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Creating a unique design in a country house is the dream of many gardeners. Isn't it great to relax in the shade of the vines placed on the arch? And picking an amber, ripe bunch of grapes glowing in the sun and treating your friends with the fruits of your labor is already a fairy tale. This is not just a fairy tale dream, but a completely feasible reality. You just need to choose the right variety.
If you are thinking about planting grapes, pay attention to Velika grapes. It should be noted that there are few people who would not like the taste and aroma of berries. And the variety has a good harvest. So all that remains is to get acquainted with the description, characteristics and characteristics of cultivation.
Bulgarian new settler
The Velika grape variety comes from Bulgaria. In 1987, breeder Ivan Todorov, based on the parent varieties Alphonse Lavallee and Bolgar, managed to obtain new grapes by crossing. It is distinguished by medium-early ripening, large grapes and excellent taste. In Bulgaria, its fruits can be tasted already at the end of August. In State
The Velika variety was included in the register ten years later.
Features of grapes
Velika grapes are a red table variety, highly valued by both amateur and professional winegrowers.Unfortunately, photos do not always allow us to appreciate a variety without a detailed description.
Description of the bush
The Bulgarian grape variety can be recognized by the large size of all parts of the plant. The bushes have powerful growth, so they need to be formed 3-4 months after planting.
The description of the rapid growth of the Giant grape worries even experienced gardeners. Growth can be controlled by using vigorous rootstocks. The best, as the author of the variety himself believed, are Monticola, Chasny, Berlandieri. In this case, not only the yield increases, but also the size of the crops.
Flowers on the Velika variety are bisexual, so the inflorescences are 100 percent pollinated and there are no peas. The beauty of grapes is that only vines of this variety can be grown on the plot.
Leaves
The foliage of the Velika variety is deeply cut (small compared to the size of the bush), round in shape. The leaf blade is smooth on top and the bottom surface is rough. There are specimens with five or seven lobes.
Description of bunches and grapes
The berries ripen on cone-shaped elongated clusters of medium density. Weight from 600 to 1000 grams. There are also record holders up to 1.5 kg, if technological standards for cultivation and care are followed. The length of the brush is up to 20 cm, and the width is up to 15 cm.
Velika grapes, according to the description of the variety (this can be seen in the photo) and reviews from gardeners, have record sizes.Each grape is up to 39 mm long and up to 25 mm wide, weighing about 15 grams. Many people compare the berries to the size of a matchbox. The elongated oval fruits are most often pointed towards the tip.
At technical maturity, the berries are dark blue with a clearly visible burgundy tint. The fruits are dull because they are covered with natural wax, which protects the grapes from mechanical damage and fungal diseases. Below is a photo of the Velika grape variety; it reflects this description well.
The pulp of Velika grapes is pinkish inside, not too watery, crispy. There are no seeds as such; sometimes rudiments are found.
The skin of the fruit is dense, but not hard (according to consumer reviews, it does not affect the taste), which ensures high stability:
- the berries do not crack;
- do not raisin under unfavorable conditions;
- the grapes do not lose their presentation and are easily transported.
Taste of the Velika variety
As for the taste of the Giant grape variety, the photo is not a help here. It is necessary to rely on feedback from consumers and gardeners. Most of them note that the fruits are richly sweet, the flavor notes have much in common with the parent, the Bolgar variety.
About the Bulgarian Velika selection grapes:
Characteristics of the variety
To better understand the advantages of Velika grapes, only descriptions, reviews from gardeners and photos will not be enough. It is necessary to find out the characteristic features of the variety, its advantages and some disadvantages.
The advantages include:
- High grape yield.As a rule, up to 10 kg of fruit can be obtained from one bush on a private plot. When grown on an industrial scale, from 350 to 400 c/ha. The uniqueness of the Velika variety is that the harvest is harvested not only from fruit buds, but also from replacement buds, although the clusters and grapes are a little smaller.
- Due to the presence of bisexual flowers, the bunch is full, without peas, the berries do not crack.
- The berries are sweet and aromatic. In grapes, sugar is up to 19 g/100 cubic cm, acidity is from 4 to 6 g/l.
- The collected bunches can be stored for a long time in a cool place, which is very important for sellers and buyers.
- Dense berries are easily transported and do not lose their presentation.
- Wasps cannot bite through the thick skin, but grapes have to be hidden under a net or in bags from birds.
Despite these advantages, not all gardeners strive to plant Velika grape bushes on their plots, due to the fact that:
- bushes grow too quickly;
- grapes have average winter hardiness, problems arise at temperatures below -23 degrees, cultivation in the northern regions is undesirable;
- Grapes cannot overcome many diseases due to weak immunity, especially suffering from anthractosis, oidium, alternaria and mildew. There is another problem - the low resistance of the Velika variety to phylloxera (aphids that destroy the root system).
Features of cultivation
Let's talk about difficulties
From the description and characteristics of the Velika grape variety, it is clear that the plant has its own characteristics that complicate the cultivation of this crop on private plots:
- Firstly, fungal diseases. To plant Velika grapes, you need to choose well-ventilated areas.
- Secondly, you need to water with caution, since excess moisture is dangerous for the root system.In addition, fungal diseases can develop in a humid environment.
- Thirdly, it is unlikely that it will be possible to grow a healthy vine and grape harvest without special treatments. Experienced gardeners use the following preparations: Switch, Horus and many other fungicides. Velika grapes quickly get used to the processing agents, so to get the effect, they need to be alternated.
- Fourthly, errors in care or growing Velika grapes in a cold climate lead to changes in the taste and external qualities of the berries. The sugar content of the fruit sharply decreases, and the amount of acid increases. Gardeners often write about this in reviews, noting the taste and small berries as negative properties of the variety. It turns out that the problem should be sought not in the characteristics or description of the hybrid, but in the growing conditions.
Reproduction
Seedlings of the Velika variety are obtained in various ways:
- Grafting onto other varieties. The most commonly used are CO4 and Chasselas. This will help to moderate the rapid growth of the bush a little. Green grape cuttings are inserted into the cleft in the spring. The grafting should be at a height of 40-150 cm.
- Grafting using lignified cuttings is carried out in the above-ground or underground part of the trunk. The cut is made using a sharp (treated) knife, split, and the cutting is inserted. The grafting site must be pressed, lubricated with varnish and tied with twine.
- Good grape seedlings are obtained from root-capable cuttings. But this method is only possible if the plants are not affected by phylloxera. The grapes begin to bear fruit after three years.
Care
There is nothing special about caring for Bulgarian grapes; almost everything is traditional.
You can plant seedlings of the Bulgarian Velika variety in spring (March-May) or autumn.Regardless of the time chosen, everything must be done in accordance with agrotechnical standards.
A hole or trench for grapes is dug on the south or south-east side of the garden.
If you have a slope on your site, there is no better place to choose. The distance to the buildings is at least 5 meters, because the Velika grape bushes are vigorous. The seedlings are planted in a large hole with drainage and fertile soil. Water as needed.
Must be removed during the season weeds, carry out fungicide treatments. As a rule, grapes are sprayed three times (the soil under the bushes is also treated):
- in spring Bordeaux mixture or copper oxychloride or Choris;
- The second time during the formation of buds using Strobi. If you are late with spraying and the grapes have bloomed, spraying the plants is prohibited!
- When the berries become the size of a pea, carry out the third treatment. You can take Bordeaux mixture, copper oxychloride or other copper-containing fungicidal preparations.
In the event of an outbreak of fungal diseases, the number of grape treatments increases. You will have to spray the bushes especially carefully after removing the bunches in preparation for winter. So that plants can winter without diseases and pests.
As for covering the grapevine for the winter, it is not required in the southern regions (according to the description, the plant is heat-loving). If you grow it in more harsh conditions, you will have to put a lot of effort into creating a warm “blanket”.
