, but the seedlings are hilled up and well covered for the winter.
How to properly care?
Formative pruning is the main element of care. It starts from the second year of the vine’s life. Carry out in the fall throughout the life of the bush. After harvesting, almost the entire above-ground part is cut out. First of all, remove all fruit-bearing shoots. The vine that has not ripened is also cut out. She won't survive the winter anyway. The main thing is to start forming the bush correctly. The winegrowers of the Leningrad region are supporters of fan pruning. Lay 4 sleeves.
When pruning in autumn, both methods are used:
- with a replacement knot;
- without a bit of substitution.
For fruiting shoots, the most powerful branches with mature wood are selected and shortened by 5-6 buds.
After pruning, a small above-ground part remains; covering it for the winter is not difficult. Plastic arcs are installed, cellophane is stretched over them. It turns out to be a tunnel, the ends of which are open. The shelter protects not from frost, but from thaws, which often occur in January due to the specific climate.
During the season, the vine is watered 4 to 5 times. In wet seasons, the volume of irrigation water is reduced. Starting from the 3rd year of life, they begin to add:
- ash;
- dolomite flour;
- humus;
- mineral fertilizers.
Grape propagation
A new bush of the variety you like can be obtained using layering and cuttings. The latter are harvested in the fall during pruning. Completely lignified shoots are selected for propagation. The core of the cutting should be green. The shoots are kept in water until the roots appear. For better germination, maintain a room temperature of 20 to 23 °C. Prepare containers with fertile soil. Seedlings are grown in them until they are planted in a permanent place.
For layering in the fall, take a healthy cane, break out all the shoots, and remove all the leaves. The middle part of the shoot is sprinkled with fertile soil, leaving the crown above the ground. The growth of grape shoots begins the following spring. From the cuttings they begin to form a new bush. It is separated from the mother bush after 3 years.
Diseases and pests
Most grape varieties grown in the Leningrad region are resistant to diseases. Their possibility should not be ruled out. Therefore, prevention of mildew, oidium, and gray rot is necessary. The topic of diseases is especially relevant for greenhouse grapes.To prevent fungal diseases, control the humidity level, spray the soil and shoots with fungicides.
Dangerous pests include:
- spider mite;
- leaf roller (grape);
- grape itch;
- phylloxera.
Fungicides are also used against them throughout the season. It is possible and necessary to engage in viticulture in the climate of the Leningrad region, despite the short summer, and obtain decent harvests of berries. Success is achieved by gardeners who select the right varieties and take into account the peculiarities of the local climate when growing grapes.
