Description, reviews and rules for growing the Zabava grape variety

Description and appearance

This is an early ripening table variety. Its growing season is 100-110 days.

Bush

Having seen a photo of the Zabava bush, many are amazed at its vigor. In just 1 year, with proper care, the plant can grow up to 3-4 meters in height. The vine ripens well, so there are no problems with wintering. If you cut cuttings, they quickly grow roots. The fun grows well on absolutely any rootstock. The flowers of the grape are bisexual, so there are no problems with setting.

Bunches

Zabava has them of the correct conical shape. Their average weight is 1-1.5 kilograms, and the maximum reaches 2. The clusters are not very dense, so the berries inside are not damaged. The comb is of medium length.

Berries

Zabava has commercially attractive bunches. They are dark blue, large and oval. The average weight of one berry is 10-15 grams. Inside, the flesh is crispy and dense, and the skin itself is very thin. Not prone to peas, they do not crack due to moisture.

Productivity

Zabava is a new variety that is just being introduced to gardens and vineyards. Perhaps this is why data on its yield could not be found. Correlating its yield with the yield of other grape varieties similar in weight of bunches and their number per bush, I would determine its yield at 25-30 kg per bush. The figure, although not a record, is very, very decent.

Since grapes are table grapes, their main purpose is to be consumed fresh. You can also make juices and jam from Zabava berries.

Judging by some reviews from gardeners, who noticed that berries that hang on the vine for a long time dry out a little and “raisin,” Zamava can also be used to prepare tasty, sweet raisins. But there is no data on such use of its berries yet.

Features of planting grapes

Zabava grapes do not require any special growing conditions. It is enough to fill the planting hole well and water the plant regularly to prevent it from drying out.

Site selection and preparation

It is recommended to plant Zabava, like any other grape varieties, in sunny areas. It is best that they are protected from drafts, but no structures shade the bushes. For planting, it is necessary to dig a hole at least 70 cm deep in advance. Any weeds are also removed.

Recommended timing

Zabava can be planted in both autumn and spring. At the end of the year, this is done no later than October, and in northern conditions - September. The bushes need time for successful rooting, which will help them survive the winter without loss. If you are going to plant in the spring, then do it from late April to mid-May.

How to select and prepare seedlings

Many winegrowers recommend buying seedlings in the fall. At this time, young planting material is sold. In the spring, what remains is what was not sold in the fall. If you purchase a seedling before the start of the season, then pay attention to the condition of its root system: it must be absolutely healthy. Before planting, it is recommended to soak the plants in a solution of Kornevin or another root former.

Step by step planting process

Planting Fun is very easy. You can use the following algorithm:

1. Dig a planting hole. Make it large enough, at least 80*80 centimeters;
2. Make drainage at the bottom of the hole. You can use crushed stone, broken bricks or small pebbles. This will help the water drain away and the roots not to rot;
3. Mix the soil from the site with fertile soil, add organic matter or some kind of mineral fertilizer. Build a small mound from this mixture, and place the seedling on it, straightening the roots;
4. Begin to carefully cover the plantings, but so as not to damage the plant;
5. When the hole is completely filled, compact the soil. Then pour it with 2-3 buckets of settled water;
6. Shade the seedling for a while so that the scorching sun does not cause burns.

Diseases and pests

The fun is heavily damaged by wasps and requires constant protection.
If possible, it is necessary to destroy all wasp nests located near the vineyard. You can try spraying the bunches with pure table vinegar. Watering the soil under the grapes with so-called liquid smoke helps a lot.

Some gardeners wrap ripe grapes with thin gauze bags. But in this case, they will have to be checked regularly to avoid rotting.

Other pests are no less dangerous for this variety:

• spider mite;
• phylloxera;
• grape mite;
• leaf roller.

Spider mites feed on plant sap and live on the inside of grape leaves. Its appearance can be detected by regularly inspecting the leaves.

Small dark dots appear on the damaged surface. It is necessary to begin the fight against mites in advance, avoiding the formation of cobwebs on the leaves. Spraying with special preparations or infusion of onion peels helps. Phylloxera is one of the most dangerous grape pests. The only way to prevent its occurrence is by growing grapes on phylloxera-resistant rootstocks.

It can only be dealt with by completely uprooting and burning the entire vineyard. To combat leafy phylloxera, spray with a special emulsion. Treating the soil with fumigants helps control the root form.

The grape mite is in many ways similar to the spider mite. If spots are found on the leaves, immediately treat with insecticides.

The leaf roller butterfly infects the leaves and shoots of grapes. It overwinters under the bark of the plant. Control methods include chemical treatment and destruction of old standard bark.

Despite the fact that Zabava is resistant to various rots and oidium, it can be affected by mildew. This is the most dangerous fungal disease of grapes.

It appears in the form of small oily spots on the leaves. After some time, the spots grow, become covered with a white coating and the affected leaves die. The disease can spread to bunches and shoots and destroy the plant.

Treatment with special preparations, the use of phosphorus-potassium fertilizer, removal of affected shoots and leaves, and thorough mulching of the soil can help in the fight against mildew.

As for such common grape diseases as anthracnose, chlorosis, bacteriosis, rubella and bacterial cancer, you can read more about them in separate materials on the site and take all the necessary preventive measures.

In general, Zabava is great for planting in a summer cottage. It is not afraid of frost, has a beautiful appearance and great taste. Its main advantage is the ability to grow in fairly cold regions and early ripening.

Zabava's large, sweet berries and its ease of care will not leave anyone indifferent. This grape variety can be recommended for cultivation even by novice gardeners.

Among the unpretentious varieties, it is also worth paying attention to Giovanni, Denisovsky and Aladdin. A short introductory video of the Zabava grapes:

A short introductory video of the Zabava grapes:

Reproduction methods

The Zabava variety reproduces quite well. In just a couple of months you can get quite strong seedlings.

By layering

At the beginning of summer, take a woody shoot that has already produced fruit and dig it into the ground. In this case, the bark can be slightly damaged to speed up the formation of roots. In just 2-3 months you will be able to separate the shoot from the mother bush and get a well-developed seedling.

Autumn cuttings

In the fall, take lignified cuttings 10-15 centimeters long, then carefully place them in a dry place. At the end of winter, take out the cuttings, soak them in some stimulant for 1-2 days and place them in water or a damp substrate. By May, roots will have grown on the cuttings, and you will be able to plant the plant.

Summer cuttings

Residents of the southern regions will be able to propagate Zabava by summer cuttings. To do this, take a part of the vine with 2 leaves, the bottom one opens. The lower part of the shoot is placed in a moist substrate and a greenhouse is organized so that the temperature inside is above 30 degrees. By autumn you can get a full-fledged seedling.

a brief description of

The description of the variety shows that the grapes do not require a large number of chemical treatments, since they are practically not susceptible to disease. Not affected by rot.

Fun berries close-up

The grape variety belongs to the early species, the growing season is 100-115 days.

In summer, berries actively absorb the sun and accumulate sugar slowly but effectively. The grapes are unpretentious, compatible with most rootstocks and can be propagated without problems by cuttings.

A load of 40-45 eyes per bush is allowed. The clusters are located closer to the base of the bush, so short and medium pruning (6-7 buds) is possible. Since the variety is high-yielding, there is a high probability of overloading the bushes with large and heavy bunches. It is recommended to prune annual shoots annually, leaving as many eyes as possible. The side branches of this variety are the most productive, so there should be at least 4-5 eyes left here.

Fun cuttings root easily

The cuttings of the Zabava hybrid take root well. The variety tolerates transportation well over long distances, maintaining high qualitative and quantitative characteristics.

Descriptions and experiments show that large yields are harvested when growing grapevines on black soil or mature bushes with a large number of woody shoots. Refers to varieties with average frost resistance. It does not require shelter in regions where winters are not very harsh and frosty. Resistance to mildew - 3.5 points, oidium - 3.0 points. Wasps and other pests love grapes.

Positive Characteristics: Fun

1. Large, tasty marketable berries.
2. High frost resistance (-25 C).
3. Preservation of presentation during transportation over long distances.
4. High yield.

Fun bush with harvest and bird net

The description of the variety indicates that it contains a number of valuable substances: vitamins, microelements, fiber and carbohydrates that provide energy. That's not all. This valuable fruit contains antioxidants.

Resveratrol is found in and under the skin of grapes, which protects against cancer and slows down the aging process. Grape seeds contain compounds called proanthocyanidins, which are also antioxidants and boost immunity. Therefore, you should not get rid of the seeds; it is recommended to eat them and even bite them.

Grape seeds contain beneficial substances

The Zabava variety contains many antioxidants, and one hundred grams of fruit contains 0.5 ml of resveratrol.

Rules for growing and care

The Zabava grape variety is unpretentious. On your part, you only need to follow a number of recommendations that will allow you to achieve maximum yield.

Irrigation scheme

Zabava’s watering scheme is quite simple - you just need to prevent the earthen clod from drying out. But do not overdo it, because the plant does not like overly wet soil. To facilitate the watering process, it is recommended to make trenches 30 cm from the bush in which water will be retained.

Water the bushes immediately after waking up, before flowering and after harvesting, adding 30-40 liters of water. Pay special attention to autumn watering, which nourishes the plant for wintering.

Mulching the soil

To keep the soil loose and moist as long as possible, it is mulched. This method also protects against weeds and almost completely eliminates the need for weeding. Winegrowers claim that good mulching helps speed up the ripening of the crop by 1-2 weeks.

Application of fertilizing and fertilizers

In order for the grapes to bear fruit well from year to year, they need to be fed. The standard diagram looks like this:

• After awakening the kidneys - nitroammofoska or other nitrogen fertilizer;
• In summer - mullein infusion, green fertilizer;
• In autumn - phosphorus-potassium fertilizing.

Note! You should not overfeed Zabava, as this may worsen her wintering.

Garter shoots

Zabava shoots need to be tied to a trellis. They form heavy clusters, which can cause them to break or lie on the ground.

Shaping and pruning vines

Every year, before wintering, the grapes need to be shaped. In autumn it is necessary to shorten annual shoots. You can leave no more than 7 eyes on them.

Rationing of bunches

Fun is very prone to escape overload. For this variety there is one simple rule: one shoot - one bunch. Then they turn out large and full, weighing 1-1.5 kilograms.

Shelter for the winter

Zabava grape bushes are grown with shelter for the winter. The variety can withstand frosts only down to -21 degrees; if the temperature is lower, the vines begin to be damaged. To cover the grapes, their shoots are removed from the supports and bent to the ground, after which they are wrapped in covering material or covered with peat. You can also use spruce branches for shelter.

The shelter is completely removed only when the threat of return frosts has passed (they can damage young buds). But if the grapes are formed along a trellis, the new shoots will still withstand light frosts.

Protection from pests and diseases

If you provide Zabava with comprehensive and competent treatments, no diseases or pests will be afraid of this grape. The variety is sufficiently resistant to mildew, oidium, and gray rot. To protect grapes from them, it is necessary to treat them with copper or sulfur-containing preparations, most often this is done with vitriol or Bordeaux mixture. Insecticides such as Iskra or Fitoverm help against pests.

Description of the Zabava grape variety

This species was obtained by crossing the Laura and Codryanka grapes. Its author is the Ukrainian amateur breeder V.V. Zagorulko. Zabava grapes are often called Black Laura. The variety is very early, ripening in only 100-110 days. Thanks to its rapid ripening, it can be grown not only in the south or in the middle regions, but even in the Urals or Siberia.

Photo of homemade grape variety Zabava

The fun is considered a sweet, table type. The vine is vigorous and ripens along almost its entire length. In 2 years the vine reaches 4 meters. The flowers are bisexual, which simplifies cultivation and has a positive effect on the amount of harvest.

Important! Zabava grapes can be grown in cold areas, but to prevent the bush from freezing in winter, it needs to be insulated.

The bunches weigh 1 kg, but more often - 600-700 g. The bunch is cone-shaped, not very dense. The berries are large, weigh up to 11 g, but there are also smaller ones - 5-6 g, oval in shape. The peel of the Zabava variety is blue-black, with a clearly visible pruin coating on top. The pulp has a high juice content, crunches when bitten, and is sweet. There are approximately 3 seeds in each berry.

Comparison with analogues

About the variety Pyzhova V.M.

The hybrid form of pink large-fruited grapes “Paradise”, popularly bred by Vladimir Mitrofanovich Pyzhov, appeared much earlier than V.U. Kapelyushny’s. The hybrid “Paradise” from Pyzhov is the result of crossing two parent forms of grapes, the varieties “Kishmish Radiant” and “Original”.

Agro-biological characteristics:

Growing season for the grape variety “Raisky” selected by Pyzhov V.M. lasts about 120-130 days. This classifies the form as an early hybrid form in terms of maturity. The grapes are usually ready for harvest in mid-August. It is not recommended to keep it on the bushes for a long time, as the form bursts from excess moisture after rains.

The growth force of the vines of self-rooted bushes is strong, growing up to 5-6 meters per season. The shoots stretch intensively, but ripen well, although they have many stepsons. The ripening of vines per season is about 80%. The cuttings root well.

When pruning the vines of an adult bush, about 50 buds are left. This hybrid loves medium pruning of vines with 6-8 eyes. Clusters develop from 3-6 buds.

Frost resistance:

“Paradise” selection by Pyzhov V.M. is a winter-hardy variety. The hybrid form has increased frost resistance -21-23°C. It is covered for the winter in the southern regions to increase the chances of good preservation of all central fruit buds and improve next year's harvests. Young bushes especially need to be insulated for the winter during the first three years of their life, until they have gained strong wood.

Flowering type:

According to the nature of flowering, Pyzhov’s hybrid belongs to the bisexual forms of grapes. Not susceptible to peas. In years with normal timing of the beginning of spring, flowering of the vine bushes occurs in early June.

Productivity:

“Paradise” from Pyzhov in terms of yield is within the average range. One adult bush brings about 20 kilograms of harvest.

Characteristics of the bunches:

Brushes shaped by Pyzhova V.M. “Paradise” has a regular conical shape with “wings”. The density of berries in the bunches is average, most often the bunch is loose. The berries in the bunch are not deformed. The bunch weighs from 800 to 1500 grams. If you ration the bunches on the bushes, then if you leave one bunch on the shoot, the weight of the bunches can increase to 2.0-2.5 kg. The length of the bunch is about 40-50 centimeters.

Characteristics of berries:

The grape berries of this variety have a very beautiful elongated “fingers” shape. They reach 40-50 mm in length and 25-30 mm in width. The weight of the berries is 10-15 grams. On average about 12 grams. The color changes during ripening from yellow-pink to pink-red throughout the berry. Inside, the berries have juicy but dense sugary pulp. The skin is thin and cannot be felt when eating. The taste is very good and harmonious.

The balance of sugars and acids becomes optimal at the end of July and at the beginning of August. When the grapes are fully ripe, they improve. Sugar accumulation – 16-18%, acid content – ​​6-7%. Taster rating: 7.8 points.

Resistance to grape diseases:

The hybrid “Paradise”, bred by Pyzhov, is characterized by average resistance to vine diseases. In normal years, the variety does not require additional treatments other than standard ones.

Transportable properties:

Hybrid form Pyzhova V.M. transfers transportation over medium distances. The variety does not tolerate longer transportation due to cracking of the berries from strong shaking.

Table of general characteristics of the variety

Pros and cons of the variety

The Zabava variety has many advantages. These include:

• Early fruit ripening;
• Commercial appearance of berries;
• High yield;
• They withstand transportation well;
• Cuttings take root easily and quickly;
• Possibility of long-term storage;
• Not susceptible to pests and diseases;
• High frost resistance.

Of course, like any other variety, Zabava has some disadvantages. Bushes must be rationed, as they are prone to overload. Also, grape fruits often become a target for birds and wasps, which is why the bunches must be hidden in special bags.

Disease and pest control

The Zabava variety is often damaged by wasps, so protection against them is mandatory. If possible, all wasp nests near the bushes are destroyed. Some gardeners spray the grapes with table vinegar. The method of watering the soil under grapes with “liquid smoke” is considered effective.

A more painstaking way to combat insects is to cover the grape bunches with a bag of thin gauze. But in this case, you need to constantly check the bunches for rotting.

Pests

Other insects are also dangerous for this variety:

1. Spider mite. This pest lives on the inside of grape leaves. You can see it by regularly inspecting the leaves. Dark dots form on the diseased surface. You need to start fighting ticks as early as possible. In this way, the formation of cobwebs can be avoided. The insect can be destroyed by spraying with special solutions or an infusion of onion peels.
2. Phylloxera is the most dangerous pest for Zabava grapes. It can only be dealt with in a radical way - uprooting and burning the entire plant. The leaf type of phylloxera is combated by spraying with special means. Fumigants used to treat the soil help control the root species.
3. The signs of a grape mite in the photo are similar to those of a spider mite. Therefore, the treatment of this tick is identical.
4. The leaves and shoots of the plant are infested by the leaf roller butterfly. The butterfly prefers to winter under the bark of grapes. To combat, chemical treatment is used, and the old bark is also destroyed.

Diseases

The Zabava grape variety is resistant to various rotten diseases, but can still be damaged by mildew. This fungal disease is dangerous for grapes.

The disease appears as oil spots on the foliage. Over time, the spots enlarge and turn white, then the affected leaves fall off. If you do not fight the disease, it can spread to the shoots and bunches, thereby destroying the grapes.

The main measures to protect against the disease are the timely removal of damaged and broken branches. But the vine should also not be allowed to touch the soil. Among chemical preparations, fungicides are effective.

The appearance of gray dust is a symptom of oidium. Colloidal sulfur (1.5%) and fungicides help in the fight against this disease.

Reviews from experienced winegrowers

Generally, winegrowers speak well of Zabav. The plant received a lot of rave reviews. First of all, the variety is valued for its excellent taste. The plant is also unpretentious; standard agrotechnical practices are enough for it.

Zabava is an excellent variety with dark purple berries. It is absolutely unpretentious, although it requires winter shelter. The plant responds well to fertilizing and responds to it with an excellent harvest. The fungus is not susceptible to fungal diseases; preventative treatments are sufficient so that the seedling does not cause problems.

Advantages of the variety “Zabava”

The main advantages of the variety:

• pleasant (sweet) taste;
• high yield;
• excellent frost resistance;
• resistance to many diseases;
• has an excellent appearance and tolerates transportation well.

It is worth noting the beneficial properties of grapes. The variety contains many valuable vitamins and microelements, carbohydrates and fiber. Berries contain various antioxidants. The skin of grapes contains a substance that prevents the formation of cancer cells and slows down the aging of the body. Grape grains contain components that have a beneficial effect on human immunity. Many people recommend eating grapes with their seeds, biting them into pieces.

Grapes fun

“An excellent option for getting early fruits. The berry is not only tasty, but also very beautiful in appearance. Every year I rejoice at the wonderful and bountiful harvest.”

“For the first time, “Zabava” was bought as cuttings in a special store. Last year I planted 4 vegetative seedlings. They took root very well and grew well. Today the increase on each is about 5 meters. I would especially note the unpretentiousness of the species and resistance to many types of diseases.”

“I am amazed by the power of the seedlings. The seedling produced one shoot, which grew to 4 meters with a diameter of 8–9 mm. The entire vine grew to one meter. There were no traces of disease during the year. Very impressed with this variety. And the taste of the grapes is excellent. I recommend “Zabava” to all my friends for boarding.”