Content
Marquette grapes have been cultivated in our country for about 10 years. Description of the variety, photos and reviews indicate its excellent technical qualities. The wines obtained from it have repeatedly taken leading positions in tastings.
Marquette grapes were obtained by American breeders by crossing complex interspecific hybrids from well-known varieties, including the famous Pinot noir. The new product was patented in 2005 and was immediately appreciated in North America.
Characteristics of the variety
The average ripening time of Marquette grapes, combined with its high frost resistance, makes the variety indispensable for cultivation in the northern and northwestern regions of the country. Uncovered vines can successfully overwinter even at 38-degree frosts. However, after the spring buds open, the Marquette grape vine becomes defenseless against the cold and can easily die from even minor frosts. Annual seedlings are most susceptible to them; the older the vineyard, the less afraid it is of cold weather. Freezing rain is especially dangerous for Marquette variety bushes, so in early spring, winegrowers try to protect the shoots from moisture.
Marquette grapes are classified as technical varieties.Its small dense clusters are hung with small dark blue berries with a purple tint and a thin waxy coating. The Marquette variety is different:
- high sugar content - up to 26%;
- acidity is above average, although it is not felt at all in fresh berries;
- high yield - up to 90-100 c/ha;
- resistance to fungal diseases.
Thanks to the vertical growth of grape bushes, there is no need for staking and the illumination improves. Fruitful shoots of the Marquette variety produce up to two clusters weighing up to 100 g. The Marquette grapes performed well in the climatic conditions of the Moscow region.
Landing Features
Marquette grapes are easily propagated using seedlings or cuttings. It can be planted in both spring and autumn. It is important to choose the right site for planting vines. The best place for the Marquette variety is the southern part of the garden with good light. An important factor influencing the choice of site is the depth of groundwater. Therefore, it is advisable to choose areas located in elevated areas. The soil should be loose, with good throughput. Otherwise, you need to dig it up with compost. Grapes grow well on loams or sandstones. The description of the variety recommends planting Marquette grapes using the trench method. The planting technology is simple:
- you need to dig a trench up to half a meter wide and up to 1 m deep;
- cover its bottom with a 20-centimeter layer of broken bricks;
- pour a mixture of fertile soil and sand on top;
- Place 4 half-meter plastic pipes on the sides of the trench for watering and fertilizing, so that their ends are above the ground;
- plant grape bushes, leaving a distance of 1 m between them;
- cover with soil up to the second eye of the seedling;
- water each grape bush generously;
- mulch the soil under plantings;
- to secure the vine, build a trellis along the trench with tensioned wire at a height of about 30 cm;
- stretch two more rows of wire strings every 40 cm.
4
Hardening of grapes
Despite the winter hardiness, in the first years after planting, expert reviews advise gradually accustoming Marquette grapes to cold weather, since young bushes are not yet very resistant to frost. Seedlings need to be hardened off gradually, otherwise they will die very quickly. During the three-year period after planting, Marquette bushes should be winterized as required. To protect against unstable weather, it is better to place the vine on boards and cover it with snow.
In subsequent years, the amount of covering material should be gradually reduced and Marquette grapes should be insulated at a later date. In spring, you need to monitor the damage caused to shoots by frost. This will allow you to adjust the thickness of the shelter for next year. When the grape vine is completely strong, it can no longer be covered.
Removing the top roots
As can be seen from the description of the variety and the photo of Marquette grapes, after 3-4 shoots appear on the seedlings, you need to select the strongest one and remove the rest. From what remains, a long, powerful vine will grow by autumn. For deeper branching of the roots, you need to cut off the upper ones, which are close to the soil surface. Otherwise, they will begin to freeze in winter along with the soil, which will harm the grapes. Roots should be trimmed early in the morning at the beginning and end of summer. To remove the top roots of grapes:
- around the shoot you need to dig a hole about 20 cm deep;
- cut the roots close enough to the trunk with a sharp pruner;
- fill until the twig grows green;
- After the next pruning, you need to leave a hole 10 cm deep.
Trimming
Over a three-year period, caring for Marquette grapes involves timely feeding and watering. However, next you need to deal with pruning and shaping the Marquette grape bushes. Unpruned grape bushes grow very quickly, forming dense thickets. Pruning creates favorable conditions for its development, increases the illumination of the bunches and their aeration.
At the beginning of summer, the grapes are “dry gartered”, with the help of which the growth of the vine is directed. Last year's shoots are tied to the trellis after the end of spring frosts. For the southern regions, the optimal time for the procedure is April, when fresh branches have not yet had time to grow. In the Moscow region, “dry gartering of Marquette grapes is carried out in June.
The next operation is to break off the branches, which is carried out with the buds opening. It consists of:
- in pruning barren shoots growing at the base of the vine;
- removing excess shoots of the Marquette variety appearing from one eye;
- breaking off weak and difficult-to-grow branches.
Around the end of June, shoots need to be pinched. To provide more nutrition to the grape clusters, the shoots on the fruit-bearing vine must be shortened by cutting off their tops. Marquette bushes should be pruned, leaving 5 leaves after the second brush. At the same time, you need to pinch the top of the vine so that it does not stretch too much. You should not remove all fruitless shoots of grapes, as they form a supply of nutrition.
Pinching shoots
All the following operations for the Marquette grape variety are performed only for adult bushes that have reached 3 years of age or more:
- “Green garter” is carried out several times a season, as the shoots grow to the next string on the trellis;
- normalization of grape inflorescences will also provide the fruits with a supply of water and microelements and strengthen their protective properties;
- in August, the branches are minted, that is, their tops are cut off after the fifteenth leaf, after which the growth process slows down and the brushes ripen faster.
Twenty days before harvesting the Marquette variety, the leaves are thinned out. Its essence is to remove old leaves from the bottom of the bushes. The leaves that shade the ripening clusters of berries also break off. Thinning Marquette grape bushes will provide the grapes with better light and aeration.
In August, winegrowers ration the harvest by cutting out small berries. Two clusters, the largest ones, are left on the branches, since in the northern regions climatic conditions do not allow the entire grape harvest to fully ripen.
Watering and fertilizing
Marquette grapes do not require too frequent watering, but it is especially necessary during bud break, before flowering, and after the leaves fall. Simultaneously with watering, you can fertilize Marquette grapes with phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers. It is important to regularly loosen the tree trunk circles, preventing the formation of a thick crust, especially after watering or rain.
When organizing fertilizing of the grapevine, you must remember that its roots can only absorb liquid fertilizer. Therefore, all complex fertilizers must be water-soluble.Nutrition for Marquette grapes is especially necessary during the periods of ovary formation and ripening. This process can be accelerated by treating the grape bushes with an infusion of ash or solutions of potassium-phosphorus salts.
Diseases and pests
Despite the resistance of the Marquette variety to fungal diseases, it is necessary to periodically inspect the grape leaves. Healthy foliage has an even light green color on the underside, without any bloom. If yellowish spots or an ashy coating appear on it, the vineyard should be immediately treated with antifungal drugs. All diseased shoots and leaves must be removed and burned immediately.
The best way to fight disease is prevention. Reviews of Marquette grapes advise treating the bushes with a solution of copper sulfate at the very beginning of the growing season. Winegrowers often use proven folk remedies. Fruiting bushes of the Marquette variety can be sprayed with a solution of baking soda or potassium permanganate. Regular treatment of grapes with infusion of hay dust is useful. You only need to infuse it with rainwater.
Variety of wines
The Marquette variety was developed by gradually crossing 8 different species, thanks to which it has a rich variety of flavors. It produces excellent table wine of different categories:
- semi-sweet drinks;
- dessert wines;
- fortified wines.
Since Marquette grapes are sugary, they must be mixed with less sweet varieties. In a ratio of 1:4, the required indicator for the wort is achieved. Experienced winemakers know that it is important to stop fermentation in time to avoid the appearance of bitterness in the drink. A bitter taste may also appear if the berry pressure technology is violated.
If you follow all the rules, excellent wine from the Marquette variety can be obtained in the North. The climatic conditions of the Moscow region are especially favorable for growing Marquette grapes, as evidenced by numerous reviews. The berries contain a lower percentage of sugar - 24%, due to which the wine is obtained without a bitter aftertaste.
Reviews from winegrowers
Positive assessments from summer residents and winegrowers confirm the merits of Marquette grapes.
Conclusion
The high technical characteristics of Marquette grapes give reason for many experts to talk about its excellent prospects as a leading variety for the northern regions.
