The best grape varieties for central Russia

Grapes love warmth. It was difficult to grow berry crops in the middle zone a century ago. Only with the beginning of the development of selection, scientists were able to instill resistance in plants to harsh climatic conditions. At the moment, there are many elite grape varieties for the middle zone. Now you can grow grapes no worse than on the southern slopes of the country.

Cultivation of grapes in central Russia

The climate in this area is unstable. Conditions are not the most favorable for growing berry crops. In order for a heat-loving plant to fully develop and produce a harvest, it must have the following characteristics:

• short growing season. From the moment the buds open until the berries fully ripen, 95-120 days should pass. Warmth in the spring in the middle zone comes in different ways. One year the air temperature rises to +18-20°C. already in April, or maybe only in mid-May. Therefore, over the summer, the plant needs to have time to form a strong green mass and produce a harvest;
• high resistance to frost. The grapes must withstand a temperature drop of at least -20°C;
• be resistant to fungal diseases. In the central regions of Russia, for the most part, summers are not hot and rainy, which provokes the development of fungal diseases. Therefore, high immunity for plants is a necessary condition for survival.

Helpful advice! Watering the grapes stops as soon as the ripening process begins. Irrigation during the ripening period negatively affects the taste of the fruit and provokes cracking.

Time to grow up

In mid-spring, it's time to think about purchasing seedlings. Later, the required varieties may no longer be available for sale, but it is the variety that is of decisive importance when growing grapes.

Buy good quality seedlings. They look like just dry branches because they are in a dormant state, but if you look closely you can see buds. Choose planting material that is longer (compared to the rest), and it is advisable that the seedling has more than 3 buds. Look at the bark, there should be no dark spots on it.

Article on the topic

Southern exotic. How are grapes grown in the harsh Siberian climate? Plant seedlings after May 10. Do not store purchased specimens in the refrigerator or basement, but plant them at home for growing, then they will take root better in the ground.

It is advisable to plant seedlings for growing immediately after purchase, within 3–4 days. Do not use plastic pots, but prepare plastic five-liter transparent drinking water bottles cut off at the top. Such containers are most convenient for grapes; they can then be easily cut and planted without damaging the roots. These bottles are transparent, it will be convenient to monitor whether you are watering too much (grapes do not like this). Moreover, it is useful for seedlings when the entire volume of the soil is illuminated by the sun - then they will definitely not get sick during growing. In addition, plastic creates a greenhouse effect in the earth's coma, and this is additional heat that the grapes need. Be sure to make drainage: make 5-6 fairly large holes in the bottom of each bottle. They must first be made with an awl, and then enlarged with a knife or scissors, since stagnation of water is contraindicated for the culture. But it is not at all necessary to pour expanded clay onto the bottom.

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A selection of the best grape varieties for the Middle Zone

The best grape varieties for central Russia will allow you to get a bountiful harvest. The common advantages of the berry crops presented in the photo are their high productivity, easy adaptability to changes in weather conditions, frost resistance, and short ripening period.

"Lucy Red"

The growing season of the plant is short, 105-120 days. The vine and soil can withstand temperatures down to -30°C. The bushes are scattered. The brushes are formed dense, conical in shape. The weight of one is 400-500 g. 200-218 centners are collected per hectare of plantings. The fruits acquire an elongated oval shape. Inside, when cut, a large number of seeds are observed. Immunity is high.

"Venus"

Blue sultana grapes are very rare. The growing season lasts about 120 days. The berries are round. The skin is not susceptible to cracking. The berries in the clusters are medium compacted, cylindrical or conical in shape. The variety is resistant to powdery mildew, but is susceptible to gray rot in rainy weather. In winter it does not freeze out at -25-26°C. The average weight of one brush is 200-300 grams. The harvest takes place in the second half of August. The average yield is 8-10 kilograms per plant.

"Moscow Muscat"

A berry crop with vigorous bushes and a short ripening period, 115-120 days. The yield per plant is 5-6 kilograms. Resistance to fungal diseases is average. The fruits ripen by the second half of August. The clusters are formed in a cone shape, the average weight reaches 400-500 grams. It is resistant to frost, withstands drops down to -25°C. The berries are oval, colored light green. The taste is pleasant, with a nutmeg aroma. Often affected by spider mites.

"Tenderness"

The vegetation cycle is 115-120 days. It is grown mainly on an industrial scale. The yield per hectare is 124 centners. The clusters are small, weighing 200-370 grams. Their shape resembles a cone. The bushes are vigorous. The fruits are oval, the skin is light green with a white tint. Shows high resistance to mildew, oidium, gray rot. Tolerates temperatures down to -22°C in winter.

"Lowland"

The variety is early ripening, the full cycle of formation and ripening is 120-130 days. The clusters are formed within 500-700 grams, oval-elongated. You can collect 6-7 kilograms from a bush. The berries are oval, dark red with a purple tint. Withstands drops down to -23°C. It has average resistance to diseases.

"Winner"

The variety is medium late, full ripening occurs in 135-150 days. The bunches reach an average of 800 grams. The maximum possible weight of the hand reached 2.5-3 kilograms. From one hectare, winegrowers harvest 140-145 centners. It exhibits high resistance to diseases. The fruits are red with a purple tint, oval in shape. Flowers are bisexual.

Advice!

It is recommended to plant grapes in the middle zone at the end of September, beginning of October.

"Transfiguration"

The growing season of grapes is 95-105 days. The clusters grow conical in shape and of medium density. On average, the weight reaches 700-1000 grams. The yield per hectare is 200-236 centners. The berries are formed elongated-cylindrical. The skin is pale pink. The flesh is dense and crispy. Resistance to diseases and pests is average.

"Lunar"

The ripening period is medium early, 120-130 days. The average weight of a brush reaches 500-600 grams. The yield per hectare is 130-140 quintals. The berries are set in a round-conical or round-cylindrical shape. The skin is colored white and pink. Has increased immunity to diseases. The variety is frost-resistant down to -22°C.

"Agat Donskoy"

Ripens in August. The berries are large, round in shape, rich dark blue in color. The brushes are formed into a cone shape. You can collect 14-15 kilograms from a bush. The berries fit tightly together. The mass of the brush reaches 400-500 grams. The plant can withstand temperatures down to -26°C. Shows high resistance to gray rot and mildew. Ripe grapes are harvested in the second half of August.

"Cocktail"

The grapes are early ripening, 95-105 days. Harvesting begins at the end of July, beginning of August. The tassels are tied in medium size, the shape is not clearly maintained. The weight of one reaches 400-600 grams. From one hectare, winegrowers managed to collect 322 centners. The skin of the berries is yellow with a green tint. The pulp is juicy, with one seed. The plant has high immunity to diseases. Frost resistance of the variety is -27°C.

"Libya K"

The full cycle of formation and maturation takes place within 105-115 days. The clusters are cylindrical-conical, with an average weight of 500-700 grams. The yield per hectare of plantings is 135-140 centners. The berries are pinkish, obtuse-ovoid in shape. Moderately resistant to diseases. Withstands temperatures down to -21°C in winter.

Educational information!

The skin of the fruit is the most useful part. Eating berries improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, and heart.

"Gourmet Krainova"

Berry picking occurs in the first half of August. The cycle of formation and maturation is 105-115 days. The brush resembles a cone or cylinder. The weight of a ripe bunch reaches 0.9-1.6 kilograms. The skin is pink with a burgundy tint. The pulp is juicy, there are no more than 2-3 seeds. The berries are ovoid. Productivity on an industrial scale reaches 180-200 centners.

"Helios"

The vegetation cycle of the hybrid is 95-105 days. Shows resistance to most common fungal diseases. The average hand weight is 0.5-0.7 kilograms. In winter, it can withstand temperatures down to -23°C. The yield per bush reaches 7-8 kilograms. The fruits are formed with a blunt ovoid shape. The skin is painted matte pink.

"Bogotyanovsky"

Table variety with an average ripening period of 115-120 days. The fruits are collected in loose clusters, the mass of which is 0.7-1.5 kilograms. The berries are oval in shape, the skin is light green. It was possible to collect 10-15 kilograms from one plant per 8 buds. Shows resistance to gray rot.

"White Early"

Early ripening grapes have a growing season of 105-120 days. Clusters are formed within 500-700 grams. The yield per hectare of vineyards is 128-130 centners. The berries are oval, the skin is yellow-green. The pulp is dense and tasty. Resists the attacks of mildew, gray rot and oidium.

"Chrysolite"

The table hybrid ripens by the second half of August. The tassels are tied with a mass of 0.5-0.6 kilograms. The yield per hectare is 220-240 centners. The berries are ovoid, green-yellow in color. The plant has average immunity to diseases. Frost resistance is at -23°C.

"Citrine"

The ripening period is short, by the beginning of August the fruits gain the necessary sweetness. The berries are large, egg-shaped, white, with a slight yellowness. The clusters are formed with medium density, weighing 400-800 grams. It exhibits good resistance to diseases of fungal origin. Tolerates cold down to -25°C.

Helpful information!

In rainy spring and summer, a large number of slugs appear and feed on the leaves of the berry crop. For preventive purposes, you can scatter coffee grounds near the bushes. Once on the body of the mollusks, caffeine penetrates inside, irritates their nervous system and they die.

“Pearl Pink (Scent of Summer)”

The growing season lasts 115-120 days. It has average resistance to frost, when the temperature drops below -20°C. freezes out. The yield per bush is 6-8 kilograms. The bunches are not too large, 500-600 grams. Rarely affected by diseases of fungal origin.

Transfiguration

The ripening period for this species is fast - 95-105 days. Gardeners fell in love with Transformation for its short ripening time, high yield and first-class taste properties.

The fruits are oval, very large, reaching up to 5 centimeters in size. The berries are juicy, light pink, sweet, and have a slight sour taste.

The brush can weigh from 1.5 to 3 kilograms, on average the weight reaches 700-1000 grams. Most often it has a cone shape. Moderately resistant to diseases and various pests.

Table varieties for the middle zone

Table grapes are especially valued in the middle zone. Eating fresh local berries is always more pleasant than those brought thousands of kilometers away.

"Aleshenkin"

The culture has a short growing season, 110-118 days. Seasonal yield per bush is 20-25 kilograms. The clusters are formed in a cone shape, with an average weight of 500-600 grams. The grapes are practically not resistant to frost; they can only withstand temperatures down to -20°C. Immunity to diseases is high. The berries are oval, yellow-green in color.

"Nutmeg Delight"

The ripening period is 110-115 days. Brushes are tied at 350-700 grams. Withstands outdoor temperatures down to -25°C. The berries are oval-round, their color is amber. Shows high resistance to oidium, mildew, gray rot.

"Diana"

Table grapes with medium ripening period. Fruit harvesting occurs in mid-September. The mass of the brush reaches 400-500 grams. The skin is dense, green-yellow in color. Poorly resists attacks from harmful fungi. During the growing season, 14 tons can be collected per hectare of plantings.

"Seedling Malengre"

The variety ripens within 110-115 days. The clusters grow in a wide conical shape. The fruits are round and medium in size. The skin is white with a yellow tint. During the growing season, winegrowers on an industrial scale managed to collect 75-80 centners per hectare. Frost resistance is high.

"Kodryanka"

The hybrid is early, the berry ripening period is 110-120 days. Frost resistance of bushes in winter is down to -22°C. Moderately resistant to mildew and oidium. The fruits are oval-elongated, colored matte violet-blue. 13-14 tons are harvested from one hectare of vineyards.

"Laura"

The growing season is short, 110-120 days. The clusters resemble a cone. The berries are oval, green-amber in color. The vine and buds do not freeze when the temperature drops to -26°C. Not attacked by gray rot. The average bush yield is 5-6 kilograms.

"Arcadia (Nastya)"

It begins to bear fruit in the second year after planting. The growing season is 115-120 days. The plant can withstand temperatures down to -23°C. The brushes are wide-conical, the weight of one reaches 700-800 grams. You can remove 20-40 kilograms of fruit from a bush. The berries are ovoid, white-amber in color.

"Victoria"

Berry picking occurs in the middle or end of August. The clusters are formed loosely. The oval-ovoid fruits are colored crimson-red. The average weight of the brush is 700-800 grams. Withstands temperatures down to -27°C in winter. You can collect 40-50 kilograms from a bush. Fungal diseases are not scary for the plant.

"Malengr (precox)"

Early ripening variety. The brushes are quite loose, the weight does not exceed 400 grams. 5-8 kilograms are collected from the bush. The berries are small, round, light green with a yellow tint. In rainy weather, ripe berries tend to rot. The plant has high frost resistance.

"Northern"

The grapes can withstand temperatures down to -30°C without shelter. The fruits are harvested at the end of August, the first half of September. The berries are round, deep blue in color with a matte waxy coating. The bunches are cylindrical in shape, with an average weight of 200 grams. Has a high degree of resistance to fungal diseases.

Important!

Before harvesting, 20 days before, do not treat plants with chemicals under any circumstances.

Lucy red

This variety is considered winter-hardy; it can withstand temperatures down to -30°C. The ripening process begins in mid-August, the berries are stored until late autumn.

The fruits of the grapes are red, large, oval and elongated. The clusters take on a cylindrical shape, each weighing 400-500 grams. From a whole hectare you can collect up to 200-220 centners of berries.

The plant's immunity is increased, and its resistance to various types of diseases is average. Berries are not affected by wasps.

Wine (technical) varieties

Wine berry crops need a lot of sun to get enough sugar. Elite grape varieties allowed winegrowers to produce excellent wine, despite the relatively short period of active sun during the summer in central Russia.

"Crystal"

Ripens in the first half of August. The berries are small, yellow-green. Their shape is round-oblong. Does not freeze when dropped to -29°C. The technical variety is very sugary. It makes an excellent white wine. 160-200 centners are harvested per hectare of vineyards. The bunches are loose, the weight of one reaches 200-300 grams.

"Platovsky nutmeg"

The wine variety has an ultra short ripening period. The brushes are not large, cylindrical or conical in shape, and their weight does not exceed 300 grams. The skin is dense, milky yellow. The taste is very sweet, with a nutmeg aftertaste. It has high frost resistance and is not attacked by fungal diseases.

Interesting fact!

More than 10 thousand grape varieties are officially registered throughout the world.

"Siegerrebe"

The grapes are early ripening. The fruits are pink, round. The clusters grow shapeless. Productivity depends on weather conditions and fertilizing, on average 50-120 centners per hectare. The variety is susceptible to chlorosis. It exhibits average resistance to other diseases. When overripe, the berries are prone to falling off the bunches. Perfect for blending.

"Solaris"

Ultra early variety, with vigorous bushes. In winter it tolerates frosts down to -25°C, without shelter. Has good immunity against oidium and mildew. The brushes are cylindrical, loose, weighing on average 150-200 grams. The fruits are round, light yellow in color with a green tint. It is used not only for processing into wine, but also for fresh consumption.

"Amethyst"

The berry ripening period is short. Brushes reach 300-400 grams. Their structure is loose. The fruits are round-oval. The skin is thickened, dark blue with a purple tint. Sugar in berries is in the range of 20-21%. Withstands frost down to -32°C without shelter. Used for processing into juice and wine.

"Bacchus"

Wine variety with early fruit ripening. The clusters grow dense, weighing up to 300 grams. The berries are the same size, round, yellow-green in color. The pulp is juicy and sweet. Often exposed to oidium. The yield is high, despite the small size of the berries and clusters.

"Bianca"

Sweet white grape with an almond flavor. Ripens in a short time. The brushes are loose, the weight does not exceed 200 grams. The fruits are used to make dessert wines. In winter, it can withstand frosts down to -27°C. Has high resistance to various types of powdery mildew. Harvest occurs in mid-to-late August.

"Nadezhda Altai"

The fruits ripen in the second half of August. The grapes are large, painted in a rich blue color. The shape is elongated oval, with a sharp nose. The clusters grow shapeless, weighing 800-1000 grams. Winegrowers managed to collect up to 15 kilograms from a bush.

"F-14-75"

The fruits form and fully ripen in 100-105 days. The vine ripens well. In winter, it can withstand frosts down to -26°C. The clusters are of medium density, the weight reaches 200-250 grams. Shows high resistance to diseases. The fruits are round in shape, with a creamy pink hue. The yield is not great.

Winner

This culture is classified as mid-late. The growing season is 135-150 days. The clusters are large, each weighing 700-800 grams. Experts recorded a hand weighing 3 kilograms.

The fruits of the Winner are very large, oval in shape. They are red in color with a hint of purple. From one hectare the harvest reaches 140-145 centners. It is moderately resistant to pests, but exhibits first-class resistance to diseases.

Reviews

Winegrowers in central Russia note that they are familiar with the descriptions of a large number of grapes. In practice, not many of the best varieties justify themselves. In unstable conditions, they need to devote more time than in the southern regions. Despite their high frost resistance, all varieties require shelter. If you do not cover, then in cases of even slight frosts or icing, the fruiting buds will freeze and there will be no harvest.

No matter how good a quality base a grape variety has, it needs constant care. If the simplest rules are not followed, it will not be possible to achieve a bountiful harvest.

Muscat Donskoy is a high-yielding variety for dry and dessert wines

This early-ripening, unpretentious and frost-resistant grape dates back to Soviet selection, but to this day it has not lost its importance for winemaking. Muscat Donskoy has a bright muscat taste and aroma.

Vigorous large-leaved bushes of the variety are prone to overload. The grape clusters are medium-sized, medium-dense, cylindrical-conical, the berries are small and medium-sized, round, blue-black, with juicy pulp.

The yield of the variety is always high, but during the growing season active preventive measures are required to protect against fungal diseases, and shelter for the winter.

Secrets of winemakers: how to determine the readiness of the harvest

To obtain good wine, the sugar and acid content of the berry is important. The higher it is, the better the taste and the higher the strength of the wine. If there is not enough of it, the taste of the wine will be inexpressive and flat. How to use algebra to verify harmony and understand whether it is time to harvest?

1. The description of the varieties indicates the sugar content of the juice (first number) and its acidity (second number). With a sugar to acid ratio of about 2/1, grapes and their juice are tasty regardless of the concentration. The taste of grapes with 12/6 is just as pleasant as with 20/10 - and it is called harmonious. With a ratio of 18/11 we feel a sour taste, 12/4 - neutral-sweet. The optimal ratios of these indicators for the production of wine from white “techies” are 19/8, from red ones – 21/9. Depending on site conditions and weather, indicators may vary. I measure sugar content with a refractometer and acidity with a titratable acidity test kit.
2. The pH value in wines and musts always remains within the range of 3.0–4.0. The optimal pH for white varieties is 3.2, for red varieties – 3.5. To check, just squeeze about 30 g of juice from freshly picked berries and take a measurement. I use a household pH meter to measure pH. When the indicators reach a given value, the crop must be urgently harvested.

• How to store grapes.
• You can contact the author of the article, the owner of a vineyard in the Tver region and our expert on viticulture, Olena Yuryevna Nepomnyashchaya.