Description and history of the Zarya Nesvetaya grape variety, cultivation and care

The grape variety Zarya Nesvetaya was developed as a result of crossing Talisman with Cardinal. The hybrid turned out to be excellent: juicy, ripe berries with a fruity taste, good survival and endurance. Connoisseurs say that it is similar to a nutmeg variety with a light, almost imperceptible tart note. In addition, the new species is almost not afraid of garden pests.

History of selection

Dawn was developed by E. G. Pavlovsky, a famous popularizer and breeder of grape varieties. Two species were chosen as progenitors - Cardinal and Talisman. The hybrid exhibits early properties; the berries ripen in 100 days. It belongs to the table variety; according to the climatic zone, it is inclined to the southern regions - the Black Sea region, the Don region and the Caucasus. This can be regarded as both an advantage and a disadvantage. It is clear that in the Middle Zone it will be difficult to grow these grapes.

Strengths and weaknesses of the variety

There are no ideal varieties: experienced winegrowers and agronomists know this. Early ones are not always distinguished by their sweetness and acceptable taste; late ones do not have time to ripen in cold climates. Therefore, breeders carry out crossbreeding, trying to develop a hybrid suitable for most conditions of the extended Russian Federation, from the Moscow region to Siberia and the Far East.

The advantages of Zarya Nesvetaya are expressed in the following:

• table variety with a heavy and harmoniously formed bunch, pleasant taste of berries;
• the vine is strong, with bisexual flowers, there are no difficulties with pollination;
• proper care allows you to get up to 3 brushes on one shoot;
• the average weight of a bunch is 600-1000 grams (there are specimens up to 2 kilograms);
• The berry is brightly colored, burgundy in color, and elongated in shape. The shell is matte, moderately dense;
• the pulp is sweet, with a rich nutmeg taste, a little tart;
• a berry weighing up to 12 grams has no more than 2 seeds;
• grapes are suitable for home canning, juice, tinctures, and winemaking.

The disadvantages of the variety are manifested in its sensitivity to cold (needs shelter for the winter), susceptibility to pests. Sometimes the berries are heavily eaten by birds.Experienced winegrowers also note that Zarya has weak stalks that are sensitive to injury.

Characteristics and description of grapes

The variety grows and develops well, producing large clusters. Peaing (formation of small berries) practically does not occur; the configuration of the edges is cone-shaped. The fruits are round, tending to the shape of an ellipse, with a rich pink hue (transitioning to purple when ripe).

The peel is dense, can withstand minor impacts, but is soft and elastic. As it matures, a characteristic waxy coating appears on it. The core is sweet, but not cloying, tasty, juicy. The color of the vine is brownish-green, with brownish nodes. The leaf is classic, 5-lobed and bright green. Flowering begins early, the inflorescences are bisexual - no need to worry about pollination.

Despite its unpretentiousness, the variety gravitates to warm climates, where it ripens and bears fruit better and faster.

Bush and shoots

The bush is resistant to high humidity, which is important for grapes, which are usually sensitive to root rot. The shoots are strong, dark green, and can withstand cold climates with temperatures dropping to -23 degrees. Usually 2-3 crowns are tied on one branch.

Leaves

The leaf of Zari Nesvetaya is small, unremarkable, round in shape, with 5 protruding teeth-blades.

Brushes and flower stalks

The brushes are dark green, they have a weak stalk - this should be taken into account when pruning and caring for grapes. The peduncles are of a double set - male and female, so pollination of the species occurs without outside interference.

Appearance and taste of fruits

The berry is round, slightly elongated, dark pink (to purple) in color, with a light white waxy coating. The taste is soft, rich, with characteristic nutmeg notes, sweet, but not cloying (20% sugar).The weight of one grape is up to 12 grams, the entire bunch – up to 1 kilogram.

Reproduction methods

The variety is well propagated by cuttings; there is nothing new in this technique. Planting is allowed in 2 selected periods: spring or autumn. For future bushes, a place and soil mixture must be prepared. It is necessary to provide in advance the installation of a trellis or stand to support the rapidly growing vine.

Features of cultivation and care

Planting begins with fertilizing the soil. For this purpose, organic and mineral components added to the soil are used. The planted cuttings are watered abundantly, and the ground around it is mulched. Zarya does not require constant pruning, like some other varieties; on average, it needs to leave 6-8 eyes.

In early spring, special moisture-charging irrigation is carried out, allowing the upper layers of the soil to be saturated with liquid and delivered to the roots. The second time the same dose of moisture is given to the vine during flowering, when the ovary is formed. Watering is stopped completely 14 days before fruiting begins.

Preventive treatment with chemicals against the presence of pests is carried out on an ongoing basis; this will strengthen the bush’s immunity and protect the crop. Before hibernation, the bush is pruned and covered (especially in cold areas).

Landing

Before planting, choose a place - it is better if it is an unshaded, bright area, well ventilated, but not in a draft. Zarya Nesvetaya allows some waterlogging, but this does not mean that the soil for planting it should be swampy, with a high groundwater level, or heavy clay.

A drainage of stones and gravel is placed at the bottom of the pit, and an earthen mixture of soil and fertilizer is poured on top of it (humus can be used). It is recommended to mulch grapes to preserve and accumulate nutrients.

Foliar and root fertilizer

To feed Zari, root and surface (foliar) feeding is used. The bush receives the first dose of fertilizer when planting; subsequently, humus and mineral complexes are regularly added, and mulching is carried out.

During fruiting, spraying with aqueous solutions of potassium, nitrogen or phosphorus-containing fertilizers is allowed - this will help the berries ripen and fill with juice.

Watering mode

The variety is moisture resistant; some overwatering is allowed when caring for the bush. You just need to not overdo it so as not to cause rotting of the root system. The watering regime is regular, but not excessive: about 2 weeks before the berries ripen, it is stopped altogether.

Formation of bushes and pruning

The bush does not need “special” pruning; it copes well with the formation of shoots on its own. It is recommended to leave up to 8 eyes on the vine (in total there are no more than 40-42 on the bush). A support should be installed on the site along which the shoots will develop.

Seasonal processing

It consists of pruning (spring and autumn), spraying with chemicals and fertilizing. The variety is not particularly resistant to garden pests, so it needs regular (2-3 times) treatment with fungicides.

It is recommended to spray Zarya twice before flowering and once after it.

In general, the species resists mildew relatively well: its resistance to this common disease is estimated at 7 points out of 10.

Preparing for winter

This includes removing damaged areas of the vine, clearing the remaining berries, loosening the soil and covering. The variety is frost-resistant, but protection from the cold will not be superfluous: it will help the bush maintain its vitality and “wake up” faster in the spring. For shelter, mulching, backfilling with soil, sawdust, burlap, and even snow (as soon as it falls) is used.

Fruiting period

It begins 100-115 days after the first bud pecks. May vary slightly depending on the region of growth; in warm climates, Zarya Nesvetaya will ripen earlier, but not by much.

Ripening and harvesting dates

The average berry ripening period is 105 days, this is the end of July-beginning of August. At the same time, they begin to harvest, since the bunch has a weak stalk, easily damaged by the wind or careless handling.

It is believed that the berries can hang on the vine for some time without deteriorating in quality or damaging the taste/presentation, but it is better to pick them in time.

Diseases and pests - methods of combating them

The variety is resistant to downy mildew, but is damaged by fungi and garden pests. Weevils and leaf rollers can cause significant harm, especially during the formation of inflorescences. For Zarya Nesvetaya, treatment with insecticides is an important measure; the availability of the crop and its volume depend on it.

The treatment is carried out 30 days before the grape harvest. To prevent damage by insects that penetrate deeply under the bark, in the spring they are cleaned of dead fragments, followed by burning away from the plant.