Academician grape variety: photo and description

People have been cultivating grapes since time immemorial. The climate on earth changed, and the grapes changed along with it. With the development of genetics, amazing opportunities have opened up to create varieties and hybrids with predetermined characteristics. New items appear every year. One of them is Academician grapes; a description of this variety will be given below.

Description and characteristics:

The parents of the Academician variety, which also has other names - Academician Avidzba and Pamyati Dzheneeva, are hybrid forms: Gift to Zaporozhye and Richelieu. This table grape variety is the result of selection by employees of the Magarach Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking, which is located in Crimea. The variety was created quite recently and is not yet widespread due to the small amount of planting material. It can only be purchased directly from the institute and in some private nurseries. But the reviews from those who were lucky enough to plant it and try it are simply enthusiastic. The Akademik grape variety was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements in 2014 and is recommended for cultivation in the North Caucasus region, but with high-quality shelter it can grow further north.

Varietal features:

• the Akademik grape variety has an early ripening period, the first berries can be tasted after 115 days;
• the sum of active temperatures for its ripening is 2100 degrees, which allows it to be grown not only in the south, but also in central Russia;
• The frost resistance of the variety is the same as that of its parents - from -23 to -25 degrees, it allows the Akademik grape to winter under the snow even in central Russia if there is good shelter;
• the Akademik variety has great growth vigor;
• its leaves are medium or large, strongly dissected and consist of 5 lobes;
• the front side of the leaf is smooth, there is slight pubescence on the reverse side;
• The flowers of the Akademik grape variety are bisexual, therefore, it does not need a pollinator.

Characteristics of berries:

• berries of the Akademik variety are collected in large clusters that have a cylindrical-conical shape;
  
• their weight is from 1.5 to 1.8 kg;
• the bunch of Akademik grapes has an average density, sometimes it is loose;
• the berry is large, reaching a size of 33 mm in length and 20 mm in width;
• the shape of the berry is elongated-oval, with a blunt tip;
• The fruit color of the Akademik grape variety is dark blue with a noticeable pruin coating. The prune, i.e., waxy coating helps the berries protect themselves from pathogens and atmospheric phenomena. Berries with a pronounced pruin coating are better transported and stored.
• the skin is dense, which makes transporting the berries successful;
• Academician grapes are table grapes, this is due to the highest quality of the berries - the taste of the crispy pulp is rated 9.8 points out of 10. It is distinguished by a muscat flavor with notes of cherry and an original chocolate aftertaste. Sugar accumulation is high.

At the moment, this grape variety is being tested, but it is already clear that its cultivation on an industrial scale is profitable. It will also be useful in private gardens - the highest quality of the berries will not leave anyone indifferent. To complete the description and characteristics, it must be said that the resistance to the main diseases: oidium and mildew in the Akademik grape variety is average. Protective preventive treatments will be required.

How to grow

According to its biological characteristics, the grapes are intended for cultivation in subtropical and temperate climates. In all other regions, its survival and harvest depend only on the efforts and skills of the winegrower. And the main thing in this is to follow the correct agricultural techniques, taking into account all the requirements of the plant.

Selecting a location

In the south, grapes grow in high temperatures, sometimes above 40 degrees, while the optimal temperature for them is considered to be 28-30 degrees. Under these conditions, shading for grapes is highly desirable. In regions located to the north, for Akademik grapes, you need to choose places that are illuminated by the sun all day long.

It is important that the vine is protected from prevailing winds. Experienced winegrowers take this into account when choosing a location for a plant:

• grapes are planted on the south side of buildings;
• Tall trees or hedges are planted on the northern side of the plantings;
• build fences or make screens from reeds and other available materials.

What is it for? Under such conditions, the air and soil temperatures where the bush grows will be higher.

What is SAT

In order for the grapes to gain the required amount of sugar and the berries to fully ripen, a certain amount of sugar is required. sum of active temperatures. The grapes begin their growing season when the soil temperature in the root zone is at least 10 degrees. An air temperature above plus 10 degrees is considered active. If we sum up all the values ​​of average daily temperatures not lower than this indicator, starting from the growing season until the berries fully ripen, we will obtain the required sum of active temperatures. Each variety has its own. The description of the Akademik grape variety indicates the sum of active temperatures of 2100 degrees. This is the average value at the latitude of the city of Moscow. But summer is not always warm; in some years this grape variety may not fully show what it is capable of.

In order to increase SAT, winegrowers use various tricks:

• plant grapes from the south or southwest of buildings to retain heat longer;
• protect from cold winds that blow from the north;
• cover the ground around the trunk with dark material - manure or black spunbond; dark-colored stones are also suitable;
• use reflective screens made of foil or white polyethylene film;
• install a translucent canopy over the bush in the shape of the letter “g”;
• grapes are planted in a greenhouse.

Landing

The comfortable existence of the Akademik grape variety largely depends on which planting method is chosen. It can be planted both in spring and autumn. It is better to choose a seedling in a container for this, then its survival rate will be one hundred percent if it is planted correctly.

Landing algorithm:

• We dig a hole, the diameter of which should correspond to that of the root system of the Akademik grape variety,
• at the same time, we put the top fertile layer of soil aside;
• mix it with humus and complete mineral fertilizer;
• We arrange drainage from gravel and small twigs at the bottom of the pit;
• we strengthen a pipe made of asbestos cement or plastic, intended for applying liquid fertilizers;
• We place the seedling in the hole, cover it with fertile soil mixture and water it;
• We cut off the shoots of the grapes, leaving only 2 buds. To prevent the cut from drying out, it is treated with melted paraffin.
  
• mulch the hole with humus or compost.

When planting several Akademik grape bushes, a distance of 1.5 m or more must be left between them so that each vine is given a sufficient feeding area. If a full-fledged vineyard is being established, the rows should be oriented from south to north, so they are better illuminated by the sun.

Vineyard care

Newly planted bushes of the Academician grape need the tireless care of the winegrower; mature bushes of this grape variety also cannot be left without attention.

Watering

Academician grapes are table varieties, so they need to be watered regularly, unlike technical varieties.

• The first watering is carried out after the bushes are finally opened and the vines are tied to the trellis. For an adult bush, you need up to 4 buckets of warm water, to which add a half-liter jar of wood ash. It is very good if a pipe is installed next to the bush for applying fertilizers and watering, then all the water will go directly to the heel roots.
  
• The next watering will be required for the vine a week before flowering. During flowering, the grapes should not be watered - because of this, the flowers may fall off, the berries will never grow to the desired size - that is, peas will be observed.
• Another watering is carried out at the end of flowering.
  
• As soon as the berries begin to color, the bushes cannot be watered, otherwise the grapes simply will not gain the required amount of sugar.
• The last watering is moisture recharging; it is carried out a week before the bushes are finally covered for the winter.

Feeding

Academician grapes respond well to both root and foliar feeding. How to feed:

• the first feeding is carried out immediately after removing the winter shelter; for each bush you will need 20 g of superphosphate, 10 g of ammonium nitrate and 5 g of potassium salt, all this is dissolved in 10 liters of water;
• 2 weeks before flowering, repeat feeding;
• before the grapes begin to ripen, they need to be fertilized with superphosphate and potassium salt;
  
• After the harvest is harvested, potassium fertilizers are applied - they increase the winter hardiness of the bushes.

Every three years in the autumn, the vineyard is fertilized with manure, adding ash, superphosphate and ammonium sulfate at the same time. Fertilizers are applied in dry form before digging. If the soil is sandy loam, digging needs to be done more often, and on sand - every year.

The first foliar feeding with a solution of complex mineral fertilizer with microelements is carried out before flowering. The second - when the bushes fade, the third - during the ripening period of the berries. The last two fertilizers should not contain nitrogen.

Formation

Without formation, we will get tall vines, loaded with stepsons, but with a small number of bunches on the bush. Since our task is the opposite, we will form the Academician grape bush according to all the rules.If there are no frosty winters in the area where you live, you can form a bush on a high trunk. The Akademik grape variety is not highly frost-resistant, so in the northern regions it is cultivated without a standard. All pruning is carried out only in the fall; in the spring it can be done before the sap begins to flow.

• spring pruning is revision, it is necessary to remove weak shoots and form a sleeve standard, on which vines will then grow and bear fruit;
• in June, the plant is finally formed - about 5 leaves are left above each brush, the tip of the shoot is pinched;
• regulate the load on the bush - depending on the strength of growth, leave one or two brushes on the shoot, at this time the berries reach the size of peas, remove excess brushes;
  
• they carry out chasing - on each shoot they leave from 13 to 15 leaves, the top is pinched;
• remove excess shoots all summer;
• about 20 days before harvesting, thin out the bushes, removing leaves on their lower part, and those that interfere with the ripening of the bunches, covering them from the sun;
• Autumn pruning is carried out after leaf fall at temperatures close to zero degrees, all immature shoots, weak ones are removed, all unflying leaves are removed.
  

Preparing for winter

The Akademik grape variety has average frost resistance, so in most regions it needs shelter for the winter. The vines need to be removed from the trellis, carefully tied into bunches, and covered with earth or peat. You can arrange a dry-air shelter: wrap the bunches of vines with several layers of spandbond, and then place low arches and cover them with film.Small gaps should be left in the bottom for ventilation.

More details about the unusual method of covering grapes are described in the video:

Reviews

Conclusion

A new worthy grape variety, Academician, will please not only amateur winegrowers; it can be used for industrial breeding.

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