What type does it belong to?
Summer Muscat, despite its name, is a table grape variety not intended for wine production. This is a white grape variety with large berries and clusters, resistant to most diseases and frost.
Grape varieties with Muscat flavor also include Druzhba, Muscat Dievsky, Muscat Hamburg and Demeter.
Storage conditions
The hybrid White Miracle is characterized by long-term storage of berries. When optimal conditions are created, the harvest is preserved for 1.5-2 months.
Brush storage options:
- on supports in a suspended state;
- in boxes or containers, sprinkled with sawdust or laid out with paper.
In the first case, you will need a warm and dry basement or attic. The brushes are hung at a distance from each other, not allowing them to touch. A film or burlap is spread below, onto which the fallen berries will fall off. When planning this method of storage, the brushes are cut off with part of the vine, leaving at least 9-10 cm of shoot. When picking, it is advisable to work with gloves and try to touch the berries as little as possible.
In boxes, grapes are well preserved in places protected from sunlight. Practice has shown that the berries do not lose their taste and juiciness for two months. Temperature: +1ºC…+8 ºC.
The fruits of the White Miracle are stored in special compartments of the refrigerator for up to 2-3 months. The berries are laid loosely, and stocks are regularly checked, removing spoiled specimens.
Attention!
Do not wash the berries before storing them!
Grapes do not like proximity to other vegetables and fruits. When storing, there should be no potatoes, zucchini, or carrots next to the berries.
Even novice gardeners can grow the White Miracle grape variety. It is suitable for the middle zone, successfully bears fruit in harsh climates, giving an early abundant harvest.
Summer Muscat grapes: description of the variety
“Summer Muscat” is an early-ripening grape, reaching marketable maturity 100-120 days after the appearance of the first ovaries.
Zabava, Favor and Crimson are also distinguished by their early ripening periods.
In the south it fully ripens at the beginning of August, and in the middle zone - at the end of August - mid-September. The bushes are tall, reaching a height of three or more meters, and have a lot of fruitful shoots.
The rooting of cuttings and the ripening of the vine are excellent.
The variety has large, not very dense, elongated clusters, weighing from 800 g to 1 kg. The berries are large, long, oval, amber-yellow in color when grown in the sun and white when grown in partial shade.
The pulp is juicy, dense and fleshy, sugary, with a thick skin. Some experienced winegrowers believe that the shape and taste of the berry can vary depending on the composition of the soil and the region of growth.
To get large and beautiful berries, it is recommended not to overload the shoots when growing, and leave about 40 eyes per bush.
Useful tips for gardeners
Experienced winegrowers give several recommendations that will help grow grapes in frosty conditions:
- In winter, cuttings should be stored in rooms not subject to freezing, or in deep trenches.
- It is advisable to choose European varieties, they are more adapted to cold winters.
- Planting should be deep so that the roots do not freeze.
- You cannot tie up a dry vine; you should wait until the frosts end.
- Pruning should be minimal and limited to partial harvesting of barren shoots and stepchildren.
- The bushes must be strictly “educated”: in the summer they are not sprayed, the ground is not dug up or weeded.
Grapes are loved by many, so you should not give up cultivating this crop in frosty regions. You just have to choose the right variety, and caring for the vine will bring a lot of pleasure and will definitely be crowned with success in the form of tasty, fragrant bunches.
Photo
Photo of “Summer Muscat” grapes:
History of selection
Summer Muscat has several names (Elena, V-95-22) and there is often confusion with its origin. Some winegrowers consider it a variety of folk selection, others call it (Moldova). However, in both the first and second cases it was bred from the same grape varieties.
Summer Muscat was obtained relatively recently, by crossing the late-ripening Pierrell variety and the early Queen of the Vineyards.
The variety is intended for cultivation in central Russia, the Urals and Siberia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus.
Due to its frost resistance and resistance to some diseases, it is often found in the Moscow region, Altai Territory, central regions of the Russian Federation and the Baltic countries.
Varieties such as Kishmish Nakhodka, Syrah and Cardinal also tolerate cold temperatures well.
Reviews
Nikolay, Istra district, Moscow region
This is the fifth year I have been growing Crystal and White Miracle on the plot. The bushes grow well and quickly emerge from wintering in the spring. In cold weather I cover it with spunbond, with snow on top. Last year there were the first signals, the berries are large, the White Miracle’s are especially tasty and sweet. I think I made the right decision by planting these two varieties.
Victor, Ryazan
I check many new varieties and choose the best. I can confidently say that the Phenomenon variety, like the White Miracle, is among my favorites. They don’t let you down in any season, they tolerate winter well, and they grow quickly. The white miracle lives up to its name, berries with a wonderful taste. I didn’t have much hope for these new products, since there are a lot of advertisements, but there is no sense. But in this case I’m happy, I plan to further increase the plantings.
Characteristics
Summer nutmeg is distinguished by its high yield and winter hardiness, withstands temperatures down to -28 C. However, it does not tolerate prolonged frosts, so in regions with harsh winters it is recommended to cover it for the winter.
I also require shelter from Amethyst Novocherkassk, Aleshenkin's Gift and Crystal.
On an industrial scale, yields can reach 150 c/ha. When grown in summer cottages - up to 30-40 kg per bush.
The Summer Muscat variety is resistant to most fungal diseases, is not damaged by wasps, and can sometimes be affected by root phylloxera. It withstands weather changes well and does not crack.
It is not damaged during transportation, but once removed from the vine it is not stored for very long.
Features of care
Timely, and most importantly, proper care of grape bushes is an integral part of the cultivation of this plant. Muscats are not always demanding and capricious in terms of care. Vineyards need the following agrotechnical measures:
- It is recommended to use a drip irrigation system for watering, which very effectively moistens the soil and prevents excessive waterlogging.
- After manual irrigation, it is advisable to carry out high-quality mulching with peat-humus mixtures, which provide the plant with additional nutrition, especially necessary during the active growing season.
- The category of the most important and basic measures for caring for grape bushes includes competent and timely pruning, with the help of which it is possible to suppress the longitudinal polarity of the shoots, and also regulates growth and fruiting, creating the best conditions for lighting and air exchange.
- The soil around the grape bushes and between the rows should be regularly cleared of weeds, and it is also necessary to carry out high-quality, but not too deep loosening, which improves aeration.
- It is very important to carry out effective preventive spraying of vineyards in order to protect against the most dangerous diseases and pests. The most effective fungicides and insecticides should be used for spraying. In addition, it is important to observe the timing of plant processing so as not to harm the grapes.
A properly planted vineyard should be equipped with supports in the form of trellises to which the vines are fixed. Of no small importance is the timely covering of young grape bushes, as well as non-winter-hardy hybrid forms and varieties that are not resistant to low temperatures. In regions with harsh climatic conditions, complex-resistant grape varieties and hybrids are also subject to shelter.
You may also be interested in the article in which we talk about wine grape varieties.
Diseases and pests
Despite its resistance to some diseases, for example, mildew, summer Muscat can be affected by bacterial cancer, chlorosis and very rarely oidium.
Basically, these diseases can appear due to improper care and unsuitable soil. Their appearance is most typical in the middle zone, with a moderately cold climate.
- Bacterial canker often occurs when grapes are pruned incorrectly.
Large growths appear at the cut site. To avoid disease, it is enough to properly carry out autumn pruning and carefully wrap the grapes for the winter. If the disease does appear, then the growths must be carefully trimmed and the cut areas must be treated with a solution of iron sulfate. Potassium-phosphorus fertilizers and a solution of wood ash are well suited as fertilizers. - Chlorosis can occur due to a lack of iron and is manifested by yellowing of the leaves.
If it is not treated in time, the plant may die. As “rescue” measures, spraying the leaves with iron sulfate and applying iron-containing fertilizers should be used. - Summer Muscat is extremely rarely affected by Oidium.
This can happen due to prolonged drought, abruptly giving way to rain, and manifests itself in the form of a white coating and black dots on the leaves. If not treated promptly, this disease leads to the death of the entire vineyard. To combat it, you can use special preparations and be sure to remove and burn the affected leaves. - Of the pests, the most dangerous for summer Muscat is root phylloxera.
This is a type of grape aphid that lives on the roots and feeds on the sap of the plant. As a preventative measure, pre-planting disinfection of roots and catarrh will help. And to combat it, you can use flooding the vineyard with water for several weeks, replacing the top layer of soil with sand and root treatment with special preparations.
In general, Summer Muscat is an excellent variety for private gardens, with an original, memorable taste and beautiful appearance.
Among the beautiful grape varieties, Romeo, Sofia and Taifi stand out.
With proper care and proper planting, this variety will grow and bear fruit for a long time.
Summer muscat should not be acquired by beginners in the grape business; it requires increased attention and care. But if all conditions are met, this variety will be the pride and decoration of any garden.
Planting technique
The bushes are characterized by the formation of a large number of rootstocks, due to which the plant reproduces well naturally without any additional effort. The easiest and most common method of planting is to plant seedlings. The process is not complicated, but requires certain knowledge and strict adherence to recommendations:
- The best time for planting work is considered to be the end of April or the beginning of May;
- when choosing a location for a future vineyard, preference should be given to the south side with plenty of sunshine, lack of shade and drafts;
- two weeks before planting, dig holes so that the soil has time to settle;
- Place a drainage layer of crushed stone on the bottom, cover with fertilizers and soil;
- Place a peg in the center to adjust the vine;
- seedlings selected for planting need to be soaked in water for about a day to quickly form roots;
- lower the seedling into the hole, cover it with loosened soil that can allow air to pass through;
- Water generously and mulch the soil.
