Grapes Senator: Pavlovsky, Burdak

In recent years, winegrowers are increasingly talking about a new variety called “Senator”. This grape appeared relatively recently, but is already very popular in Russia and some CIS countries. Just a couple of years ago, another hybrid with the same name was bred in a private Ukrainian nursery, which caused great confusion among gardeners and summer residents. One of these varieties produces large berries of a burgundy-pink hue, the other is white and produces fruits of a greenish-yellow color. The two Senators have much in common, but these species also have significant differences.

Senator grapes: description of each variety with photos and reviews from gardeners - there will be an article about this. Here we will talk about the characteristics of the two hybrids, list their strengths and weaknesses, and provide recommendations for planting and care.

History of the origin of hybrids

The first Senator was bred by the Russian breeder Pavlovsky about ten years ago. This grape is called Vitis Senator or Pavlovsky Senator. It was possible to obtain a new hybrid after crossing two popular varieties: Gift of Zaporozhye and Maradona.

Just a couple of years ago, an amateur breeder from Ukraine crossed the Talisman and Arcadia varieties, and he also named the resulting hybrid Senator. The breeder's surname is Burdak, which is why his variety is popularly called Senator Burdak. This grape has not yet undergone experimental research, so its characteristics are very conditional. But this circumstance does not prevent winegrowers from actively purchasing seedlings of Senator Burdak and trying to grow this successful hybrid.

Senator Pavlovsky

Senator Pavlovsky is an early ripening table variety, the ripening period of which lies within 115-120 days. This grape has become widespread due to its good appearance, excellent taste of berries and the vine's resistance to various diseases and pests.

Description of the Pavlovsky variety:

• technical maturity of grapes usually occurs by the end of August (in areas with a mild climate);
• the bushes have good growth vigor, the vine is long, powerful, well branched;
• the survival rate of cuttings is excellent, there are no problems with the propagation of hybrid grapes;
• the leaves are large, carved, with dark green veins;
• Senator's inflorescences are bisexual - Pavlovsky grapes do not need other varieties for pollination;
• the berries are large and not susceptible to peas;
• The Senator's fruits are very large, oval in shape and burgundy in color (the color of the berries resembles ripe cherries);
• the maximum weight of the berry can reach 18 grams;
• usually the fruit pulp contains 2-3 seeds (their number and size greatly depend on the growing conditions and climate in the region);
• the peel on the fruit is thin, but quite durable - Senator grapes do not crack and tolerate transportation well;
• the clusters are very large, cone-shaped, densely packed;
• the weight of the bunches depends on the nutritional value of the soil and weather conditions, usually varies from 700 to 1500 grams;
• the taste of Senator Pavlovsky grapes is very pleasant, sweet, with clearly noticeable muscat notes;
• the structure of the pulp is tender, not too elastic, melting in the mouth;
• the yield of the Senator variety is stable and, with proper care, high;
• The frost resistance of the Pavlovsky hybrid is high - the grapevine can withstand up to -24 degrees without shelter;
• Senator Pavlovsky has a high immunity to fungal and viral infections - the vine rarely gets sick, and is practically not subject to insect attacks;
• sweet berries with a strong aroma do not attract wasps - this is another advantage of the Pavlovsky hybrid;
• The grapes withstand storage and transportation well; densely packed bunches retain their presentation for a long time.

Since Senator Sosnovsky is a relatively new hybrid, you need to be careful when purchasing cuttings - there is a high risk of fraud on the part of the seller.

Advantages and disadvantages

The Senator grape variety is very young, but already has a whole army of fans. Pavlovsky brought out a very good one a hybrid with a lot of advantages:

• good viability of cuttings and rapid growth of the vine;
• frost resistance;
• high and stable yield;
• even large berries and large densely packed clusters;
• suitability for storage and transportation (provided the grapes are not grown in conditions of high humidity);
• immunity to dangerous infections and pests;
• unpretentiousness to growing conditions and care.

The Pavlovsky hybrid, however, has some minor drawbacks. But they are all associated with bad weather conditions or improper maintenance. So, The following disadvantages of the Senator were revealed:

• cracking of fruits and their rotting due to contact with water (rainy period);
• a certain looseness of the pulp - some tasters lack the characteristic “crunch”;
• poor frost resistance for winegrowers from the northern regions.

As you can see, it’s quite possible to put up with such shortcomings: the pros definitely outweigh the cons.

Senator Burdaka

Only in the last year have reviews begun to appear about a completely new hybrid - Senator Burdak. This variety has not yet passed the stage of experimental cultivation and is not included in any register, but has already managed to win the love of many private winegrowers.

The description of the variety and its characteristics have a strong resemblance to the Pavlovsky hybrid:

• Senator Burdak's vine is vigorous;
• the crown is large and grows quickly;
• the berries are smooth, oval, yellowish-green in color;
• there is no tendency to “pea” - all fruits are the same size and shape;
• the clusters are cone-shaped, the fruits fit tightly to each other;
• the average weight of a bunch of grapes is 1000-1200 grams;
• Senator Burdaka has good frost resistance;
• The hybrid has high immunity to fungal and infectious diseases;
• the taste characteristics are excellent - the flesh is tender, sweet, with subtle nutmeg notes;
• Burdak's harvest is transported and stored well;
• the commercial value of the fruit is high;
• yield – medium and high (depending on growing conditions);
• The ripening period for Senator Burdak grapes is early - the growing season takes from 115 to 120 days.

The pros and cons of these hybrids are the same. Senator Burdaka is also prone to rotting and cracking of berries in high humidity conditions, so you need to monitor growing technology and harvest on time.

Agricultural technology

Reviews from winegrowers about both Senators are positive: everyone likes the unpretentiousness of these hybrids, their rapid growth and ease of propagation. Given the same ripening periods and similar characteristics, Senators Burdak and Pavlovsky need similar agricultural technology.

Planting cuttings

Senator grapes prefer light and nutritious soils that have good air permeability. It is better to choose a planting site on the south or south-west side of the site; a small slope is perfect. Like any grape, Senator needs protection from north and draft winds, so planting chibouks along a wall or fence is encouraged.

Recommendations for planting grapes are as follows:

1. The Senator can be planted both in holes and in trenches. The dimensions of the planting holes are usual: 60x60 cm. The depth of the trench should be the same.
2. It is advisable to prepare the landing site in advance.If cuttings are supposed to be planted in the spring, then the pit is prepared in the fall. In extreme cases, at least two weeks should pass from the moment of creating the hole to planting the grapes.
3. If the groundwater in the area is high, drainage is required. The bottom of the hole or trench is covered with a thick layer of broken brick, expanded clay, and crushed stone. A little coarse sand is poured on top.
4. After drainage there should be a fertile layer (at a level of 40-50 cm). To do this, fertile soil extracted from the pit is mixed with organic or mineral fertilizers.
5. It is recommended to soak the roots of grape seedlings before planting. They are soaked for a day or two in ordinary water with a small content of potassium permarganate or in a special growth stimulator.
6. Immediately before planting, you need to trim the roots of the cuttings and remove damaged shoots.
7. The seedling is placed in the center of the hole and its roots are gradually covered with earth. After planting, the soil must be compacted and watered thoroughly.

Rules of care

Raising either of the two Senators is not difficult. That's why These varieties are great even for novice winegrowers.

All grape care will consist of the following:

1. Regular watering until the cuttings are completely engrafted. Subsequently, the vine needs to be watered during periods of drought when the soil is very cracked. It is very important not to overdo it with watering, as excessive moisture can cause cracking and rotting of the grapes.
2. It is better to mulch the soil around the vine. This will help protect the roots from overheating in summer and freezing in winter, and will additionally fertilize the soil.
3. You can feed the Senator with slurry, bird droppings, and mineral complexes for grapes. Like all hybrids, Senator accepts fertilizers dissolved in water well.
4. It is better to prune grapes in the spring. For Senator varieties, long (7-8 eyes) or medium (5-6 eyes) pruning is suitable. The first time the vine is pruned immediately after planting or next spring.
5. Despite the persistence of the grapes, they need to be sprayed several times a season. To do this, you can use Bordeaux mixture, Topaz or Ridomil Gold.
6. In the northern regions, the Senator variety needs to be covered for the winter.

Reviews

Conclusion

Photos of white and pink bunches of the Senator variety are equally good: the grapes are aligned, identical in size, beautifully colored and large in size. Both varieties were developed relatively recently; both are distinguished by strong growth and good resistance to external factors.

Definitely, Senators Pavlovsky and Burdak are worthy competitors, each of them deserves the closest attention.

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