Today, a lot of different grape varieties are bred, each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. In this article we will talk about the features and cultivation of the excellent variety "Lowland".

The history of grapes "Lowland"

The creator of the grape was a self-taught breeder V. Krainov. This was one of the first works of the scientist. He cultivated his varieties on a site near the Tuzlov River. Under such conditions, cultivars resistant to adverse factors appeared. Grapes "Lowland" - the result of crossing the "Talisman" and "Kishmish Luchisty" in 1998.

Description of the variety "Lowland"

This is a mid-early table hybrid variety.

Appearance

Grapes have the following characteristics:

• quick rooting and good survival of seedlings;
• bushes strongly branched and fast-growing;
• fruitful stepsons - about 60–80%;
• large berries are collected in large brushes of conical (cylindrical) shape;
• clusters of medium density;
• the fruits are oval, dark red or purple.

Photo gallery

Ripening period

The variety is characterized by early reddening of berries. But the final ripening occurs on the 120-140th day after the opening of the first buds. Much depends on the region: in the south - the crop is ready at the end of August, and in the north - at the beginning of September.

Frost resistance

Grapes tolerates frosts to -23 ° C. This allows you not to cover it in the southern regions, but in the middle and northern strip it is still desirable to cover the bushes for the winter.

Disease resistance

The variety is characterized by good resistance to diseases such as gray rot, oidium, mildew and phylloxera. But experienced gardeners advise for prevention to spray before flowering and before the formation of the fruit. To do this, you can use the fungicide "Antracol" (10 g per 10 l).

If the weather is hot for a long time, then the risk of infection with oidium increases. For prevention purposes, sulfur pollination is carried out in the morning or evening hours (during the day it can cause plant burns). Treatments are carried out only at air temperatures above + 20 ° C, at lower temperatures the treatment is ineffective.

The sizes of bunches and berries

Large enough brushes and fruits, as well as a dense arrangement of berries make it possible to obtain clusters weighing up to 0.7 kg, and sometimes up to 2-3 kg. Berries with dimensions of approximately 3 × 2.5 cm, weigh up to 12 g. On each brush they ripen up to 40 pieces.

Read about table grape varieties:

Bush yield

The rapid growth of bushes, as well as the presence of up to 60-80% of fruitful shoots provide good grape yield. On each shoot 1 or 2 hands ripen. High yields also provide fruiting stability and good pollination. Harvest can be harvested already in the 2-3rd year after planting. For the season from 1 bush receive from 30 to 60 kg of grapes.

Taste characteristics

Berries have a juicy and dense structure with 1-3 seeds. The skin, although dense (protects well from bees and wasps), is almost not felt when eating. Well-ripened fruits have a bright purple hue and cherry aroma. The sugar concentration is about 18%, and the acidity is 8 g / l. Grapes have good transportability and a high degree of preservation (until December).

Did you know? In medicine, there is a method of treating grapes - ampelotherapy. Moreover, doctors advise eating grape fruits not only with the skin, but also with seeds that contain antioxidants and other beneficial substances.

Advantages and disadvantages of grapes

• Grapes "Lowland" have a lot of "pluses":
• fast growth and early harvest;
• stable and good productivity;
• resistance to freezing;
• a large number of fruitful shoots;
• pleasant taste, good transportability and long-term storage of fruits;
• resistance to cracking berries after rains;
• high resistance to diseases;
• almost 100% pollination;
• almost not affected by small insects (do not eat fruit).

• But there are some "cons":
• fast-growing bushes for good fruiting require a lot of space;
• you need the correct pruning of the vine to ration the yield (with a large number of ovaries, the fruits will be smaller);
• with prolonged heat affected by oidium;
• table variety is not used in winemaking.

Difficulties in growing and planting features

Before planting a grape bush, you need to understand the requirements for growing and planting.

When to plant grapes "Lowland"

In different regions, the timing of planting is slightly different, but when planting, it is advisable to adhere to the following rules:

• spring planting is carried out at the onset of stable heat (without strong night and morning frosts), and occurs in late March - early April;
• during autumn planting, plants should not start to grow before frosts (mid or late October);
• use seedlings without leaves (at rest).

The landing time also depends on the landing method:

• early spring or late autumn, you can plant grafts, make bends and plant seedlings that are at a dormant stage;
• in warm weather (mid-spring or fall), work with green seedlings and shoots;
• You can make layouts at any time.

Choosing a place for the bush

Choosing a place to land, you must consider the following points:

• the place should be sufficiently lit and protected from strong winds. The south side will do well;
• chernozem will be suitable soil, but if it is not there, then you need to make the necessary fertilizing during planting;
• the plant has not only a voluminous above-ground part, but also a powerful root system, therefore, a close occurrence of groundwater (less than 2.5 m from the surface) can provoke its decay.

Did you know? According to various estimates, grapes have the greatest variety variety (more than 10, 000), while, for example, everyone’s favorite potato has only about 3 thousand, cereals - no more than 4 thousand varieties.

Soil requirements

The main part of the root system of grapes is deep underground and develops better in loose and breathable soil, so before planting a vineyard, deep loosening (up to 80 cm) of soil should be done.

Grapes have a different attitude to different soils:

• chernozems are most suitable;
• wetlands and salt marshes unsuitable for growing grapes;
• sandy soils deeply freeze in winter, and in summer they become very hot. To improve the structure, they are mixed to the depth of digging with compost or manure, a little clay is added for the bundle;
• heavy soils need to be made air- and water-permeable. To do this, when digging, gravel, small stones, as well as compost or manure are introduced (they will serve after fertilizer). So that the stony materials do not interfere with the subsequent processing, they are repaired to a depth of at least 25-30 cm. For 1 m², it is used near a bucket of crushed stone or stones, the same amount of humus or compost is introduced.

Choose a method of planting a bush of grapes

Grapes can be propagated by seedlings, layering or grafting.

Grape seedlings

• The advantages of this method are as follows:
• varietal features are fully preserved;
• the fastest and least time-consuming way;
• planting material can be purchased or grown independently.

Grafting of cuttings

For those who want to get a crop for next year, the best option is grafting cuttings. It is also a great way to rejuvenate grape bushes. A well-developed root system will ensure rapid growth and development.

When vaccinating, you must follow some requirements:

• the most suitable time is the end of May or the beginning of June (temperature - about + 15 ° C);
• the buds on the stock should swell;
• the scion should be cut off on the day of the procedure;
• the scion should have 2-3 kidneys. The cut is made above the upper kidney by 3 cm and below the lower by 5 cm;
• the ends of the scion and rootstock are connected obliquely with slices or inserted into the cleft (the kidneys adjacent to the cut should be on opposite sides);
• tightly wrap the connection with a film (do not cover eyes).

A few days before vaccination, the stock should be abundantly watered, this will improve the engraftment process.

Using bends

This method is good for getting seedlings and easy to perform:

• for this purpose, choose a good and close to the ground shoot (until August stepsons are removed on it) or an already stiff vine;
• when the vine reaches a length of 2-3 meters dig holes with dimensions of 50 × 50 × 50 cm;
• chernozem with rotted compost is added to the hole and the prepared vine is laid (cut leaves and mustache);
• about 4 leaves with a growth point are left above the ground (they bend vertically);
• the holes are well watered and sprinkled with earth.

The layer receives good nutrition from the mother bush, so it quickly grows and takes its own roots. After 2-3 years, the layers are separated and transplanted. If he was buried at a great distance, then it just separates and grows as an independent bush.

Landing rules

"Lowland" requires a lot of space, so the distance between the bushes should not be less than 3 m. Landing is performed as follows:

1. Dig holes 80 × 80 × 80 in size. Set aside the top 30 cm of soil, and remove the rest of the earth.
2. Make drainage from small stones, expanded clay or broken bricks (thickness up to 15 cm).
3. The second layer of the same thickness to make from leaves, small twigs or chopped bark.
4. Pour about 2-3 buckets of rotted compost or humus.
5. Mix the deposited topsoil with superphosphate (150-200 g) and potassium sulfate (100 g) or 1 kg of ash and fill the hole.
6. Before planting, the roots of a seedling are lowered into the root stimulant (Zircon or Epin).
7. In a well prepared in advance, a hole is made and a bush is lowered to the level of the root neck.
8. The roots are straightened and sprinkled with earth, periodically watering (about 15–20 l) for better soil compaction.
9. Drive a peg in the center.
10. The soil is covered with a layer of mulch (about 5 cm).

Important! Pits for planting are prepared in advance (in 3-4 weeks), so that the earth has time to settle, and the planted bush does not sink too deep.

Vine care

In order for grapes to justify all their positive qualities, good care is needed.

Watering

Grapes love water, but it does not need to be poured. Once a month, enough to pour 2-3 buckets. Depending on the size of the plant, as well as the composition of the soil (absorption of sand is higher than clay), water consumption is from 40 to 60 liters.

Especially in watering grapes need such periods:

• in spring with intensive growth of shoots and leaves (can not be watered during night frosts);
• during budding;
• at the initial stage of fruit growth.

When the brushes, having reached the desired size, begin to ripen and stain, watering stops. In rainy weather, shelters are installed over the bushes.

Mulching

The benefits of mulching are obvious:

• retains moisture in the soil;
• protects plants from temperature changes;
• serves as an additional source of nutrients;
• prevents leaching of nutrients;
• eliminates weed growth;
• serves as protection against decay of low-growing fruits.

As mulch are used:

• compost improves soil structure, replenishes it with nutrients;
• rotted manure contains a lot of phosphorus. It must be mixed well with the topsoil to avoid nitrogen loss;
• organic matter, for example, buckwheat or sunflower husk or weeds (before flowering);
• siderates: lupine, radish, clover, etc. To increase the effect, they are mixed with the soil;
• eggshell improves fertility and reduces acidity. Serves as protection against slugs and snails;
• small shavings, bark (about 2 × 2 cm) or needles.

Important! The best time to mulch is spring. If the previous material has not decomposed, then it is removed early in the spring so that the soil warms up. After that they cover up a new mulch. Its thickness is not less than 5 cm, and the optimal layer is 15–20 cm.

Grape top dressing

Grape bushes are not transplanted annually to a new place, so they need top dressing for growth and development:

• in early spring, as soon as the snow has melted, the near-trunk area is sprinkled with superphosphate granules (about 40 g per 1 m²);
• approximately in May, nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium nitrate or urea) are added to build up the mass, at the rate of 50 g per 10 liters of water. You can use organics, for this 2 kg of mullein is mixed in 5 liters of water and insisted for a couple of days, then brought to 12 liters. This solution is enough for 1 m²;
• when berries appear, grapes need potash fertilizers. You can make a solution of wood ash. Or use a composition of 1.5 g of copper, 1 g of boron, 2 tbsp. l sugar and 1 kg of ash dissolved in 10 liters of water;
• after harvesting for better wintering, potash fertilizers are again applied. You can use manure (2 kg per 1 m²) or ash (300 g per 10 liters of water).

Video: Topping grapes

Garter and pruning vines

The vine grows rapidly, so it needs to be tied up regularly, as well as pruned. With the help of pruning, bushes are formed. For the "Lowland", a multi-sleeve (6 or 8) fan bush is well suited. It consists of the following stages:

1. In the first year, only 2 or 3 shoots are left.
2. In the spring of the second year, before buds open, 2 eyes are left on each shoot, and the rest is cut off. Sleeves are tied to a trellis as they grow. Weak shoots are removed.
3. If the three-year bush has 2 shoots, then 3-4 buds are left on it. If there are three shoots, then sleeves form from two, and 3-4 buds are left on the third. If there are 4 shoots, sleeves are formed from them, which are tied to the trellis with an inclination. The kidneys on the sleeves are removed and only the top 3 are left.
4. A four-year-old bush forms like a three-year-old: fertile branches and additional branches are formed from the sleeves. For the new sleeve, the upper shoot is cut off on the old one, and the 2 lower ones are left. A cropped escape will be a knot of substitution.
5. On a five-year-old plant, new sleeves form. Not fruit-bearing arrows are removed, but new links are formed from knots for substitution.

Breeding

"Lowland" you can try to grow from seeds. To do this, the seeds are kept in a moist tissue for a month (it must be rinsed every 3 days). After that, they are planted in the soil. It is advisable to do this in the fall, in order to have a young plant by spring. When steady heat sets in, the vine is planted in a permanent place. Until the first fruits the vine is not pruned.

Pest and Disease Treatment

Grapes show good resistance to diseases, but experienced gardeners advise that preventive treatments be carried out. In addition to diseases, some insects can cause damage to the bushes:

• the tick is difficult to notice, but signs such as small tubercles on the underside of the leaf indicate its presence. The pest weakens the plant, the sheets curl, dry and crumble. Two treatments (Actellik, Fufanon or Tevit) with an interval of 2 weeks will help to cope with the pest;
• Aphid in the vineyard is a dangerous pest that can completely destroy plants in several seasons. To prevent the spread of the insect will help "Dilor" or "Etafos". The first spraying is carried out after the buds open, and the second - after the appearance of real leaves;
• spotted butterfly lays larvae on the leaves. Hatched caterpillars eat green parts of grapes. With an interval of a week, it is necessary to conduct treatment with any insecticide (for example, "Vertimek" or "Aktara");
• bees and wasps do not eat the fruits of the "Lowlands", therefore they are not dangerous for the plant.

Harvesting and Harvesting

Grapes "Lowland" is not used for the manufacture of wines. But the unusual cherry flavor makes it desirable for fresh consumption. Long storage and excellent transportability contribute to this.

We recommend that you learn how to make grape jam with pits.

How much grapes are stored depends on proper harvesting. For storage, the clusters are cut off before dinner, when the dew has dried, but the berries have not yet warmed up in the sun. It is important that he retains the wax film. The clusters must be laid out in boxes covered with paper and stored at temperatures up to + 7 ° C. Periodically, the grapes need to be checked and discarded spoiled fruits. Berries can be frozen, boiled compote and jam. Having planted grapes "Lowland" and providing him with decent care, you will be grateful to its creator and you will not regret that you chose this variety.