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Thanks to the efforts of breeders, grapes today are grown not only in the southern regions, but also in temperate latitudes. There are many frost-resistant varieties, among which the Rumba grape has become very popular.
This table grape variety, bred by an amateur gardener by crossing two others, has excellent characteristics:
- beautiful appearance;
- excellent taste;
- simple rules of care.
Description of the variety
Large oval grapes of the Rumba variety of amber-pink color, collected in large cylindrical clusters, attract with their beautiful appearance and subtle aroma of muscat. The weight of each berry can reach 9-10 g. The thick skin protects them from hornets, but it is not felt at all when eaten. The juicy, fleshy berries of the Rumba variety are characterized by:
- high sugar content – up to 24%;
- high content of vitamins B and C;
- the presence of trace elements and organic acids.
The enzymes contained in the berries of the Rumba grape take part in the processes of hematopoiesis, due to which it is often recommended for various diseases. The weight of bunches of the Rumba variety, on average, is about 800 g, but it can be more. Each brush contains up to 100 grapes.Rumba grapes tolerate transportation well and retain excellent presentation.
Rumba grapes produce large, strong bushes with long, up to 5-6 m, annual shoots, which already begin to bear fruit in the second or third year. The Rumba variety is characterized by early ripening - the grape harvest begins in early August. But even if the bunches are collected later, they will not lose their taste and presentation - by watching the video, you can get acquainted with the description of the Rumba grapes:
The following characteristics of the Rumba variety are also attractive to gardeners:
- consistently high yields every season;
- good frost resistance - the variety can withstand 20-degree frosts;
- resistance to diseases and pests;
- rapid survival of cuttings;
- unpretentiousness in caring for grapes.
Landing Features
Rumba grape seedlings are usually planted in spring. There are also options for autumn planting, but then you need to watch out for night frosts. If the temperature drops below 0 degrees, the bushes may freeze. The Rumba variety is undemanding to the soil; the main thing is to organize proper care. However, growing grape bushes require a strong root system, so they need to be provided with enough space. To do this, you need to leave a distance of 3 m between the grape seedlings. Otherwise:
- neighboring bushes will intertwine with long shoots, injuring the bunches and berries;
- the root system of the grapes will remain weak, which will cause a decrease in yield;
- lack of sunlight due to thickening of the bushes will lead to crushing of the berries.
Well preparation
Features of preparing holes for planting Rumba grapes are as follows:
- to plant seedlings, you need to dig spacious holes with a diameter and depth of 1 m;
- in this case, the upper, more fertile layer of soil, approximately 0.5 m, should be laid out separately from the second, deeper one;
- if the groundwater lies too high, lay drainage made of fine crushed stone at the bottom of the hole;
- A mixture of humus and the top layer of soil, set aside, is poured over the drainage.
Thus, the soil layers are swapped, placing fattier, nutrient-rich soil under the root system of the grapes. The lower layer, which contains much less organic and mineral salts, is used to fix the grape stem.
Rules for planting Rumba grapes
To plant this variety, you need to select seedlings that have well-developed roots and young shoots about 20 cm long. Each of them should have no more than 4 buds.
Several recommendations will help you plant Rumba grape seedlings correctly:
- one day before planting, the roots of the seedlings are slightly trimmed and placed in a nutrient solution;
- the root system of the seedling is carefully placed in the hole and covered with earth, compacting layer by layer;
- the hole is not completely filled, leaving a small depression of a few centimeters around it;
- 2-3 buckets of settled water are poured into the recess;
- loosen the soil around the bushes after watering to facilitate the availability of oxygen for the roots, and then mulch it;
- the vines are tied to vertical supports to guide them.
Grape care
Description of the Rumba grape variety, photos and reviews indicate the simplicity of the agrotechnical techniques necessary for its cultivation.
However, these activities must be regular and timely:
Watering
Rumba grapes need to be watered regularly throughout the season from April to October. The first watering of the bushes is carried out immediately after planting. After 2-3 weeks, the grapes are pruned, after which the seedlings are watered again. It is necessary to monitor the regularity of watering, but the soil should not be allowed to become waterlogged - this can lead to fungal infections or provoking rotting processes in the root system of the grapes.
During the growing season, it is necessary to provide young shoots of Rumba grapes with optimal conditions for development, which is why more water is required. You should stop watering the bushes during flowering, as excess water can cause flowers to fall off and reduce the yield of the Rumba variety.
When organizing watering, you should adhere to some recommendations:
- water should not get on the green parts of the plant; the soil around the bushes needs to be moistened;
- the water temperature should be comfortable enough for the vine;
- before watering, the water should stand for some time;
- You especially need to beware of high humidity during the ripening of grapes, as cracks may form on their surface.
Feeding
The Rumba grape variety does not require frequent feeding - it is enough to apply humus or bird droppings as organic fertilizer every three years. To do this, small holes are prepared around the Rumba grape bushes. Of the mineral compounds, nitrogen salts are effective after wintering grapes. Fertilizing with potassium and phosphorus fertilizers should be carried out before the grapes bloom and before they are covered for the winter.
The Rumba grape variety, as its description shows, is resistant to pests and fungal infections. One of the most common diseases is mildew. It attacks grape leaves, causing them to fall off. Characteristic signs of the disease are the formation of white plaque and yellow spots on the leaves. If treatment is not taken, the disease will affect the entire bush. Having lost the leaf cover that provides the grape vine with nutrition and oxygen, it will die. Copper-containing preparations are most effective in combating fungus. However, you should not treat Rumba bushes during the ripening period.
Another dangerous pest is itching. It can hide under the bark and reveals itself as a tiny white cobweb covering the inside of the grape leaf. The affected leaves gradually swell into tubercles and wither. At the first signs of the disease, the leaf blades need to be treated to prevent further spread of the disease.
To protect Rumba grapes from these diseases, you need to periodically carry out preventive work:
- do not allow the shoots to become too thick;
- timely clear tree trunk areas from weed;
- free the trunks from old bark;
- Regularly spray Rumba bushes with disinfectants.
Typically, gardeners spray grape bushes with phosphorus-containing fungicides before and at the end of flowering.
Mulching bushes
By mulching the soil under grape bushes, moisture can be retained for a longer time. An additional benefit of mulch is that soil microorganisms break down small particles, providing the vine with useful substances.To mulch Rumba grapes, you can use available materials such as:
- herbal compost;
- a layer of fallen leaves;
- straw;
- small twigs;
- silage and cake from a juicer.
Sometimes special mulch paper is used for mulching, which comes with instructions for proper use. The thickness of the mulch layer should be at least 5 cm.
Pruning Rumba grapes
During the summer, many young shoots form on the grape bushes, creating additional stress for the vine. In order to have enough nutrition to form the berries and not crush them, you need to regulate the number of shoots. The excess must be removed when pruning.
The optimal number of shoots on young bushes of the Rumba variety after pruning is no more than 20 clusters, and on adults - up to 40. There should be 6-8 eyes on the remaining shoots. Autumn pruning of grapes Rumba is performed before sheltering for the winter, around the end of October.
Shelter before wintering
In the southern regions, vineyards are not covered for the winter, but for temperate latitudes this procedure is mandatory. There are several ways to cover a vine. But in any case, it is bent to the ground and secured with staples or wooden horns, having previously laid plywood. After this, the vine must be treated with a solution of copper sulfate and sprinkled with wood ash, which has an antifungal effect.
You can sprinkle the vine on top with earth or pre-install arched rods over the shelter, over which you should stretch a plastic film.The sides of the film are sprinkled with earth, and the ends remain open to provide oxygen access to the vines.
In spring, Rumba grapes should be opened gradually, as recurrent frosts are possible. You can open the film slightly during the day and close it again at night. The vine can be fully opened after the end of the night frosts.
Reviews
Numerous reviews of Rumba grapes testify to the unpretentiousness of the variety, its high yield and unusually sweet berries.
Conclusion
Wonderful taste, beautiful appearance, adaptability to different climatic conditions and simple rules of agricultural technology make Rumba grapes one of the most attractive for growing on your own plot.
