Gherkin grape varieties are known not only for the lack of seed berries in the pulp, but also for the fact that they are mainly used for the production of alcoholic drinks and raisins, as they have low raw gastronomic qualities. This drawback is deprived of the grape variety Kishmish Luchisty, which will be discussed in the article.

Breeding History and Breeding Region

The Kishmish Luchisty variety was bred in Moldova a little over 20 years ago by crossing the grape varieties Kishmish Rozovy with Cardinal. The result is a completely seedless variety with excellent taste conditions.

Did you know? More than 80 thousand km ² of land is occupied exclusively by vineyards, and 70% of all grapes grown on them are used for the production of alcoholic beverages.

Description of the cultivar Kishmish Luchisty

Spreading shoots of the described variety, reaching 3 meters in length, are covered with rounded five-lobed leaf plates, among which there are large clusters weighing from 500 to 1500 g and reaching a length of 0.45 m. Each elongated and oval pink-crimson berry has an average weight 4.5 g. Its juicy and fleshy flesh contains up to 21% sugar, has a slight sourness and the smell of nutmeg. The taste of these berries is noticeably better than other raisins of grape varieties.

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Grade characteristics

Considered a raisin variety characterized by:

• mid-season, (ripening period —130 days);
• overgrown vines;
• seedless berries;
• high marketability of fruits;
• productivity exceeding average indicators and constituting 12 kg per vine;
• the density of the berry peel, which prevents cracking of berries and ensures good preservation of the crop and its transportation;
• the ability of grapes to maintain their consumer properties until January.

Read more about the benefits of raisins for the human body.

Advantages and disadvantages

Already from the listing of the characteristic features of the variety it is clear what valuable qualities it possesses. In addition, there is an increased flexibility of its vines, which allows to decorate arches and arbors with this plant. The aesthetic properties of the plant are complemented by the beauty of clusters of ripening berries.

• Among the rare flaws of grapes note:
• limited cold resistance of the vine;
• insufficient resistance to root phylloxera and powdery mildew;
• exacting care.

Rules for planting grapes "Kishmish Radiant"

The future well-being and productivity depend on how correctly the timing of planting the seedlings was chosen and the place for the plant was successfully determined.

Seat selection

This grape, having long spreading shoots, needs free space. In addition, he loves bright lighting, so a sunny place should be chosen for him. It must be protected from strong winds. The vine must be planted in a place where each seedling will stand at least 3 m from the other. Also, the vine of this grape variety needs support. If the wall of the house or the fence is chosen as it, the seedling should be planted no closer than 1 m from them.

Timing

Saplings of this variety are planted both in spring and autumn. In spring, planting time, depending on the region, occurs at different times, but always with the establishment of a stable plus temperature, when the danger of frost sets in.

Autumn planting is carried out before the onset of the first frost, while it is burdened with the need for additional insulation of seedlings. Before the onset of cold weather, seedlings should be covered with plastic bottles with holes cut into them and covered with sawdust, needles or peat. After the onset of frost, the bottle is removed, and the seedling is sprinkled with soil.

Did you know? If fats are excluded, then the rest of the set of nutrients in grapes is very similar to that found in milk.

Site preparation

Sandy soil and chernozem are best suited for this variety. In alkaline soils there is a deficiency of potassium, which is extremely necessary for the plant for active flowering and fruiting. And in acidified soils there is a lack of phosphorus and sodium, which are also necessary for the plant to develop. In addition, nitrogen must necessarily be present in the soil, without which the green mass of the bush grows very weakly. Therefore, when preparing the soil for planting grapes, it should be enriched with nitrogen-containing organic fertilizers, and also, if necessary, with superphosphate and potassium sulfate.

Selection of seedlings

The fate of the vine depends on the quality of the seedlings. When purchasing them, the reliability of the goods offered by the seller is the desired grape variety, and not some other one, is of paramount importance.

Accordingly, it is recommended to buy seedlings only from trusted breeders, followed by their fastest possible planting in the ground. In this case, attention should be paid to the state of the root system, which must be well developed, free from damage and demonstrate green color at the cut.

Video: How to choose a grape seedling

As a rule, annual seedlings are planted, which can be prepared on their own from cuttings obtained during thinning of the vine bush when pruning or pinching stepsons. Cuttings are planted in autumn in plastic cups filled with prepared soil, and put in a shaded place at temperatures up to + 15 ° C. In mid-February, seedlings are planted on the windowsill, where sunlight does not fall, and when the open ground warms up and the threat of frost passes, seedlings can be planted under the open sky.

Landing procedure

Saplings are planted in open ground as follows:

1. Before planting, they dig a hole for planting in about a week, with a depth and width of 0.8 m.
2. Organic and complex mineral fertilizers are laid in small quantities at the bottom.
3. The roots of seedlings are soaked for a couple of hours in a manganese solution at the rate of 5 g of potassium permanganate per bucket of water.
4. Then the root system for a day is immersed in a solution of biostimulants.
5. The seedling is lowered into the prepared hole, its roots are carefully straightened and covered with soil. In this case, 2 kidneys should be left under the soil, and the rest should be above the surface. To accelerate the growth of the bush, it is recommended to trim the 2 upper eyes.
6. After planting, the seedling is abundantly watered with 2 buckets of water.
7. Till the soil and mulch with sawdust or dry foliage.

Care Features

The variety "Kishmish Radiant" is quite demanding to care for. And its watering, and fertilizing with fertilizers, and pruning are associated with certain efforts and knowledge.

Watering a plant

The considered grape variety prefers moderate watering, the intensity of which depends on the soil type. On chernozem, 6 buckets of water are sufficient, while on sandy soils a minimum of 9 buckets is required. In hot and dry weather, grapes should be watered every 3-4 days; in the rainy season, the frequency of watering is noticeably reduced. 2 weeks before the berries ripen, watering should be stopped, and it is also limited during the flowering period.

Important! Excessive watering should not be allowed, which provokes the occurrence of fungal diseases and eliminates the characteristic musky aftertaste in berries.

How to fertilize grapes "Kishmish Radiant"

This plant is very responsive to fertilizing. In the spring, at a time of active growth of green mass, the vine especially needs nitrogen, which is saturated with organic fertilizers - rotted mullein, humus and compost. For active flowering, ovary formation and ripening of berries, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and other mineral nutrients are already required.

In addition to complex mineral fertilizers, most often grapes are fed during the season:

• superphosphate;
• potassium sulfate;
• magnesium sulfate;
• potassium monophosphate.

Top dressing is carried out no later than the beginning of the formation of flowers and ovaries. Large grape leaves well perceive foliar feeding by means of a finely dispersed atomizer, which is charged with special complex preparations, for example, Plantafol or self-made infusion of wood ash. During flowering, fertilizing plants are stopped. In no case should you overfeed fertilizer with grape bushes, as this inhibits the timely start of flowering and the formation of ovaries.

Video: Topping grapes

Mulching

Bushes of "Kishmish Luchistogo" require timely weeding of weeds and the associated loosening of the soil. Mulching the soil around the vine saves time in these operations, in addition, it maintains optimal temperature and humidity conditions in the soil. Most often mulch the soil with hay or freshly cut grass. Previously, they must be treated with insecticides to get rid of the possible presence of pest larvae in them.

Trimming and shaping a bush

For this variety, pruning is especially relevant. If you leave too many clusters on each shoot of the bush, then they will overload the plant, because of which the next year he will have to rest and gain strength, not giving a harvest. Berries may also crush and lose their characteristic taste. Grape growers recommend leaving up to 12 fruiting shoots on a young bush, and up to 25 with 2 clusters on each of them at five-year-old and older.

Pruning is carried out throughout the season and consists in the removal of dried branches, excess lashes and stepsons. Excessive lower shoots must be nipped. You can pluck the smallest of them during the formation of the berries so that the rest grow larger.

Important! The bush "Kishmish Luchistogo" is considered correctly formed if it contains no more than 4 vines, each of which will reach 3 meters or more. The lower vines form the sleeves, and the upper ones bear fruit. In general, correctly performed pruning allows you to:

• harmoniously distribute the load on the bush;
• increase productivity;
• optimize berry ripening;
• increase the size of the berries and improve their taste.

Shelter for the winter

Insufficient frost resistance (not lower than –18 ° С) of this grape implies the need to cover it for the winter. The small shoots are covered with dry foliage, sawdust, and straw. At the same time, it is not recommended to use sawdust for shelter, since they acidify the soil and quickly damp.

Long shoots that are laid along the surface of the earth and attached to it are best insulated with straw mats, agrofibre, plastic wrap, polypropylene bags made from flour or granulated sugar, then sprinkled with soil. Shelters from roofing material and slate are erected over the old lignified vine. In this case, an airtight roofing material should have ventilation holes.

Read how to care for grapes in the fall.

Diseases and the fight against them

Being quite resistant against pests (goldfish, mining moths and spider mites), Kishmish Luchisty is susceptible to the most common grape diseases - root phylloxera and mildew.

The fight against the root phylloxera, which is difficult to detect visually and affects the root system, is quite complicated. The most time-consuming means include replacing the topsoil around the bush with sand, which prevents the development of pests. The radical and complex means also include the complete flooding of the grape root system for a long period of time with water.

There is no need to talk about the crop in this situation, but the plant can be saved. Watering the earth around the bush with a solution consisting of 0.5 kg of copper sulphate and a bucket of water is also used. The solution is introduced into the soil through a circular groove up to a quarter meter deep. After the liquid is absorbed into the soil, the grooves fill up, and the underground parasites die.

With a mildew fungal disease, when infected by it before flowering, the plants are fought with Bordeaux liquid at a concentration of 0.5%, as well as with the special tool "Ridomil Gold". Before the buds open, and also after flowering, the fungus is destroyed with one percent Bordeaux liquid or with the preparations Oksikhom and Ordan. During the summer season carry out up to 6 sprayings.

Reviews

The ray blooms almost later than all, but in this case this is not a problem. He is bisexual, pollinated very well on his own. This is not only my observation. I do not use Gibberellin on the Ray, I have not heard a single positive review. Moreover, he has full order with dimensional characteristics, you just need to use it correctly. Agricultural technology is standard for Asians. S. Sergey.A //forum.vinograd.info/showpost.php?p=52968&postcount=41