Content
Grapes are an ancient culture. Plants have changed a lot over the millennia. Today there are a huge number of varieties and hybrids that differ not only in taste, but also in size and color of berries. That is why gardeners are faced with the dilemma of which grape variety to choose for their site.
A description of the variety, characteristic features, reviews of gardeners, as well as photos and videos sent by them, help to obtain the necessary information. The article will discuss a plant obtained in Moldova and a successful gardener for more than a dozen years. It is a grape variety in Memory of Negrul.
Variety history
Sunny Moldova has always been famous for its vineyards and delicious wines. Breeders constantly updated the assortment of varieties. Grapes in Memory of Negrul, as well as the first description of the variety, belongs to the staff of the Moldavian Research Institute of Viticulture and Agriculture.
Back in 1975, the Coarne Neagra variety and the Pierrelle hybrid were crossed. The staff of the Institute gave their brainchild the name of the Soviet scientist A. M. Negrul, whom I. Vavilov once called the "King of the Grapes".
The variety was registered only in 2015, it is considered to belong to the Republic of Moldova.
Important information
The description of grapes in Memory of Negrul will begin with the fact that it is a hybrid form of mid-late ripening. Typically, it takes 145-155 days from flowering to harvest. Although gardeners living in the southern regions, in the reviews, they note an earlier ripening of bunches.
The harvest starts in the first half of September. The grape yield is excellent. When cultivating the Pamyati Negrul variety on an industrial scale, from 180 to 200 centners of juicy berries are harvested per hectare.
Description of bushes
The grapes of this variety are distinguished by a powerful skeleton, capable of bearing fruit under a heavy load on the vine. There are about ¾ of fruiting shoots on it. The survival rate of seedlings is slightly less than 100%.
The ripening rate of grape shoots in Memory of Negrul is high, approximately 90%. But you need to pay attention to a young vine, because it is fragile and often breaks. All shoots of the first year must be tied to a reliable support.
Moldavian grape variety is a tall plant with round, five-lobed and dissected leaves of light green color. The underside of the leaf blade has a well-visible pubescence.
The flowering of the grapes is abundant, the berries are tied well. The thing is that the variety has both male and female flowers. The plant does not need to be artificially pollinated, on the contrary, it itself is an excellent pollinator for other grape varieties. The bunches are always full, with berries of almost the same size, since peas do not threaten the grapes of the Memory of Negrul variety.
Description of bunches and berries
The bunches of the variety are of the correct cylindrical shape, often with wings. If you look at the photo below, then outwardly they are spectacular and attractive. Bunches of grapes weigh on average 300-700 grams, although the Memory of Negrul variety has its own record holders, reaching a mass of about a kilogram. Bunches up to 20 cm long and up to 12 cm wide.
In biological ripeness, the berries of the variety turn dark purple, almost black. From the outside, they appear blue due to the dense bloom of the spring.
In shape, the fruits are elongated, ovoid, the tips are slightly pointed, 3 cm long and 2 cm wide.Each berry weighs on average about 9 grams. There are only 2-3 pieces of seeds. The skin is firm and crunches when eating. The taste of juicy dense pulp is usual without any special frills, sweetish-sour.
Sugar content in fruits - 16-18 g / 100 cm3; acids - 6-8 g / l. The tasters highly appreciated the variety, their score is 9.2 points.
Characteristics
Without the characteristics of the grape variety in Memory of Negrul, knowing only the description, it is difficult to make a choice. You need to know the positive aspects as well as the negative points.
Benefits
- The yield of the variety is high and stable from year to year.
- The preservation of the bunches is excellent. They can hang on the bush until the frost. If you store the grape varieties in the basement, then for the New Year you can enjoy delicious fruits from your garden. Keeping quality is slightly lower in the refrigerator.
- Berries with a dense skin are highly transportable, do not lose their presentation even during long transportation.
- The use of grapes in Memory of Negrul is universal. In addition to fresh consumption, excellent juice, jam, compotes are obtained from the berries.
- The variety is represented by self-rooted bushes that can withstand temperatures as low as -25 degrees. When grown in harsher conditions, shelter is required.
- The plant is drought-resistant, although timely watering helps to increase the yield and quality of the bunches.
- Shoots ripen almost 100%, cuttings can be implanted on the stock.
- The grape variety Memory Negrul, unlike other plants of the culture, has a high immunity. Oidium, mildew, gray rot, phylloxera, grape mite rarely get sick. Although preventive measures should not be neglected. As for pests, according to gardeners, wasps do not damage the bunches, but they have to be protected from birds.
Minuses
As you can see, the variety in Memory of Negrul has many advantages, and significant ones. Although the shortcomings should not be kept silent either. According to gardeners' reviews, these are:
- A Moldovan selection of grapes needs shelter if grown in regions where the thermometer drops below - 26 degrees in winter.
- In order for the yield to be high and stable, it is necessary to regulate the load on the vine so that there is no overload.
What do gardeners think about the variety in Memory of Negrul:
Landing features
Negrul Memory Grapes can be planted in the spring in April-May, or in the fall, before the frost begins.
When choosing a site, you need to take into account the composition of the soil. Salt marshes, soil with a high clay content are not suitable for planting grapes. It is also dangerous to plant the variety on soils where groundwater comes close to the surface.
Landing rules
It is necessary to take into account the rules for planting seedlings or grapevine cuttings:
- The soil for grapes of any varieties is prepared in advance; when digging, they are removed weeds along with the roots.
- Planting material must be of high quality, healthy: ripe shoots and a powerful root system.
- Planting holes should be at least 100 cm in diameter and approximately 80 cm deep. Drainage from fine gravel and sand is laid on the bottom.
- Superphosphate, potassium chloride are added to one part of the soil, which is folded when digging next to the pit. The drainage is poured with this mixture. Humus or compost is added to another part of the soil, the rest of the pit is filled with it. The roots of the grapes should not come into contact with the mineral fertilizer to avoid burns.
- The seedling is placed in the center, sprinkled with earth and watered abundantly.
- To retain moisture, plantings are mulched.
Since the young shoots of the Pamyati Negrul grape variety are fragile, they are immediately tied to a wooden peg.Support is necessary to give the future bush the right direction.
Grape care
According to the description and characteristics of the variety, grapes in Memory of Negrul do not cause much trouble, but you need to know the rules of agricultural technology. Care consists of the following activities:
- regular watering, cleaning plantings from weeds, loosening;
- mulching the plantation, shelter for the winter, if the climatic conditions of the region require it;
- bush formation and vine pruning;
- applying dressings;
- preventive measures for growing healthy vines.
And now about some of the activities for the care of grapes in more detail.
Watering
The variety of Moldovan selection is drought-resistant in terms of its description and characteristics. But you need to water the plants in a timely manner. With insufficient watering, you can lose not only the harvest, but also get bunches of poor quality.
Water the grapes in Memory of Negrul as follows:
- in early spring and autumn, after shelter, water-charging irrigation is carried out;
- when the eyes open, the plantings moisturize again;
- the next watering as the soil dries up.
Top dressing
Liquid dressing is carried out simultaneously with watering. Grapes need potash and phosphate fertilizers. These dressings are necessary:
- for the proper development of the vine;
- the formation of fruit buds;
- obtaining a high-quality harvest;
- increasing the vitality of plants.
Mineral fertilizers are applied strictly according to the instructions at a certain time.
The Negrul Memory variety also needs fresh manure, which is introduced in the fall. Thanks to organic matter, beneficial bacteria settle in the soil, which have a beneficial effect on the development of the vine.
Useful for grapes and foliar dressing. For this, special preparations are used.
Pruning
Pruning is necessary for the plant to form a bush. It is held in autumn and spring. Before the shelter, shoots are cut out that did not have time to ripen. Moreover, strong pruning in the autumn is not carried out, you need to leave a reserve: it is not known how the grapes will winter.
Spring pruning frozen or broken shoots are exposed. As a rule, 7-8 eyes should remain on the vine.
Protective measures
As the originators indicate in the description, as well as gardeners in reviews, the Moldovan grape variety has a high immunity to many diseases. But prevention still does not hurt. Gardeners treat bushes with fungicides against diseases. Any drugs are used, taking into account the instructions.
From the invasion of feathered sweethearts, planting grapes is covered with a net or bunches are hidden in gauze bags, as in the photo below.
