Arcadia grapes. everything about the variety, harvest secrets, planting, pruning and care

03/27/2021 423 Liana

Author: Anatoly

Arcadia grapes were obtained several decades ago in the form of a hybrid at the Ukrainian Research Institute of Vital and Vital Plants named after. V. E. Tairova. Uses an alternative name - "Nastya". This table variety is one of the top ten popular crops, thanks to the excellent taste of the fruit and the resistance of the vine to adverse factors.

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Origin

The hybrid variety, previously known as “Nastya,” was bred by Soviet breeders in the city of Odessa.
It is noteworthy that two varieties of black grapes were taken as “parents” - Moldova and Cardinal. Despite the fact that both berries have dark skin, Arcadia is a light variety. By crossing Moldova and Cardinal, several more hybrids were obtained.

However, among all the “children” Arcadia is considered the best. The Arcadia variety has two subspecies:

Arcadia pink. The berries of this grape are smaller, appropriately colored and have a brighter taste. Another advantage of this variety is its resistance to changes in humidity. After selective refinement, it is better known as Helios.
Arcadia early. Ripens faster, attracts less insects and is more resistant to oidium. However, it tolerates frosts worse.

History of selection

“Arcadia” was bred in the late 80s of the last century by Odessa breeders of the NSC Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking named after. V. E. Tairova by crossing popular “dark” table varieties: “Moldova” and “Cardinal”.

Grape varieties that served as parent forms: “Moldova” (left) and “Cardinal” (right)

After successful state tests, in 1995, “Arcadia” was officially registered in the Register of Plant Varieties of Ukraine, recommending it for cultivation in Transcarpathia, the central and western regions of the Odessa region. It was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation only in 2009 and approved for cultivation in the North Caucasus region, where soil and climatic conditions allow the variety to maximize its potential.

Over the past decade, testing of this variety of crop has been regularly carried out in private agricultural lands of the western (steppe) Crimea, the Kursk region (Central Black Earth region of Russia), as well as in the Zaporozhye region (Ukraine) and in Belarus.

You can get acquainted with the features of “Arcadia” in more detail from the video filmed by a Belarusian amateur winegrower:

Planting and care

It is recommended to propagate and plant young bushes by cuttings. In this case, the plant’s root system quickly develops, and the bush takes root well.

Germination can be done at room temperature. Even a test tube is suitable for this.

Seedlings should be placed on the site so that they receive enough light and are not exposed to drafts.

When planting a plant, it is advisable to immediately install a support on which the young bush can be tied.

Climate, growing region

Due to the fact that Arcadia grapes ripen quickly and easily adapt to climatic conditions, they are actively grown in regions such as:

North Caucasus;
Crimea;
Volgograd;
Tver region;

Moscow region;
Belarus;
Ukraine.

In particular, this variety is resistant to frost. Without shelter, it persists when the temperature drops to -21ºС. In colder regions, if provided with shelter, it can withstand up to -28ºС.

Advice!
Of all the methods of insulating grapes, hilling is best suited for Arcadia. The recommended height of the covering layer is 30 cm.

When insulating in regions with harsh winters, gardeners additionally use spruce branches, sawdust or straw for covering, covering them with film or spunbond on top.

The soil

The plant is not too demanding on soil. Basic criteria for good soil:

moisture permeability;
breathability.

Water should not stagnate on the site. Otherwise, the roots will rot and the bush will die. The following types of soil are suitable for planting Arcadia:

loam;
clayey;
sandy;

sandy loam;
black soil

Planting Arcadia grapes

The procedure for planting seedlings must be taken very seriously; the amount of harvest per season depends on this. When choosing a location, you need to pay attention to the light-loving nature of the grapes and place the plant on the south side. Keeping in mind the intolerance of soil moisture, you should exclude the presence of groundwater near the vineyard and the possibility of stagnation of water.

Selection of grape seedlings

The ideal period for purchasing young seedlings is considered to be the period right before planting. Most often, this hybrid is propagated by cuttings, which have the ability to adapt to the environment, allowing it to take root faster.

The classic option is to purchase grape seedlings from nurseries that specialize in growing this crop. Usually, when choosing seedlings, attention is paid to the general condition. The seedling should look strong, robust, and also correspond to the characteristics of the Arcadia grape variety.

You can propagate grapes yourself - using cuttings from an already fruiting plant. Typically, a seedling obtained in this way needs shelter in winter.

Rules for planting Arcadia grapes

Grapes are planted with the onset of spring. Typically equated to the period from early April to late May. When focusing on these periods, you should not forget about the temperature regime. The warmth of the external environment should correspond to 15°C, and the ground should warm up to 10°C.

Experts do not recommend lowering seedlings into cold soil. It still won’t develop at low temperatures, but it may die. Planting in autumn in October is also allowed.

The purchased seedling should be kept in water for 24 hours to prevent the roots from drying out. When starting planting directly, experienced winegrowers advise performing the procedure in cloudy weather or at other times with gentle sun.

Soil preparation

The Arcadia grape variety surprises with its unpretentiousness to the soil.

Ready to disembark at:

black soil;
loamy soil;
clay soil;
sandy soil;
sandy loam soil.

To obtain healthy shoots, the shrub should be provided with high-quality planting material. The soil must maintain light structure and fertility, so before planting it is necessary to enrich it with organic matter or a mineral complex, which includes phosphorus and potassium.

The soil preparation procedure is as follows:

Like any plant, it is necessary to prepare a drainage layer to protect the roots. For planting grapes, a square-shaped hole with parameters of 70*70 cm is prepared. A layer of crushed stone or large pebbles or improvised material in the form of broken bricks is placed on the bottom. The drainage used should form a layer of 15 cm.
The next step is to pour a mixture of fertile soil, river sand, humus in proportions 1:1:1, add additives in a small amount of 20 grams. saltpeter, 50 gr. superphosphate and 50 gr. nitrophoska. A layer 20 cm thick is formed.
The last layer is to add 10 cm of rotted manure for nutrition.
Then pour 10 liters of hot water. Favorable temperature is 70–80°C.

After planting, the following manipulations are carried out with the soil:

A wooden stake is dug in next to each plant, to which grape shoots will need to be tied.
After planting, the soil surface is mulched with moss or sawdust.

Landing technique

The technique of planting Arcadia grapes consists of performing certain actions:

The cutting is placed at the bottom of the prepared hole, filled halfway with soil, then watered with warm water. The required volume is 10–20 liters.
After absorbing the moisture, add enough soil so that there is 15 cm to the edge of the hole. The remaining space will serve for subsequent watering.
To prevent excessive evaporation of soil, it is possible to cover the edges of the hole with polyethylene. For convenience, it is recommended to make a cross-shaped cut in the middle of the film, and insert a cutting through the resulting hole.

After planting, the seedlings should be slightly shaded so that they take root better and faster. After a couple of weeks, when the seedlings adapt, the shelter should be removed.

Features of cultivation

Arcadia grapes are not recommended for beginners, because despite a certain unpretentiousness, they require careful care.

Expert opinion

Nikolay Kiushkin

Winegrower with 10 years of experience, blogger

Arcadia is a productive market variety whose lower buds bear fruit best. The ripening of the vine is worse than that of many other varieties. The taste is harmonious. The taste of nutmeg acquires only in September, but it may not be there if the autumn is cold. It is resistant to midleaf about the same as Kodryanka.

Planting and Harvest Time

The holes for planting must be prepared before the end of March, and the seedlings themselves must be rooted in April. The first harvest can be obtained two years after planting, but it is not worth collecting.

Arcadia begins to bear fruit fully in the third or fourth year.

Watering and fertilizers

Grape bushes must be watered regularly so that the berries fill with juice and grow large enough. When heavy watering is necessary:

before the bush blooms;
in dry weather;
before planting the crop;
for moisture recharging of the soil before insulation for the winter.

At the specified time, it is necessary to water the grapes a couple of times a week at the rate of 10-15 liters per bush.

Feeding is mainly required for adult plants, since young Arcadia bushes usually have enough nutrients contained in the soil. How to properly fertilize adult plants:

Before flowering - with manure or liquid mineral fertilizers.
A couple of weeks before the formation of the ovaries - a solution of potassium magnesia and ammonium nitrate.
A couple of weeks before harvesting - fertilizers containing potassium and superphosphates.

As gardeners note, there should not be a lot of nitrogen in the soil, but grapes respond very well to fertilizers with phosphorus.

Trimming

One of the most important aspects of grape care. Allows you to solve key problems of bush development.

When pruning occurs:

rejuvenation;
formation of new shoots;
stimulating the growth of existing shoots.

Although both options are suitable for Arcadia grapes, when grown in the middle climate zone, it is recommended to remove excess shoots in the fall. In this case, the plant will overwinter better.

When to prune:

in early spring - remove frozen shoots;
in late autumn - cut off the weathered areas.

Which shoots to remove:

those that bear fruit, new clusters will no longer form on them;
weak - the best product can be obtained only from the strongest shoots.

Note!
As experienced gardeners note, in order to form large and juicy berries, one bunch of grapes should be formed on one shoot.

With regular, proper pruning, you can get a rich harvest. Otherwise, the vine will be overloaded, and the berries will not have time to ripen in time, or will be crushed. It is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

leave no more than 40 eyes per bush;
leave no more than 4 sleeves;
When flowering, normalize the brushes so that one bunch is formed on one shoot;
After winter, remove all frozen shoots.

Diseases and pests

Oidium

Mildew (downy mildew)

Wasps

The Arcadia variety has average resistance to infection.

Diseases:

mildew or downy mildew - resistance at 3.5 points, requires an average of two preventive sprayings;
Omidium - standard preventive treatment is required.

Protection against fungal diseases:

medium concentration potassium permanganate solution;
mullein solution;
preparations based on colloidal or ground sulfur.

Pest protection:

Insects - wasps, leaf rollers, phylloxera, flea beetles, borers, weevils, leaf miners. To combat them, you can use insecticides, acaricides, chlorophos, dichlorvos and boric acid.
Mice. They pose a threat in autumn and winter, when they are in search of food and can chew on the vine. To protect the bush from them, you can spray the branches with nitrafen. Or, during insulation, place rubber or burnt wool next to the vine so that the pungent odors repel rodents.
Birds. In many regions they are repelled by birds of prey, such as kites or hawks. It wouldn't hurt to get a cat. You can also install a scarecrow or cover planting areas with metal or polymer nets.

It is undesirable to use fishing nets made from fishing line, because birds get entangled in them and die.

Most often, the presentation of grapes is spoiled by wasps. This occurs when the berries become overripe and burst, releasing a sweet, aromatic juice that attracts insects. To avoid this, it is recommended to harvest the crop as soon as possible after ripening.

Description of the plant and specifics of cultivation

The vine is of medium vigor, with well-ripening shoots. The perennial parts of the bush are covered with reddish, coarse-fibrous bark. Fruitful shoots range from 55 to 80%, on average the load per each is 0.9-1.14 bunches (maximum - 1.33-1.5). The leaves are simple, large, five-lobed, slightly dissected, light emerald green, smooth, matte, slightly pubescent on the underside. The petiolar recess is open, with a sharp bottom and a neatly cut jagged edge. The flowers are slightly greenish, small (3-5 mm in diameter), bisexual. For full fruiting of Arcadia, joint planting with pollinating varieties is not required.

With a placement pattern of 3.0 x 2.5 m and a non-covering system for maintaining rooted bushes, it is better to carry out a standard-free fan-shaped four-arm formation using a single-plane vertical trellis. To obtain a high-quality harvest, experienced winegrowers advise trimming the fruit shoots by 6-10 buds. The advantage of this system is the presence of a sleeve on which simple fruit links are located. For "Arcadia" it is recommended to leave approximately 40-60 healthy eyes per bush.

Advantages and disadvantages

Many gardeners choose this particular grape variety because it has many more advantages than disadvantages. Let's take a closer look at the advantages of Arcadia:

early ripening;
attractive appearance;
calmly tolerates transportation over long distances;
practically not covered with black spots;
the berries do not fall off for a long time;
does not require additional pollination;
rapid rooting of cuttings;
relatively long shelf life;
pleasant harmonious taste;
frost resistance;
resistance to mildew;
low maintenance requirements.

without preventive treatment, it is easily infected with gray rot and oidium;
bushes crack if the soil is too wet, or if there are frequent changes in humidity in the area;
prone to overload with the harvest, which is why the berries begin to shrink;
does not tolerate the slightest shade; can only be planted in well-lit areas;
It grows poorly if it is often blown by cold winds and drafts.

Reproduction

The easiest way to propagate Arcadia is to use cuttings. After autumn pruning, any winegrower is left with a lot of mature vines that have been pruned and which can be perfectly rooted in the spring. Here you can read a detailed article about pruning, but in short.

At the end of October-beginning of November, cut cuttings from a mature vine into 3 buds;
Put them in the cellar for the winter; if the quantity is small, then in the refrigerator;
In March, take out the cuttings, renew the cuts with a sharp knife or pruning shears, soak them in water for a day, treat the lower part of the cuttings with Kornevin or Clonex gel (expensive, but very effective);
Pour 7-10 mm into the bath. water and place all the cuttings vertically in it, after about 2-3 weeks the roots will appear.
As soon as the roots reach a size of about 5-7 mm. - plant the cuttings in cups and then transplant them into open ground somewhere in late May - early June, when the threat of return frosts has passed.

Experienced winegrowers increase the yields of the variety they like by grafting; we also have a separate article about this method. The easiest way is to tilt the young vine to the ground, lightly pull the shoot with a wire at the point of contact with the ground, lightly scratch the lines on the surface of the vine with a knife, and sprinkle the place where the wire is tied with earth. In the future, you will only need to keep the soil moist.

Comparison with other varieties

Let's compare the key characteristics of Arcadia with White Delight and Timur

Variety name	Arcadia	Delight white	Timur
Ripening period	110-120 days	110-115 days	105-115 days
Frost resistance	High, up to -28ºС	High, up to -25ºС	High, up to -25ºС
Productivity	Up to 50 kg per bush	Up to 50 kg per bush	Up to 20 kg per bush
Bunches	Up to 2 kg	Up to 2 kg	Up to 0.6 kg
Taste	Medium sweet with light nutmeg notes	Harmonious	Tart, with a hint of nutmeg
Color	Amber-honey	Cream	White-amber
Disease resistance	Average	High	High
Shelf life	Up to 4 months	Up to 3 months	Less than a month
Sugar accumulation	14-16%	19-26%	17-22%
Acidity	6 g/l	5-9 g/l	6-9 g/l

Productivity and ripening time

The plant produces its first signal harvest in the 2nd year after planting, marketable fruiting begins in the 4th - the bushes yield an average of 25 kg.

When cultivating “Arcadia” in the steppe Crimea (city of Saki), a yield of 24.2 t/ha (18.16 kg per bush) was recorded.

Suitable soil and climatic conditions for the variety, competent agricultural technology and proper formation contribute to regular high yields. For example, in the natural conditions of the Kursk region, with a trellis 4-arm bush management system and pruning according to the Guyot system, three-year-old plantings demonstrated a productivity of 6.9 kg per plant or 7.4 t/ha (1062 bushes per 1 ha). In the Transcarpathian region, the yield indicators amounted to 4.4 kg per plant (12.3 t/ha).

Removable maturity occurs 115-125 days after bud break . The clusters can remain on the bush for a long time without deteriorating the quality of the fruit.

The berries are firmly held on the stalks and do not fall off even with delays in harvesting

In the agroclimatic conditions of the Odessa region and the Krasnodar Territory, the taste and aroma are revealed in the first ten days of August; in central Russia, the ripening period is postponed by 2-3 weeks (end of August - first ten days of September). A timely and competently harvested crop can be stored well in the refrigerator for more than 2 months. The juicy pulp is perfectly protected from damage by the dense skin, which is practically not damaged during transportation, so the variety is recommended both for private gardening and for industrial cultivation for commercial purposes.

The opinion of an experienced Russian gardener about the yield potential can be found in the following video:

Reviews from gardeners

Solovyova Anna

village Agroles amateur gardener

I grow Arcadia grapes in a spring-summer greenhouse. One of my favorite varieties is fast-growing, frost-resistant, and produces a high yield every year. Ripens steadily by August 20-25, by this time it is already quite sweet. It is resistant to a number of diseases even without treatment.

Sokhanev Evgeniy Anatolievich

Stavropol region, st. Temnolesskaya

Arcadia is very sensitive to load, especially young bushes. It is advisable to grow perennial wood, otherwise there will be problems with the ripening of shoots.

Harvest and storage

Harvesting is done selectively as the bunches ripen. Their color will indicate the ripeness of the berries: they become amber or yellow-green, slightly transparent. Remove ripe clusters by hand, cut with pruners, scissors or a knife. When harvesting, try not to erase the waxy web on the fruit - it will protect against spoilage during storage.

Immediately upon removal, you should remove all bad berries that can spoil the rest during storage.

For storage, the bunches are folded tightly into a low container. The stalk should be at the top. Before laying, the bottom of the boxes is covered with grape leaves or paper. The ideal option for storing crops would be a room with a temperature of 0-+2 ° C and a humidity of more than 70%.

As a storage option, you can use hanging each bunch on slats or hooks. The fruits are regularly inspected, removing spoiled specimens. This will help protect the collected fruits from massive rotting. Before storing the crop for storage, the room is smoked with sulfur dioxide.

Brushes that are collected in a timely manner without damage or signs of disease can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 months. Since the juicy pulp is reliably protected from damage by a dense peel, the berries retain their presentation during transportation.

Brushes that are collected in a timely manner can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.

Arcadia grapes are a popular variety with many positive characteristics. It is unpretentious in care, but at the same time gives an excellent harvest. By following simple rules of agricultural technology, you can successfully grow this variety on your site.

Let's sum it up

In terms of taste and commercial qualities, Arcadia is rightfully one of the best grape varieties. It is suitable for cultivation not only in the southern regions, but also in the colder middle zone, but in return it requires careful care, pruning and periodic feeding. This is the only way to maintain the yield of bushes and the quality of berries at the highest level.

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Caring for the variety in open ground

After being transferred to a permanent place of growth, the young plantings are shaded, and after 14-16 days the cover is removed. Next, the plant requires watering, timely feeding, pruning and proper formation of the bush.

Watering

The irrigation regime for grapes depends on the weather conditions of the region where the variety is cultivated. In the southern climate, during hot weather and drought, the bushes are watered 1-2 times every 7-10 days, pouring up to 10-15 liters of warm water under each plant.

During the rainy season, watering is reduced or stopped altogether. Arcadia grapes are very sensitive to excess moisture.

Expert opinion

Stanislav Pavlovich

A gardener with 17 years of experience and our expert See also Grape Transfiguration: ripening dates and rules for caring for the variety

Ask a Question

Important! Overmoistening of the soil leads to rotting of the rhizomes and cracking of the fruits.

Fertilizer

In spring, grape bushes are fed with organic matter with a high nitrogen content. Such fertilizers stimulate the growth, development and expansion of green mass in plants.

At the time of flowering, formation of ovaries and ripening of berries, potassium and phosphorus fertilizers are used.

Shaping and trimming

The formation of the grapevine begins in the second year of plant growth and development, leaving two new fruit shoots annually. All excess, dry, damaged, diseased branches and shoots are removed.

Sheltering berries from insects and birds

Large, beautiful and juicy berries attract birds and wasps. Old shiny discs and mirrors are used to protect the crop from birds. To protect the crop from wasps, the bunches are covered with a special net.

Cold protection

In southern conditions, the crop easily survives the winter without shelter. If the variety grows in latitudes with a temperate climate, additional measures are taken to prepare the plants for the winter.

To do this, the lashes are removed from the supporting structures and bent to the ground. The branches are covered with straw, sawdust mixed with peat or humus. Before the onset of frost, the plants are covered with burlap or special fiber on top, and when snow falls, large snowdrifts are raked over the plantings.

Appearance

Arcadia berries have an amber hue, which is especially surprising since the fruits of the varieties from which this hybrid was created are dark purple in color. If you carefully read the description of the Arcadia grape variety, it will become clear why it won the Grand Prix. One large light berry, with good care, weighs up to 16 g and is close to 3 cm in diameter.

The fruits have:

low sugar content;
slight acidity;
juicy pulp.

The first indicator is 15%, the second ranges from 4 to 6 grams per liter. As the berries ripen, they are filled with the aroma characteristic of muscats, which is successfully combined with an unusual sweetish taste.

The fruits are heart-shaped or round in shape, covered with a white pruin coating on top. Thanks to their durable, albeit thin skin, they are not damaged during transportation.

Even in the Poltava region, which is located in the middle climatic zone, individual clusters weigh almost 3 kg.

This is what ripe bunches of Arcadia grapes look like

Pests and diseases

White Arcadia grapes tolerate diseases without damaging the crop if gardeners notice the signs in time and take action.

Black spot. Signs: the bark turns pale, then black dots appear. Treated with Bordeaux mixture.
Mildew - oily spots on the leaves. They save the bush with fungicides.
Gray rot - the berries turn brown and burst. The plant is treated with copper sulfate.
Bacterial cancer - growths on the bark. There is no treatment, the bush is destroyed.

Dangerous pests include phylloxera, spider mites, and leaf roller caterpillars. Insecticides help against the disease.

Arcadia grapes are a table variety. Planted in spring in southern and middle latitudes. The variety is early ripening, the fruits are large. Care consists of watering, spring and autumn pruning, and fertilizing. In winter it is covered. Diseases and pests are typical for the crop.

Arcadia grapes: one of the golden five table varieties of white grapes