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The clusters of mid-early ripening Count of Monte Cristo grapes fascinate with their beauty. The berries are of the same size, tightly packed together, and shimmer in the sun with red-burgundy shades. The beauty of the bunches is compared to the Maradona variety. To grow Count of Monte Cristo grapes on your own plot, you need to know the characteristics of the crop, care requirements and propagation rules.
Characteristics of the variety
Count Monte Cristo belongs to the group of table grape varieties. Based on the color of the berries, the crop is considered red-fruited. However, ripe bunches may take on a brown or burgundy hue. At the initial stage of ripeness, the berries are light red or pink. There is always a white coating on the Count of Monte Cristo fruits.
According to the ripening period, the Count of Monte Cristo grape variety is considered medium-early. Mass ripening of the bunches occurs 130–135 days after the buds awaken. In September, the grapes are ready for harvest.
The clusters grow large, with an average weight of 900 g. With normal load on the bush, the mass of the clusters can reach 1.2 kg. The shape of the berries is round, slightly elongated. The average weight of one fruit is 30 g. The skin of the berry is thin, almost unnoticeable when chewed.
A big advantage of the variety is the ease of propagation by cuttings.The seedlings take root quickly. With proper care, you can get your first brush within 2–3 years.
The frost resistance of the Count of Monte Cristo variety is high. The bushes can withstand temperatures down to -25OC. This is a critical minimum that should not be allowed to reach. In the northern regions, the vine is covered for the winter.
The harvest can hang on the bushes for a long time, but if the berries begin to crack, the bunches are immediately picked. Cracking of fruits occurs due to thin skin, oversaturation with moisture and excessively large size of the fruit. However, even cracked berries retain their taste.
Grapes are considered to have a universal purpose. Ripe berries are so sweet that no added sugar is required during juicing. In very rare cases, grapes can cause an allergic reaction, which makes it possible to use the fruits for preparing dietary dishes.
The table variety is favored by winemakers, but the quality of the drink is affected by weather conditions. All notes of aroma and maximum sugar accumulate in the berries during a favorable sunny summer.
Fighting berry cracking
The table variety is rarely affected by mildew, as well as oidium, but preventive measures should not be abandoned. The bushes are treated with a solution of Bordeaux mixture, colloidal sulfur and other fungicides.
Cracked berries cause more trouble for winegrowers. The problem occurs in rainy summers or with excess watering. Large fruits are torn lengthwise, and the flowing juice attracts insects. Wasps instantly eat the entire crop. In addition to harm from insects, there is a threat of fungal spores entering the cracks.The affected berry begins to rot, gradually infecting nearby whole fruits.
If there are 1-2 bushes of the Count of Monte Cristo variety growing at home, then the bunches with cracked berries are immediately picked for processing. This is done immediately when cracks appear, preventing the fruit from rotting. On large plantations, it is difficult to keep track of all the bunches and partial harvesting of rejected bunches is impossible. When considering the Count of Monte Cristo grapes, description of the variety, photo, it is worth learning several important rules to prevent cracking of the fruit:
- On bushes, they try to trim the upper branching of the roots. They absorb a lot of excess moisture.
- During the rainy season, earthen mounds are made under the grape bushes and covered with film. Most of the water will drain from the mounds.
- At the end of the rain or after watering, a section of soil with a diameter of about 1 m is loosened around the bush. Through the loose soil, oxygen access to the roots is simplified.
- Cracking of berries can occur from excess nutrients. If the problem occurs even in dry summers, then reduce the amount of fertilizing, especially with nitrogen-containing fertilizers.
If you managed to grow bunches of grapes with uncracked berries, the harvested crop will be stored for a long time, can be transported and will not lose its presentation.
You can get a closer look at the Count of Monte Cristo variety in the video:
Planting grapes
Continuing to consider the Count of Monte Cristo grapes, description of the variety, photos, reviews, it is worth paying attention to the cultivation technology. In cold regions, spring planting of seedlings is preferable. The pits are prepared in the fall. If you have not prepared in advance, then the holes can be dug in the spring 1.5 months before planting the grape seedlings.
Holes for grapes
The development of a grape bush depends on the basic nutrition provided when planting the seedling. For these purposes, organic matter, mineral fertilizers are used and a drainage layer is arranged. Grape seedlings are planted in holes. On large plantations, trenches are dug.
Regardless of the shape of the planting site, soil preparation measures depend on its quality:
- Chernozem or clay soil. Drainage must be provided in the pit. A thick layer of any stone is laid at the bottom, and sand is poured on top. When preparing the soil, phosphorus-containing fertilizers are added.
- Sandy loam. Loose soil allows air to pass through well and has good drainage properties. There is no need for stones and sand at the bottom of the pit. When preparing the soil, add a lot of organic matter and nitrogen-containing fertilizers.
- Sandstones. For table grapes, such soil is considered the most favorable, provided that a large amount of fertilizing is applied. For one bush, 30 kg of organic matter is poured into the hole with the addition of 700 g of superphosphate.
A table grape seedling is planted to a depth of 30–50 cm. Due to the arrangement of drainage and fertilizing, a hole is dug about 80 cm deep. Sandstones freeze more strongly in winter, and warm up in summer. On such soil, the hole is deepened by 20 cm, and clay is poured at the bottom instead of a drainage layer. A layer 20 cm thick will prevent rapid seepage of water deep into the ground.
When digging a hole, the fertile topsoil is set aside.Subsequently, the soil is used to backfill table grape seedlings, mixing it with fertilizers. Infertile land is simply leveled on the site.
The pit for a grape seedling consists of the following layers:
- Drainage, if necessary, is installed at the bottom.
- The next layer, 25 cm thick, consists of fertile soil mixed with humus.
- Fertile soil is poured on top 10 cm thick, adding 300 g of superphosphate and potassium. Additionally, add 3 liters of dry wood ash.
- The last layer, 5 cm thick, comes from clean fertile soil.
After adding all the nutrient layers, the depth of the hole will remain about 50 cm. Before planting a table grape seedling, the hole is generously filled three times.
Preparing seedlings before planting
To grow good grapes, you need to choose quality seedlings. You can grow them yourself from cuttings or buy them. In the second case, purchased seedlings are subjected to thorough inspection. If there is mechanical damage to the bark, signs of fungus and other defects, then such material is not worth buying.
Good annual seedlings of the Count of Monte Cristo grape variety have a root system 10 cm long. The height of the above-ground part is at least 20 cm with four developed buds. If a grape seedling is sold already with leaves, then the leaves should be clean without spots of bright green color.
Rules for planting seedlings
Before planting, the ends of the roots of annual table grape seedlings are cut off, shortening them to a length of 10 cm. Only four eyes are left on the upper part, and all the rest are removed.
A seating area is arranged in prepared pits.A dense mound is formed from the soil. The grape seedling is placed with its heel on the tubercle. The root system is carefully straightened along the slopes of the mound. Backfill the grape seedling with loose soil, pressing lightly with your hands. Two buckets of water at room temperature are poured into the hole. After the liquid is absorbed, add soil, drive a peg and tie the above-ground part of the seedling to it.
Green seedlings of the Count of Monte Cristo grape variety are planted together with a clod of earth. The first 10 days provide protection from the sun during the day, and complete shelter from the cold at night. In the fall, all grown stepsons are pruned, leaving one shoot.
The video shows the container method of spring planting grapes:
Reviews
There are still few reviews about the Count of Monte Cristo grapes, since the variety is just beginning to spread widely across all regions.
