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Georgia can be safely called a big vineyard. So many varieties grow here that no one even knows about some. The grapes grow in this area in the wild, therefore they are particularly resistant to weather fluctuations. The famous and famous white grape variety is "Rkatsiteli".
Although it belongs to the technical, it is highly valued for its taste and worthy characteristics. The birthplace of Rkatsiteli grapes is the Kakheti region, but in other regions of Georgia it grows no less successfully. If the variety is grown outside Georgia, then the harvest will be the same fragrant, only the berries ripen a little more sour. Let's dwell on a detailed description of the variety and a photo of the "Rkatsiteli" grape, so that its cultivation does not cause any difficulties.
Description and characteristics of the variety
One of the important characteristics of Rkatsiteli grapes is the type of structure of the bush. Knowing this parameter, growers can plan planting and their employment when caring for the variety.
The bush at "Rkatsiteli" is vigorous, in an adult state it forms a pyramidal shape.
Translated from Georgian, the name of the grape sounds like "red vine". Annual mature shoots have a characteristic red-yellow color and vertical orientation.
The leaves grow medium or large, there may be three-lobed or five-lobed specimens. The color is bronze.
The flowers are bisexual. The Rkatsiteli variety is distinguished by good self-pollination and does not require additional efforts of the grower to increase the number of ovaries.
A bunch of ripe grapes reaches an average weight of about 170 g, a length of 15-17 cm. Outwardly, it forms a cylindrical or conical shape of medium density.
Rkatsiteli grape berries are golden-yellow in color with harmonious brown blotches, round or oval in shape (see photo).
The berries taste sweet with a slight sourness, juicy and aromatic at the same time. The sugar content is high (23%), the variety is famous for its taste among winemakers.
The ripening period of grapes is medium late. The berries are fully ripe 150 days after bud break. The crop is harvested in September, in the first half of the month. The maturation rate is 90%, which is very pleasing to gardeners.
The yield of grapes "Rkatsiteli", according to the description of the variety and the experienced observations of gardeners, is 150 c / ha. But this parameter is not fixed, the yield indicator fluctuates for several reasons in different years. One of them is a different number of fruiting shoots, the variability is from 20% to 70%. The minimum harvest per season is 90 kg / ha.
Frost resistance of Rkatsiteli grapes is at a high level. It tolerates well overwintering on a high trunk without shelter up to -25 ° С. But this variety is more sensitive to drought and does not tolerate the lack of watering.
According to the description, grapes "Rkatsiteli" are susceptible to mildew and oidium lesions. And from the list of pests, one should be wary of a spider mite and a grape leafworm. Positive aspect - the variety is resistant to phylloxera and gray rot.
Separately, mention should be made of the Rkatsiteli "Magaracha" grape variety, which has similar characteristics. This is easily explained by the fact that the Rkatsiteli Magarach grape was eaten by crossing the white Rkatsiteli, the Magarach variety and a line of other varieties of culture. Depending on the parental composition, the “Magarach” grape subspecies are divided according to the ripening period. "Rkatsiteli Magarach" refers to early white wine varieties.
Planting a wine variety
Despite the fact that "Rkatsiteli" grapes are unpretentious, for planting, you should choose a soil of a certain structure. The variety grows well on loam or sandy loam with sufficient moisture. If the site is located in a region with very hot summers, then the "Rkatsiteli" variety is planted on the northern slopes. This will prevent the variety from ripening too quickly.
The growers pay special attention to the possibilities of irrigation, otherwise they will not get a good harvest. The "Rkatsiteli" variety belongs to perennial crops, therefore, the choice of a place for planting must be taken responsibly. The profitability, durability and productivity of the variety depend on the quality of the work performed when laying a vineyard and choosing a site. Mistakes made affect the result even after tens of years. Moreover, they are often impossible to fix.
Before planting the seedlings of "Rkatsiteli", they carry out a breakdown with a marking of the planting holes. At least 2 m are left between the bushes, and the row spacing is made 3-3.5 m.
It is better to choose a cloudy day for planting Rkatsiteli grapes. In this case, young seedlings will be protected from sunlight.
The pits are prepared large, for each seedling it will be necessary to maintain dimensions of 80 cm for each parameter - depth, length and width. You get a cube.
If industrial planting is planned, then this process is performed in a mechanized way.
Drainage is placed at the bottom of the pit, then a layer of fertile soil and fertilizer. When planting, 3-4 buckets of organic matter are laid on the bottom of the pit, 0.5 kg each of nitroammophoska and wood ash. On top of another layer of earth 10 cm thick. The components are mixed, the seedling is placed in the hole and the roots are straightened. Having filled the hole with soil, the top layer is slightly tamped and the plant is watered.
Grape care
When growing the "Rkatsiteli" variety, be sure to follow the location of the arrows. The main shoots of the grapes are directed upwards, so there is a danger of insufficient lighting for the groins. The arrows are positioned horizontally so that the bunches receive enough light. The load is normalized so that no more than 30 fruiting shoots remain on the bush, on which 50-60 eyes are located. During the pruning period, 12 eyes are left on one arrow of Rkatsiteli grapes. If the grower grows the variety in conditions of standard-free fan formation, then the sleeves are made 70 cm long.
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For grape plantings, the following activities are carried out:
- Pruning superficial roots. For this, the soil is raked to a depth of 25 cm and the upper roots are cut.
- The tops are pinched at the end of summer, in the fall (mid-October) the unripe part of the vine is cut off on the bushes of the "Rkatsiteli" variety.
- In areas with frosty winters, young grape seedlings are sheltered. You can only cover dry shoots.
- In the spring, the Rkatsiteli vine is freed from its shelter, dried, and pruned. 2 buds are left on the shoots.
- Vegetative shoots (without flowers) are cut to 1/2 their length each year or carefully broken out.
- Provide adequate watering. One bush of the "Rkatsiteli" variety requires at least 2-3 buckets of water. When the plants grow up, the bushes are abundantly watered 2 times during the summer and at the beginning of autumn. Before the seedlings harden, water the plants as the topsoil dries.
- Grapes are fed in spring with infusion of bird droppings, and at the end of August with infusion or dry powder of wood ash. Adult bushes are fed with ammonium nitrate in the spring. Enough 1 tbsp. l. substances on a bucket of water. Be sure to combine top dressing with watering (3 buckets of water). This will protect the roots from burns.
- The vineyard is regularly loosened and weeded.
Pests and diseases
The main pests that annoy "Rkatsiteli" grapes are the spider mite and the grape leafworm.
Spider mite infestation can be detected with the appearance of yellow leaves, which then dry and die off. To combat the tick acaricides are used - "Kleschevit", "Fitoverm", "Akarin", "Tiovit Jet".The drugs are diluted and used according to the instructions.
To destroy leaf rollers, you will need insecticides - "Aliot", "Decis", "Inta-Vir", "Fufanon-Nova". Spraying is carried out before and after flowering.
Rkatsiteli grapes will have to be saved from powdery mildew. The variety has no strong immunity to this disease. In order to prevent infection, it is necessary to spray the bushes with one of the fungicides - "Topaz", "Tiovit Jet", "Strobi" for prevention purposes. For the prevention of downy mildew, Strobi, Ridomil Gold, Horus are well suited. The treatment is repeated 3 times a week. To prevent grapes from being exposed to gray rot, use "Fitosporin" or "Alirin".
Regular inspection of young plants helps to avoid unnecessary treatments. As soon as the first signs of a problem appear on Rkatsiteli grapes (see photo),
the intervention of a gardener is required. Until this moment, you just need to fulfill the requirements of agricultural technology, and pests will not appear:
- clean the bushes from parts of the old bark;
- to burn this bark outside the vineyard;
- carry out preventive spraying.
The garlic and onion infusion has proven itself well. It is prepared from 3-4 heads of garlic, 200 g of onion husks and 5 liters of water. The mixture is infused for 6 days, then the grapes are sprayed.
The Rkatsiteli grape variety is used for making juices and wines. In one technology, only berries are used, in the other they are processed together with the combs. These drinks are more astringent. Winegrowers appreciate the variety for its unpretentiousness and good return, therefore, if there is space on the site, the famous variety is necessarily planted.
