Lancelot grapes: photo, variety description, reviews, video

Description of the Lancelot grape variety

The description of the Lancelot grape indicates that this hybrid variety was obtained by crossing three species of plants. The vines are spreading and grow quickly. Due to the appearance of flowers of two sexes, the pollination process is carried out by the grapes independently.

The clusters are quite large, conical in shape, and the berries are tightly packed. The weight of the bunch varies from 900 g to 1.3 kg. If fertilizing is applied in a timely manner, the weight can be increased to 3 kg.

The fruits are cylindrical in shape, smoothly turning into an oval. The weight of the berry is approximately 14 g. The skin is light green, turning white after ripening. If Lancelot grapes grow in sunny areas, then the ripe fruits acquire a light tan.

The structure of the pulp is fleshy with a sweet taste, acid is present, but in moderation. After eating the fruit, a honey aftertaste remains. Since the skin is very dense, even if the soil is very waterlogged, it does not crack.

Important! You can start harvesting 130 days after the buds appear on the vines.

Features of autumn watering

In autumn, watering is carried out in order to ensure the growth of the vineyard for the next season. It is impossible to allow the grapes to not receive moisture in a dry autumn. The fact is that the soil becomes porous, cracks and frost reaches the rhizome, which can die. Is it necessary to water the grapes in the fall: if the autumn is rainy, watering the grapes is not necessary.

Irrigation is carried out by any method other than surface. It is better to make trenches and pour water into them. Young seedlings are additionally wrapped or mulched. In southern regions with a warm climate, such measures are not carried out, but in the middle zone it is advisable to protect the bushes.

What is it needed for

Liquid added to the soil in the fall will remain until summer. As a result of watering, organic decomposition processes occur in the soil and the plant will have something to eat in the spring and before flowering. Wet soil is less susceptible to freezing, so microorganisms survive in it, and the soil itself becomes more nutritious.

How to do it, when, how much liquid to add

The irrigation season, depending on the region, lasts from May to October. There are 9 events during the growing season . There are rules for how often you need to water grapes of different varieties:

For early ones , you need to carry out two mandatory waterings in the summer months and one in the autumn.

For varieties of medium ripening - 3 summer and one autumn.

For late ones - 4 summer waterings and one autumn.

The application rate is 30 - 40 liters per bush, if it rains periodically. If there is no precipitation, then the dosage is increased. Along with water, it is recommended to fertilize with organic matter or minerals. It is advisable to do this in small doses.

In the fall, water-recharging irrigation is carried out by adding 200 - 300 liters to each adult plant using the drip method. Irrigation area within a radius of 5 meters. If water is poured into the furrows, then the amount is increased at least 2 times in order to thoroughly saturate the soil in the vineyard area.

Pros and cons of the Lancelot variety

Any variety has its advantages and disadvantages, Lancelot grapes are no exception. Among the main advantages are:

excellent taste of fruits;
attractive appearance of a bunch of grapes;
large brushes and fruits;
increased resistance to low temperatures;
this grape variety is practically not susceptible to diseases and pests;
if necessary, the brushes can remain on the vine for a long time after ripening;
can be transported over long distances.

The high density of berries is both a plus and a minus of Lancelot grapes. For example, thanks to the dense cluster of berries on the cluster, the fruits do not wrinkle during transportation, but at the same time, the peel prevents uniform ripening.

Eternal Triangle

But let us return to the love of Lancelot and Guinevere, since it was this that formed the core of the chivalric romances. As in the case of Elaine, medieval literature contains various interpretations of their relationship.

Some works describe Lancelot's feelings for King Arthur's wife as exclusively platonic. Others make it clear that the lovers nevertheless crossed the line of what is permitted.

In the end, the deceived king sentenced his unfaithful wife to be burned. True, the execution never took place - Sir Lancelot of the Lake saved Guinevere and hid her in the monastery, while he himself hid in Brittany.

Planting and caring for Lancelot grapes

This hybrid is cared for in the same way as other grape varieties. After the plants have been planted, you will need:

water in a timely manner. The amount of watering depends entirely on the region where the Lancelot grapes grow;
high yields and large clusters are achieved by applying fertilizing and fertilizers;
Every autumn it is recommended to prune the vines;
if you keep the soil around the plantings clean, you don’t have to worry about the appearance of harmful bacteria;
Despite the variety’s resistance to low temperatures, it is recommended to cover the plant for the winter.

Attention! If you have any difficulties, it is recommended to watch a video on how to care for Lancelot grapes.

Selection and preparation of a landing site

Lancelot grapes are planted in sunny areas. It is important to consider that the site must be prepared before planting the variety in open ground.

Since a feature of this hybrid is strong growth, when planting in groups, a distance of 2 to 3 m should be maintained between the bushes.

A nutrient substrate is poured into the prepared holes:

20 liters of humus;
30 liters of peat;
2 kg of wood ash;
150 g potassium;
20–30 liters of fertile soil.

If the soil is poor, then the amount of organic matter is increased.

Advice! If it is planned to plant planting material in the spring, preparatory work is carried out in the fall.

Landing rules

When planting grapes in open ground, adhere to some rules:

It is recommended to plant seedlings in the spring, after the threat of frost has passed, or in the fall, before the onset of the first cold weather.
Grapes are best planted in light, dry areas with fertile soil.
If there is underground water, it should be no closer than 1.5 m.
The site must be prepared in advance: dig up the ground, remove weeds, apply fertilizer.
After this, holes are prepared, the size of which should be 80*80*80 cm.
1/3 of the hole is covered with fertile soil and fertilizers.
Then the seedling is placed in the hole and the root system is carefully straightened.
The planting depth is 50 cm.
After planting, the grapes are watered abundantly.

Since water evaporates quickly, it is recommended to mulch the soil.

Watering and fertilizing

Standard procedures for caring for Lancelot grapes include watering. The amount of watering depends entirely on weather conditions. Water must be poured under the root, after the liquid has been absorbed, the soil must be loosened and weeds removed.

Watering is most important during the period of flowering and filling of berries. As a rule, for every sq. m uses 50 liters of water. If there is a lack of moisture, there is a possibility that the inflorescences and ovaries will fall off. Watering is stopped 3 weeks before harvest.

You can get a high yield and large bunches only if you apply fertilizers in a timely manner. Many experienced gardeners recommend using organic fertilizers as top dressing. Manure, humus, and wood ash are ideal for these purposes. To get large, sweet fruits, you should apply mineral fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus. If the Lancelot grape bushes are young, before fertilization is applied once a month, mature vines need fertilizing 2 times: at the beginning and end of the season.

Attention! To prevent the growth of weeds, the ground around the vine is mulched, covered with sawdust or straw.

Trimming and shaping

Grapevines are pruned in the fall, before they bear fruit. The trimming process looks like this:

If an annual bush has two shoots, then it is cut 2 cm above the second bud; if there is only 1 shoot, then by 4 buds.
Two-year-old grapes are cut into 2 eyes. Long shoots must be covered for the winter.
When pruning three-year-old bushes, gardeners immediately lay down branches on which fruits will grow in the future. In this case, 2 vines should remain, and the rest must be removed. The lower shoots are cut into 2 eyes; on the upper shoot there should be 7 to 15 buds left.

If you care for the plant in a timely manner, the vine develops well and produces a high yield.

Preparing for winter

Lancelot grapes are frost-resistant, but many gardeners prefer to cover this variety for the winter. The operating algorithm is as follows:

The grape vines are carefully removed from the trellises.
Tied with a rope.
Placed on a pre-prepared flooring made of boards or straw.
Cover the top with dense material, you can use bags for this, then cover it with earth.

Before covering the grapevine, it must be pruned. Since Lancelot grapes are vigorous varieties, they need to be shaped during the growth process. If you prune in the fall, it will be less painful for the plant. This is due to the fact that at this time the movement of juices is stopped, and there will be practically no loss of nutrients.

How to water in the first year

After planting and before the end of the first year of growing season, it is important that the plant takes root and grows the root system in depth, and not in the surface layer of soil. To do this, the bushes are heavily fertilized - preferably with organic matter - and watered more often. It is too early to worry about the quality of the berries; it is important to form the plant’s immune system.

How often to water grapes after planting depends on summer temperatures. How does the boarding procedure work:

50–70 cm deep is dug

Hot water is poured in to warm the soil in the spring. If you plant in the fall, then pour regular water.

After planting the seedling, the hole is half covered with earth. Water again - this time with warm liquid. You can sprinkle fertilizer around the shoot - rotted manure or one of the complex mixtures, for example, Kemira. The soil should be compacted by the action of water.

Completely fill the hole and cover the seedling with a cut-off plastic bottle so as not to “go blind” under the strong spring sun.

Throughout the summer, it is necessary to apply liquid within the planting hole - no further than 25 cm from the shoot.

Watering continues until the beginning of August. Then it is stopped to speed up the maturation of the roots. It must be remembered that excess moisture for grapes threatens disease due to poor absorption of nutrients and lack of oxygen in the soil.

Productivity

The Lancelot grape is a hybrid and belongs to the early ripening varieties. The growing season is about 130 days after buds appear. Harvesting begins in the second half of August or early September.

This grape variety is characterized by high yield, as a result of which it is grown not only for personal purposes, but also for further sale. From one grapevine you can collect 7-10 kg of fruit. If you provide Lancelot grapes with proper care, the amount of harvest will be significantly higher.

Important! If the fruits are not picked on time, there is no need to be afraid of shedding; the clusters remain on the vines for a long time. In addition, the presentation and taste will not be lost.

Knights of the Round Table

Chrétien de Troyes, the 12th-century author of courtly romances, mentions Camelot Castle in one of them as the place where King Arthur gathered his knights at the Round Table. According to Celtic legends, this unusual table shape was invented by the wizard Merlin so that all the knights behind him would feel equal.

Thanks to the same Chretien de Troyes, the cycle of works about King Arthur was enriched with a new character, who later became one of the most famous in literature. Lancelot Ozerny first appears in the novel “The Knight of the Cart” as an example of an ideal lover, ready for the most reckless exploits for the sake of his Lady.

From this time on, writings about the Knights of the Round Table took on the character of a courtly novel. They glorify such virtues as personal valor, willingness to come to the aid of the weak and, of course, service to the Beautiful Lady.

Diseases and pests

Lancelot grapes are resistant to most diseases. This grape variety almost never gets sick, but experienced gardeners still recommend treating plants in the spring as a preventive measure. To do this, add 100 g of copper sulfate and 150 g of lime to 10 liters of water. The solution is used before flowering begins.

The grapes are not afraid of pests, but birds and wasps will not refuse to feast on the ripe fruits. To combat wasps, special traps are used, and the bunches can also be covered with mesh bags. If you fence the vines with a strong net, then the birds will not be afraid of the vineyard.

Reviews of Lancelot grapes

Vladislav Semenov, 45 years old, Moscow

I have been growing grapes relatively recently. All this time I was in search of a low-maintenance variety. The search lasted a long time, but one day an acquaintance advised me to plant Lancelot grapes, explaining that the variety gives a good harvest and there will be no difficulties with it. I decided to try it and was pleasantly surprised. Indeed, there are no problems with Lancelot, the main thing is to prune the vine correctly. Since many grape bunches appear on the bushes, over time they become small in size and the taste changes.

Angelina Potapova, 35 years old, Ulyanovsk

As a novice gardener, I always dreamed of having a small vineyard in my garden. The store advised me to purchase the Lancelot variety, saying that this would be the best option to start with. As for me, the Lancelot grape variety is very successful for beginners. In spring and autumn I apply fertilizers, water as needed, and closer to winter I prune and cover the vines. I harvest it every year. The weight of the largest bunch reached 1.7 kg, all the rest about 1-1.2 kg.

Disease Prevention

According to the description, Lancelot grapes are disease resistant. Despite this, disease prevention is important for plant protection. Spray with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture. This is done before flowering begins.

Birds and insects are dangerous for grape berries. Special traps made from plastic bottles help get rid of pests. Empty bottles without corks are hung with ropes from a trellis, and sweet liquid is poured inside. The nets help protect the berries from birds.