Content
Those who are interested in viticulture try to find the most suitable ones for their plot. best grape varieties. This is easy to do and at the same time difficult. It's all about the huge variety of varieties of this culture. Among them there are varieties bred by professional breeders and amateur breeders. The last group includes Blagovest grapes. It has a number of outstanding characteristics, so it will be of interest to many gardeners. Here will be given a description of the Blagovest grape variety, its photos and reviews of winegrowers about it.
Description
Blagovest is a hybrid form from the Russian lover of this culture V.N. Krainov, the author of many wonderful grapes. The parent forms are the varieties Talisman and Kishmsh radiant. This is a table variety of early (115 days) or mid-early ripening. Ripens approximately in mid-August.
Description of Blagovest grape variety with photo:
- vigorous bush;
- flowers are bisexual;
- the brush is large to very large, its shape is cylindrical or elongated-conical;
- the average weight of a bunch is 0.8-1.2 kg, individual specimens can weigh 2-3 kg;
- the density of the brushes varies - from very dense to loose;
- very large berries, oval or oval-pipillary in shape, weight of 1 berry is 12-15 g;
- the skin is quite dense, but edible, in ripe berries it is milky-green to yellow-green in color, amber with a tan on the side facing the sun;
- the pulp is dense, juicy, fleshy;
- the seeds are small.
The taste of the Blagovest grape variety, as its owners note, is light muscatel, with notes of duchess. It manifests itself most clearly some time after the hands have fully matured. Ripe Blagovest clusters can hang on the bush for a long time, the berries do not crack and remain just as attractive and tasty.
Advantages and disadvantages
The description of the Blagovest grape variety also points to its inherent positive characteristics:
- The vine of this grape ripens well, the cuttings take root well.
- The flowers are well pollinated, so there is practically no pea production.
- Blagovest has increased resistance to diseases such as oidium, gray mold and mildew - 3.5-4.0 points.
- Frost resistance – above average (up to - 22°C), in regions where there is a sharp or prolonged drop in temperatures below this level in winter, grape bushes require shelter.
- There is a good accumulation of sugar in the berries. No wasp damage was observed.
- The bunches grow large and have excellent presentation. They tolerate transportation well and are stored in the refrigerator for a long time, so Blagovest grapes can be grown for sale.
Disadvantages of this hybrid form: the cluster may contain berries that are not fully ripe or slightly different in taste from all the others, and also that the bush does not like overload, which is why it requires rationing.
Peculiarities
Blagovest grapes are different in that the timing of ripening of its clusters may depend on the method of cultivation, for example, on the load that the gardener decided to give to the bush. Therefore, Blagovest can be early, mid-early or even medium-ripening.
In the first 2 years of its life, all inflorescences should be cut off and 1-2 signal brushes should be left.
An adult bush should not be overloaded either. On such a plant, the size of the berries may differ from the typical one by half, the harvest will ripen later, the sweetness of the pulp will decrease, and the nutmeg flavor will be lost. Even one season of overuse can have an adverse effect on the bush, and it will spend the next few years recuperating. The productivity of Blagovest grapes is more than 6 kg per bush, which is considered a good indicator. Fruiting is stable.
Landing
It is permissible to plant young Blagovest bushes both in early spring and in autumn, since it tolerates minor temperature changes well. Seedlings with lignified shoots and developed roots are suitable for planting. Before planting, it is necessary to shorten the roots and shoots somewhat, leaving 2-3 eyes. If the grape seedling is more developed and has 2 or several shoots, then you need to leave the strongest one and cut out the rest. Dip the roots into a mixture of clay and mullein.
Planting holes for Blagovest grapes should be approximately 0.8 m in length, width and depth.At the bottom you need to pour a mixture of soil that was formed during digging, 2-3 buckets of humus, ash and superphosphate (about 0.3 kg). The height of this layer should be half the depth of the pit. Then you need to put the seedling in it and sprinkle it first with the same mixture, and then with ordinary soil on top and compact it. The hole should not be filled completely so that the water does not spread when watering. After planting, the grapes need to be watered and a layer of mulch made of straw, hay, unrotted wood leaves, sawdust placed on the soil, or covered with a dark film or black agrofibre. If you plan to plant several bushes, then they need to be located at least 1.5-2 m from each other.
Near each Blagovest grape bush you need to place a strong support on which it will rest. The simplest trellis design is 2 wooden or metal posts, dug into the sides of the bush and with several rows of wire stretched between them. The vine needs to be tied to them as it forms, giving it the desired direction. You can also use other structures made of metal or wood, or plant grapes near buildings, gazebos, and fences. In such places it will not only grow well, but also serve as a green decoration.
Growing
Young Blagovest bushes need to be watered regularly, especially in the summer heat, until they take root. The approximate frequency of watering is once every 2 weeks, but you need to be guided by the weather. It is better to pour water not at the root, but into several holes that need to be dug at a distance of 0.5 m from the bush or into plastic bottles or pipe sections installed in these places.
Adult Blagovest bushes also need to be watered, especially during dry seasons:
- The first watering should be carried out even before the leaves bloom, if the winter had little snow.
- The second - 2-3 weeks before flowering.
- Carry out the third watering when the berries become the size of a pea.
- Fourth - 3 weeks before the grapes ripen.
- The last watering - moisture recharging - must be done after leaf fall, if the autumn is dry. If it rains, it is not carried out.
Grapes need a lot of moisture, so you need to pour at least 5-7 buckets of water under each bush.
It is necessary to fertilize grapes correctly, since its yield depends on what kind of nutrition the plant receives. Starting from the second season, it is necessary to feed the bushes no more than 3 times during the growing season with an interval of a month. Apply the first fertilizing before flowering. It is recommended to use mineral fertilizers. Apply organic matter once every 2-3 years, 1-1.5 buckets per bush.
Blagovest grapes need to be pruned in the fall, around mid-October, after the leaves have fallen. Spring pruning is less preferable. On each mature strong bush, you need to leave no more than 25-30 young shoots - this will distribute the load most successfully. Cut the shoots into 8-9 eyes. The trimmings can be used to cut cuttings suitable for further propagation. They need to be prepared and stored in the basement, and then planted in the prepared area in the spring. This hybrid form demonstrates good compatibility with rootstocks, so cuttings obtained from bushes can be grafted onto other varieties.
Blagovest should be harvested as it ripens.It is best to cut ripe clusters with pruning shears rather than tearing them off with your hands. This way they will retain their appearance, density, the berries will remain intact and will not wrinkle. Such grapes, if they are not intended to be eaten immediately or sold, will be able to be stored longer and better. The bunches should be stored in a dark and cool place.
For the winter, young Blagovest bushes need to be securely covered. To do this, they need to be tied, placed on boards or slate, previously laid on the ground, low arcs made of thick metal wire or wooden rods installed on top, covered with burlap, film, roofing felt and sprinkled with a little earth. Leave several holes in the covering material for air circulation. In the spring, as soon as the weather is warm enough, the covering material must be removed and the vine tied back to the trellis. You cannot be late with this operation, since the grape buds may die from the high temperature and humidity inside the shelter. Adult bushes of this grape do not need shelter for the winter.
Reviews and videos
Conclusion
The hybrid form of Blagovest grapes can be recommended to those gardeners who love light table varieties of early ripening. It has practically no drawbacks, therefore, subject to all the rules of agricultural technology, any gardener can get a generous harvest of delicious grape berries.
