Content
Grapes are an ancient culture. Plants have changed a lot over the millennia. Today there are a huge number of varieties and hybrids, differing not only in taste, but also in size and color of the berries. That is why gardeners are faced with a dilemma about which grape variety to choose for their plot.
Description of the variety, characteristic features, reviews from gardeners, as well as photos and videos sent by them help to obtain the necessary information. The article will discuss a plant obtained in Moldova and which has been popular with gardeners for decades. This is the Memory Negrul grape variety.
History of the variety
Sunny Moldova has always been famous for its vineyards and delicious wines. Breeders constantly updated the range of varieties. Grapes in Memory of Negrul, as well as the first description of the variety belongs to the staff of the Moldavian Research Institute of Viticulture and Agriculture.
Back in 1975, the Coarne Neagre variety and the Pierrell hybrid were crossed. The Institute’s employees gave their brainchild the name of the Soviet scientist A. M. Negrul, whom I. Vavilov once called “The King of Grapes.”
The variety was registered only in 2015; it is considered to belong to the Moldavian Republic.
Important Information
Let's start the description of the Memory Negrul grapes with the fact that this is a hybrid form of medium-late ripening. As a rule, 145-155 days pass from flowering to harvest. Although gardeners living in the southern regions note earlier ripening of the bunches in reviews.
The start of the harvest is the first half of September. The grape yield is excellent. When growing the Memory Negrul variety on an industrial scale, from 180 to 200 centners of juicy berries are collected per hectare.
Description of the bushes
The grapes of this variety have a powerful skeleton and are capable of bearing fruit under heavy load on the vine. There are about ¾ of fruiting shoots on it. The survival rate of seedlings is slightly less than 100%.
The ripening rate of Memory Negrul grape shoots is high, approximately 90%. But you need to pay attention to the young vine, because it is fragile and often breaks. All shoots of the first year must be tied to a reliable support.
The grape variety of Moldavian selection is a tall plant with rounded, five-lobed and dissected leaves of light green color. The underside of the leaf blade has clearly visible pubescence.
The grapes bloom abundantly, the berries set well. The thing is that the variety has both male and female flowers. The plant does not need to be artificially pollinated; on the contrary, it itself is an excellent pollinator for other grape varieties. The bunches are always full, with berries of almost the same size, since the grapes of the Memory Negrul variety are not in danger of peas.
Description of bunches and berries
The variety's clusters have a regular cylindrical shape, often with wings. If you look at the photo below, they are visually spectacular and attractive.Bunches of grapes weigh on average 300-700 grams, although the Memory Negrul variety has its own record holders, reaching a weight of about a kilogram. The clusters are up to 20 cm long and up to 12 cm wide.
At biological ripeness, the berries of the variety turn dark purple, almost black. From the outside they appear blue due to a thick coating of pruin.
The shape of the fruits is elongated, ovoid, the tips are slightly pointed, 3 cm long and 2 cm wide. Each berry weighs on average about 9 grams. There are only 2-3 seeds. The skin is dense and crunches when eaten. The taste of the juicy, dense pulp is ordinary, without any special frills, sweetish-sour.
Sugar content in fruits is 16-18 g/100 cm3; acids – 6-8 g/l. Tasters highly appreciated the variety, their score was 9.2 points.
Characteristics
Without characteristics of the Pamyat Negrul grape variety, knowing only the description, it is difficult to make a choice. You need to know the positive aspects as well as the negative aspects.
Advantages
- The yield of the variety is high and stable from year to year.
- The preservation of the bunches is excellent. They can hang on the bush until frost. If you store grape varieties in the basement, then on New Year’s Eve you can enjoy delicious fruits from your garden. Keeping quality in the refrigerator is slightly lower.
- Berries with thick skin are highly transportable and do not lose their presentation even during long-term transportation.
- The use of Memory Negrul grapes is universal.In addition to fresh consumption, the berries make excellent juice, jam, and compotes.
- The variety is represented by self-rooted bushes that can withstand temperatures down to -25 degrees. When grown in harsher conditions, shelter is required.
- The plant is drought-resistant, although timely watering helps to increase the yield and quality of the bunches.
- The shoots ripen almost 100%, and cuttings can be grafted onto the rootstock.
- The Memory Negrul grape variety, unlike other cultivated plants, has high immunity. Rarely suffers from oidium, mildew, gray mold, phylloxera, and grape mite. Although preventive measures should not be neglected. As for pests, wasps, according to gardeners, do not damage the grapes, but you have to protect yourself from birds.
Minuses
As you can see, the Memory Negrul variety has many, and significant, advantages. Although we shouldn’t keep silent about the shortcomings either. According to gardeners, this is:
- The Moldovan grape variety needs shelter if it is grown in regions where in winter the thermometer drops below - 26 degrees.
- In order for the harvest to be high and stable, it is necessary to regulate the load on the vine so that there is no overload.
What do gardeners think about the Memory Negrul variety:
Landing Features
Memory Negrul grapes can be planted in the spring in April-May, or in the fall, until frosts begin.
When choosing a site, you need to take into account the composition of the soil. Salt marshes and soil with a high clay content are not suitable for planting grapes. It is also dangerous to plant the variety on soils where groundwater comes close to the surface.
Landing rules
It is necessary to take into account the rules for planting seedlings or grapevine cuttings:
- The soil for grapes of any variety is prepared in advance; when digging, the soil is removed weeds along with the roots.
- Planting material must be of high quality, healthy: mature shoots and a strong root system.
- Planting holes must be at least 100 cm in diameter and approximately 80 cm deep. Drainage made of fine crushed stone and sand is laid at the bottom.
- Superphosphate and potassium chloride are added to one part of the soil, which is piled up when digging next to the hole. The drainage is filled with this mixture. Humus or compost is added to another part of the soil, and the remaining part of the hole is filled with it. The roots of the grapes should not come into contact with mineral fertilizer to avoid burns.
- The seedling is placed in the center, sprinkled with earth and watered abundantly with water.
- To retain moisture, plantings are mulched.
Since the young shoots of the Memory Negrul grape variety are fragile, they are immediately tied to a wooden peg. Support is necessary to give the future bush the desired direction.
Grape care
According to the description and characteristics of the variety, the Memory Negrul grapes do not cause much trouble, but you need to know the rules of agricultural technology. Care consists of the following activities:
- regular watering, clearing weeds from plantings, loosening;
- mulching the plantation, sheltering for the winter, if the climatic conditions of the region require it;
- bush formation and vine pruning;
- fertilizing;
- preventive measures for growing healthy vines.
And now about some activities for caring for grapes in more detail.
Watering
According to the description and characteristics, the variety of Moldavian selection is drought-resistant. But you need to water the plants in a timely manner.With insufficient watering, you can not only lose the harvest, but also get bunches of poor quality.
You need to water the Negrul Memory grapes as follows:
- in early spring and autumn, moisture-recharging irrigation is carried out after sheltering;
- when the eyes open, the plantings are moistened again;
- subsequent waterings as the soil dries out.
Top dressing
Liquid fertilizing is carried out simultaneously with watering. Grapes need potassium and phosphorus fertilizers. These supplements are necessary:
- for the proper development of the vine;
- formation of fruit buds;
- obtaining a high-quality harvest;
- increasing plant viability.
Mineral fertilizers are applied strictly according to instructions within certain periods.
The Memory Negrul variety also requires fresh manure, which is applied in the fall. Thanks to organic matter, beneficial bacteria settle in the soil, which has a beneficial effect on the development of the vine.
Foliar feeding is also useful for grapes. For this purpose special preparations are used.
Trimming
Pruning is necessary for the plant to form a bush. It is carried out in autumn and spring. In front of the shelter, shoots that have not had time to ripen are cut out. Moreover, heavy pruning is not carried out in the autumn; you need to leave a reserve: it is unknown how the grapes will survive the winter.
Spring pruning frozen or broken shoots are exposed. As a rule, there should be 7-8 buds left on the vine.
Protective measures
As the originators, as well as gardeners in reviews, indicate in the description, the Moldovan grape variety has high immunity to many diseases. But prevention still won't hurt. Gardeners treat bushes with fungicides against diseases. Any drugs are used according to the instructions.
To protect against the invasion of feathered sweet-eaters, grape plantings are covered with a net or the bunches are hidden in gauze bags, as in the photo below.
