Content
The Muscat Hamburg grape is a fairly old and well-known variety all over the world from the universal category. It is not without significant drawbacks, but many amateur gardeners and professional farmers are not going to give it up. In their opinion, all the disadvantages and inconveniences during cultivation are compensated by the amazing taste.
History of appearance
The Muscat Hamburg grape variety was first mentioned in 1858. It is characterized as a table variety, created in England for year-round cultivation in greenhouses and greenhouses. One of the “parents” is definitely the white grape Muscat of Alexandria; opinions differ regarding the second - they point to the varieties Hamburg or Frankenthal.
For more than 150 years, the Muscat of Hamburg grape has spread throughout the world. Almost every country has its own “authentic” name for it:
- Black Hamburg or Black Muscat in England;
- Golgen Hamburg (Golden Hamburg) in the USA;
- Muscat de Hambourg (Muscat de Hamburg) in France;
- Salamanna Rossa (Salamanna Rossa) in Greece;
- Moscatel Negro (Moscatel Negro) in Argentina, Spain;
- Fekete Muskotaly (Fekete Mushkotay) in Hungary.
In the first half of the 20th century, it was one of the most popular varieties cultivated by large agro-industrial complexes. He “reached” the USSR in 1949. Ten years later it received “official approval.” The variety is recognized as the most suitable for cultivation in the North Caucasus.
Hamburg Muscat is an atypical member of the Muscat “family” (most of them have light skin)
Description of the Muscat Hamburg grape variety
Muscat Hamburg, thanks to the light (almost white) pulp of the berries, is easily “identifiable” among other varieties of muscat grapes. But externally, both the vines and the berries are a typical nutmeg for a specialist.
Bunches
Bunches of Muscat Hamburg grapes weigh 160-270 g, reach 20 cm in length and 16-18 cm in width. Most of them are loose, close to a regular cone in shape. However, there are also “sprawling”, branched, but at the same time quite dense brushes.
The “peduncle” of the bunches is relatively short, up to 5 cm long
Berries
The berries of Hamburg Muscat are typical for muscat grapes in weight (3-4 g) and shape (from round to wide oval). The skin is dense, even thick, blue-violet with a reddish tint that appears in the sun. It is covered with a continuous layer of waxy, bluish-blue “patina.” The dense skin provides Muscat of Hamburg berries with very good shelf life and transportability for grapes.
There are few seeds, 1-2 in each berry.The pulp is very juicy, pale green in color, with a characteristic aftertaste. The juice is colorless.
Berries can be stored for up to 3-3.5 months without loss of consumer properties
Vine
The vines of Muscat of Hamburg are medium-sized (the annual growth is 3-4 m). They rarely grow very tall. To do this, this grape variety needs very fertile soil. The bark on young shoots is pinkish-beige, gradually changing color to red-brown. The branches are densely leafy.
Characteristics of Muscat Hamburg grapes
Hamburg Muscat is considered a versatile grape. This category includes varieties that cannot be unambiguously classified as either table or industrial.
Ripening period
According to the ripening period in Russia, Hamburg Muscat is a medium-late grape. The ripening process of berries lasts for 145-150 days. In Crimea, harvesting begins in the second half of October. In most other countries it is characterized as mid-season.
Productivity
The yield of Muscat Hamburg grapes is high, but “unsustainable”, with seasons of “rest”. In good years, when grown on an industrial scale, up to 120 centners of berries are harvested per hectare.
There is no clear periodicity of the “rest” seasons for the Muscat of Hamburg grape.
Taste qualities
The Russian State Register describes the taste of Muscat Hamburg grapes as “excellent.” Indeed, this is one of the main advantages of the variety. The berries also have a pronounced “nutmeg” aroma and the same aftertaste.
Growing regions
In Russia, only the North Caucasus and Crimea are suitable for growing Muscat of Hamburg. But it is cultivated by the vast majority of countries traditionally involved in winemaking. This applies to Western (Italy, France), Central (Hungary, Romania), Eastern (Moldova) Europe, and America (USA, Argentina). Less popular, but also found, is Muscat of Hamburg on the Mediterranean coast (Greece, Tunisia).
Hamburger Muscat is widespread throughout the world.
Frost resistance
Cold resistance of Hamburg Muscat is weak. The vine, leaf and flower buds are often damaged even at low subzero temperatures (although its “official” frost resistance is down to -18 ° C).
Drought resistance
The vine tolerates short-term drought well. Overmoistening is much more dangerous for it than short-term moisture deficiency. But if the drought drags on, the Muscat of Hamburg grapes begin to dry out and crumble.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Low immunity is one of the most significant disadvantages of the Muscat Hamburg grape. It suffers greatly from both pathogenic fungi and pests. The variety is susceptible to almost all the most dangerous diseases typical of the crop - oidium, mildew, bacterial canker, gray rot. The vines are often attacked by phylloxera (grape aphid). The only pest that is not particularly interested in Muscat of Hamburg grapes is the grape budworm.
Methods of application
The versatility of the Muscat Hamburg grape means that the berries can be eaten fresh and used as “raw materials” for winemaking. Homemade preparations from it (compotes, preserves, jams, marmalade) have a very beautiful color. After heat treatment, the berries retain their characteristic “nutmeg” taste and aroma.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Muscat of Hamburg grape has remained “competitive” for more than 150 years thanks to its significant advantages:
- versatility of berries;
- excellent taste of grapes fresh and after “processing”;
- high juiciness and sugar content of the pulp;
- good yield in “favorable” seasons;
- keeping quality and transportability sufficient for cultivation on an industrial scale.
Muscat Hamburg grapes are in demand by both amateur gardeners and professional farmers
There are also serious objective shortcomings:
- susceptibility to fungal and bacterial diseases, pest attacks;
- relatively low cold resistance;
- increased fragility of vines;
- deterioration in the quality of the crop under unfavorable weather conditions during the season (falling flowers, peas and shedding of berries);
- demands on agricultural technology.
Landing Features
Since Hamburg Muscat is thermophilic, an open area of the slope of a gentle hill facing south or southwest, located closer to its top, would be an ideal place for planting it. The substrate must be loose, but quite fertile (light sandy loam, loam). In sandy soils, vines also take root and bear fruit, but do not reach their full potential.
When planting several seedlings at the same time, leave at least 1.5 m between them, and at least 2.5 m between rows in the vineyard. You need to provide space for a trellis in advance. As the vines grow, it is recommended to limit the height of the trunk to 1.2-1.3 m.
The best time for planting Muscat Hamburg grapes is the second half of October or early November. It takes about a month for seedlings to adapt to new living conditions. But in the time remaining before the first frost, they will not have time to start growing (if this happens, the shoots that have begun to form will definitely freeze in the winter).
The main requirement for the landing site is good lighting
The approximate depth and diameter of the planting hole is 70-80 cm. A drainage layer (8-10 cm) is required at the bottom. After it is dug, fertile turf mixed with humus (25-30 l), complex “autumn” fertilizer without nitrogen content (280-300 g) and sifted wood ash (3 l) is immediately poured onto the bottom. The soil is spilled with water and raked into a mound. Then the pit should “stand” for 2-3 weeks.
Before planting, the roots of Muscat Hamburg grape seedlings are immersed in water or a biostimulant solution for at least 10-12 hours (preferably for a day). Existing shoots are shortened to 3-4 “eyes”. The roots are trimmed to 15-20 cm.
The planting itself follows a standard algorithm for seedlings of fruit trees and berry bushes. The only caveat is that after filling about half of the planting hole, the soil stops compacting.
Rules of care
Abundant fruiting of Muscat Hamburg grapes is impossible without proper annual pruning. The vines are shortened quite strongly - up to 4-6 “eyes”.Formative pruning is carried out at the end of the active growing season. In addition, Muscat of Hamburg grapes need sanitary pruning (twice a year, in spring and autumn). In summer, only pinching and removal of parts of the plant affected by diseases and pests is permissible.
The total “load” on an adult bush with proper pruning is no more than 18-20 “eyes”
Amateur gardeners practice two different watering schemes:
- frequent (suitable for beginners, moisten the soil twice a month, soaking it about 50 cm deep);
- rare (intervals are determined taking into account many factors - timing of flowering, grape ripening, age of vines, the gardener’s experience plays a decisive role here).
Drip irrigation is the best method for grapes
Muscat Hamburg grapes are fed 4-5 times per season:
- in mid-April, just before emerging from hibernation;
- about two weeks before flowering;
- 1.5-2 weeks after it, at the time of the appearance of fruit ovaries;
- at the end of August, approximately 1.5 months before harvest;
- after another 3-4 weeks (as needed).
Muscat of Hamburg responds well to both natural organic matter and folk remedies, as well as complex store-bought fertilizers. Therefore, they can be alternated, given that the vines need nitrogen only at the beginning of the growing season.
For the winter, Hamburg Muscat needs shelter. All plant and other debris is removed from the beds, covered with a layer of mulch 10-12 cm thick. The vines removed from the trellis and tied, wrapped in 2-3 layers of burlap or covering material, are placed on this “cushion”.
It is advisable to cover the top of the vine with straw or fallen leaves.
To protect against fungal diseases, two preventive treatments with fungicides are required - at the beginning and at the end of the active growing season. Both the vines themselves and the soil under them are sprayed. During the season they are repeated monthly. If weather is favorable for the development of pathogenic microflora, the interval is reduced to two weeks.
The Muscat of Hamburg grape vines are regularly inspected. If suspicious symptoms are detected, even slightly damaged parts of the plant are immediately removed. The same fungicides are used to combat the disease.
Preparations containing copper are harmful to pathogenic fungi
Conclusion
The Muscat Hamburg grape is a variety whose advantages and disadvantages have long been well known to amateur gardeners and professional farmers. It does not lose popularity and withstands the “competition” of new breeding products mainly due to its outstanding taste. A serious disadvantage is susceptibility to disease. To avoid infection, plantings require regular preventive maintenance and competent agricultural technology.
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