Content
The traditional blue-violet hues of a bunch of grapes are associated with the south. In the yard where the strong and beautiful Zabava grape vine grows, decorated with weighty clusters, it will become more comfortable with the added light atmosphere of the warm coast. An early-ripening table grape hybrid is capable of growing and ripening in the middle zone, you just need to take care of its shelter for the winter.
Characteristic
The popularity of a grape variety depends on its qualities. Zabava also became a favorite of winegrowers. The grapes have a very early ripening period. Depending on weather conditions and the quality of the agricultural background, the berries of the variety ripen in 100-120 days. The table hybrid of black grapes Zabava was bred by an amateur breeder from Ukraine, Zaporozhye, V.V. Zagorulko by crossing well-known early table varieties: the white-fruited Laura grape (later the variety was renamed Flora) and the blue-fruited Kodryanka. Fun has inherited the best features of its parent forms. Sometimes the variety is called Black Laura.
Zabava grapes tolerate frosts down to -21 0C, requires careful shelter for the winter. The variety is resistant to oidium and gray rot, susceptible to mildew. Three-time prevention keeps the grape bush healthy. The high percentage of sugar content and delicate skin attract wasps, from which the bunches are protected with fine mesh nets.
Features of the vine
The Zabava grape vine on powerful self-rooted bushes ripens well along its entire length and can spread up to 3-4 m in the second year of growth. The variety bears fruit a year or two after planting. According to gardeners, in the second year up to 12 or more clusters appear on the vine, of which at least half should be removed. Cuttings of the variety have a high survival rate when rooted or grafted. Even 1-bud fragments of the Zabava variety vine are developing. On old powerful rootstocks they bear fruit faster.
With an optimal load on the bush - up to 20-30 bunches, in the southern regions the berries ripen from the beginning or mid-August. Bunches of Zabava grapes remain on the vine on strong stalks for a long time, more than a month, without losing the beautiful appearance of the berries, consistency, elasticity and taste. They can only dry out and raisin, because the berries pick up a lot of sugar. During a week of rainy weather, the berries are preserved and do not crack. The Zabava variety can produce peas if it rains during the flowering period.
Description
Self-rooted grape bushes of the Zabava variety are vigorous. Most of the shoots are 60-80% fruitful. Five-lobed leaves with a finely dissected border, dark green above.
The flowers of the variety are bisexual and self-pollinating. Large cylindrical-conical clusters of medium density, on average weight 700-800 g; with a good agricultural background, the weight increases to 1-1.5 kg. The first, signal, clusters weigh 300-500 g.
The oblong, oval berries of the Zabava hybrid are large, weighing 10-11 g, measuring 32-35 x 20-22 mm. A rich wax coating is clearly visible on the dark blue skin. It is thin and can be eaten almost unnoticeably. The dense pulp is juicy, crispy, sweet, with a pleasant dessert taste.
Advantages
According to the characteristics of the Zabava grape, it has many advantages over other early ripening table forms:
- Harmonious taste for dessert purposes;
- Stable fruit production;
- Excellent commercial performance;
- Good transportability;
- High survival rate of cuttings;
- Resistance to oidium and gray rot.
Gardeners consider average frost resistance and susceptibility to mildew to be disadvantages.
Growing
Grape variety Zabava propagated cuttings, rooting them and planting or grafting. The hybrid form can be easily combined with most rootstocks.
Autumn cuttings
Lignified cuttings are cut in the fall from fruit-bearing vines of the Zabava variety; a straight section of a branch, 12-15 cm long, is selected. In order to distinguish the bottom and top of the segment, notches are made on the lower part with a knife. Then the chibouks are placed in polyethylene and sent to a cool place - in a dry basement or in a refrigerator. Rooting begins in February or early March.
- Make a thin cut from the bottom of each shank and soak for two days, changing the water several times;
- During this time, containers are prepared: up to 20 cm high, 10-15 cm wide;
- For the substrate, mix turf soil, humus, sawdust and sand in a ratio of 1:1.5:1:0.5. The mixture is poured with a solution of 1.5 g of ammonium nitrate and 3 g of superphosphate per 1 liter of water;
- The cuttings are planted so that 2 eyes remain on top;
- The containers are placed in small greenhouses or each cutting in a common container is covered with a glass jar;
- Before shoots appear, the greenhouses are ventilated daily and the cuttings are sprayed with water, keeping the substrate moderately moist.
Before planting, rooted cuttings are taken out into fresh air for hardening. Seedlings of the Zabava variety are moved to a permanent place when the air warms up to 15 0C, and soil - up to 10 0C at a depth of 20 cm.
Summer cuttings
In the southern regions, summer cuttings of Zabava grapes are also rooted, planting them in the fall. In the climate of the middle zone, autumn planting is unsuccessful; rooted shoots must be stored in a frost-free room.
- Root sections of the Zabava grape vine with 2 leaves: the lower one is torn off, and the third part of the blade is removed from the upper one;
- The substrate is prepared as for autumn cuttings, but the bottom of the shank is planted in a 2-3 cm layer of sand poured on top of the soil. They are also planted in perlite;
- The greenhouse should have high humidity, temperature no higher than 30 0C.
Landing
In the conditions of the middle zone, Zabava grapes are placed along buildings on the south side, retreating 2.5 m from other plants. When planting, you can immediately install supports so as not to later injure the superficial root system of the grapes.
- Dig a spacious hole measuring 0.8 x 0.8 x 0.8 m;
- Place a drainage layer of 15-20 cm on the bottom;
- Northern soils are not always suitable for Zabava grapes, therefore, in addition to complex minerals, add 2 parts of humus or 20-25 kg of EM-compost preparation per cubic meter to the top fertile layer;
- The Zabava grape seedling should remain in a small recess of 5-10 cm, which will serve for watering;
- The top of the soil is mulched.
Care
A vigorous grape bush is watered up to 4-5 times during the growing season, 30-40 liters each: after bud break, before and after flowering, in the pea phase and before winter shelter. Autumn watering is increased to 60 liters. Zabava grapes are fertilized in the spring with nitroammophos at the rate of 30–40 g per 1 sq. m. m. Every 2-3 years, the grape bushes are fed with humus, pouring it into trenches alternately on both sides of the hole.
In the fall, preparing the vines for shelter, the grapes are pruned into 6-8 buds. Make sure that the bush is loaded with no more than 45 eyes. In summer, one bunch is left per shoot for better ripening.
The most labor-intensive process is preparing Zabava vines for the winter. After pruning, slate, thick durable cardboard, and roofing felt are laid on the ground in order to lay tied branches on it. The top is covered with last year's straw, to which mice are indifferent, dry leaves, and film. Some gardeners prefer to dig in grapes with soil.
To prevent fungal diseases, the Zabava variety is sprayed with fungicides in early spring, before and after flowering.
The unpretentious vine will successfully develop on the site, delighting with picturesqueness and a sweet harvest.
