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It is no secret that recently sultana grape varieties have become increasingly popular among those who want to grow this berry. And this is understandable: such berries are more pleasant to eat, and they are not scary to give to children, even the smallest ones.
What is sultana
Quite a lot of raisin varieties of the sunberry have been bred. Strictly speaking, there are literally only a few of those that have no seeds at all. Even the best ones have rudiments of seeds, but they are so small and soft that you can hardly feel them when eating.
All raisins are divided into four categories:
- The first and second ones either have no rudiments or they are barely formed. Their berries are small in size, weighing no more than 4 grams.
- In the third and fourth categories, rudiments are present and can be felt when eating. Their berries are much larger and can weigh up to 9 g.
Rusbol grapes, which are otherwise called Mirage raisins or Soviet-Bulgarian white raisins, belong to the fourth class of seedlessness. This means that there are rudiments in the berry. If you study consumer reviews, you will find out that it is currently one of the most popular.
For those who have not yet planted the sultana grape variety Rusbol, we will compile its detailed description and characteristics.
Rusbol grape variety in the photo.
Description and characteristics
Rusbol grapes were created at the All-Russian Research Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking named after Potapenko together with colleagues from Bulgaria, as its name suggests. The parents were: Super early seedless and Villars blanc.
It is not included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements, but, according to reviews from winegrowers, it is worthy of growing.
Varietal features
Rusbol grapes have a valuable property for growing in cool regions - early ripening: the first berries are ready for picking after 115 days; cool summers can delay this point to 125 days.
- Bushes on their own roots first grow medium-sized and then become tall.
- The vine ripening is early and very good.
- Since the buds located at the base of the shoot are highly fruitful, almost each of them produces a fruitful shoot, which can be trimmed, leaving 2-3 buds, but most often pruning is carried out to 6-8 buds.
- Flowers appear early, forming a ridge of full volume. They have a strong aroma that attracts insects, so Rusbol is an excellent pollinator for all other grape bushes growing nearby.
- Rusbol is prone to harvest overload. Rationing of bunches on shoots is mandatory.If the inflorescence is large, the end can be removed; the berries will be larger and in good presentation. If the harvest is too high, the ripening of annual growths is delayed.
- His cuttings take root well.
- When planted in the ground, fruiting is observed already in the second or third year.
- Rusbol is compatible with almost all rootstocks, so any can be used for grafting, but the best result is if you take a tall rootstock.
- It is important to break off some of the shoots when their length is from 5 to 10 cm, choosing the weakest ones, the rest will grow better.
- The frost resistance of Rusbol grapes is high - up to -25 degrees, which means that the variety can winter without shelter, provided that the snow cover is at least 50 cm.
- For him, it is not as scary for part of the buds to freeze out as for other varieties. If suddenly all the buds on annual growths freeze, the perennial wood will produce new ones, and the high fruitfulness will not allow you to be left without a harvest. As a rule, Rusbol is covered only in the first three years of life, during which time it accumulates perennial wood. The winter hardiness of buds on perennial wood exceeds that on annual shoots by 6-8 degrees.
- Resistance to major grape diseases is high.
- Rusbol in the south can be grown in a high-standard culture, in the north it is formed in a low standard, leaving sleeves of medium length. It also produces a good harvest when shaped with short sleeves.
- The bunches are large in size, on average from 400 to 600 g, but with good care they can weigh a kilogram or more.
- They have a conical shape, their looseness is average.
Rusbol berries
For sultana grapes, they are very large in size: 16 mm wide, 18 mm long.
- The color of the berries is white, they contain rudiments.
- The taste is simple and harmonious.
- Sugar accumulation is high - up to 21%, acid content up to 7 g/l.
- Rusbol can be used as a table grape; it is also well suited for processing into raisins.
The originators of the Rusbol variety recommended it for cultivation as a non-cover crop for the Moscow region and more northern regions.
There is nothing in the world that cannot be improved. This is exactly what the employees of the Potapenko Institute did and crossed the Rusbol grapes with two other varieties: Vostorg and Villars blanc. The result of selection was the improved Rusbol. Let's compose its description and give a full description. Photo of improved Rusbol grape variety.
What is good about Rusbol improved?
Having taken all the best from his parents, he acquired new undoubted advantages.
- The ripening period has become earlier - from 105 to 115 days.
- The improved Rusbola bush has great growth power.
- Annual growths ripen well and cuttings take root.
- Improved Rusbol is compatible with almost all rootstocks.
- This grape variety can bear berries already in the second year after planting.
- The fruitfulness of the buds of Rusbol improved is high - from 75 to 95%.
- Just like his parent, he can be overloaded with the harvest, and therefore requires rationing.
- Its frost resistance is no worse than that of the original forms - up to -25 degrees.
- Improved Rusbol grape variety responds well to care.
- It is resistant to major diseases affecting grape crops.
- The clusters of improved Rusbol have become larger.Their average weight is from 700 to 900 g, and with good care, one bunch can produce more than one and a half kilograms of berries.
- The berries themselves have become larger: their length is 20 mm and their width is 16 mm.
- They are round or oval, sometimes similar to an egg.
- The berries may contain rudiments, since the variety belongs to the third - fourth class of seedlessness.
- The color of Rusbol's improved berries is white; where the sun is hotter, the berries have a brown tan.
- The pulp of this grape variety is dense and has a harmonious taste. Sugar accumulation is good.
Rusbol nutmeg – special sultana
There is another grape variety based on Rusbol. This is Rusbol nutmeg. Its authors are the same, its parents are: Bulgaria Sustainable and Rusbol. The description and characteristics will reveal all the possibilities of the Muscat Rusbol variety, which is shown in the photo.
It now has the nutmeg taste so prized by many. The berries are better stored than those of other Rusbols; they can turn into raisins even in room conditions. Rusbol nutmeg also has all the main advantages of this group of varieties.
- It is early in maturity. The berries will ripen in about 120 days. Fluctuations in either direction are possible for 5 days.
- The growth vigor of Rusbol muscat grapes is medium or high, if it is not a grafted, but a self-rooted seedling.
- Its annual growth matures well. If the bush is overloaded with crops, especially in rainy weather, the maturation of annual growth will slow down.
- The percentage of fruiting of shoots is slightly lower than that of the original variety, but still remains high - from 75 to 85%.
- The vine of Rusbol nutmeg is trimmed to 6-8 eyes. Short pruning is also possible - only 3-4 eyes.
- The Rusbol Muscat grape variety works better if it is grafted onto a vigorous rootstock.
- The variety has good frost resistance - 24 degrees.
- Rusbol muscat grapes are resistant to mildew, but treatments are required for oidium, since resistance to it is weak.
- The weight of each bunch of this grape variety is from 400 g to 0.5 kg. They are moderately loose and can be cylindrical or branched.
- The variety belongs to the 4th category of seedlessness, that is, there are rudiments of seeds in the berries.
Grape care
The agricultural technology of all Rusbols is the same as that of any other table grape variety:
- Timely and abundant watering.
- Timely and properly applied fertilizing. This is especially important for the Rusbol improved grape variety.
- Mandatory crop rationing and breaking out excess shoots.
- Formative pruning in autumn and summer.
- For the first three years, it is advisable to cover Rusbol grapes.
How to cover
These grapes are usually classified as non-covering varieties. But if the winters are snowless, there is always a risk that young bushes, which have not yet grown a sufficient amount of perennial wood, may lose a large number of eyes. It will take a lot of time to restore them. Therefore, it is better not to risk it and cover the grapes for the winter for the first 3 years.
Cover algorithm
The timing of shelter depends on weather conditions. You can’t insulate the grapes too early - the eyes may dry out. If covered too late, the roots may be damaged.
- After autumn pruning of grapes, it takes some time to prepare them for winter. Therefore, there is no need to rush into shelter during the first frost. Hardening of the grapes takes place over a week at temperatures from zero to -5 degrees.
- Since the roots of the Rusbol grape are more sensitive to frost than the shoots, shelter begins with insulation of the root zone. To do this, it is mulched with a layer of humus about 10 cm thick.
- The cut vines are tied into bundles, bent to the ground and laid on any material that does not allow moisture to pass through: plastic, wood, roofing felt, rubber sheets.
- The soil and shoots must be treated with a solution of iron sulfate according to the instructions.
- Then you can do it differently. Many winegrowers cover the shoots with soil. This shelter is quite reliable, but there is always a risk of the eyes drying out from dampness. If you cover the ground with moisture-proof material, it will be much smaller.
- The best option is a dry air shelter. The laid vine is covered with dry leaves or covered with spruce branches. Cover with spunbond, and on top with a film draped over the arcs, leaving holes at the base for ventilation. To prevent the film from being blown away by the wind, it is secured.
Reviews
Conclusion
Any of the Rusbols is worthy of growing in a garden plot.These varieties will not only provide high-quality table berries, but will also allow you to prepare raisins for the winter, which, given their high cost, is important.
