Grapes are one of the most popular and favorite berries among people. It is rich in natural antioxidants and has a beneficial effect on human health. Grapes are not only valued for their pleasant taste, but are also widely used in cosmetology. Each variety has its own advantages. For many years, winegrowers and breeders tried to develop varieties that would not only be resistant to diseases, but also tolerate frost well. After more than half a century of work, Amur grapes were bred.
History of selection of white grapes "Amursky"
The main task of breeders is not to develop one outstanding characteristic of the berry, but to combine the maximum number of characteristics. Among them:
- disease resistance;
- low temperature tolerance;
- attractive appearance;
- taste qualities.
The white Amur grape has a wild past and proudly combines these characteristics. But the history of its appearance is quite complicated. ME AND. Potapenko (a famous breeder) took wild Amur varieties as a basis. And as a result of many years of work, he presented many new varieties to berry connoisseurs. The viticulture zone was expanded, because the new specimens took root well in a fairly cold climate.
Alexander Ivanovich Potapenko, using intraspecific selection, developed white Amur grapes with fruits of a yellowish tint.
All forms of Amur grapes have amazing vitality. They grow well in northern regions that were previously risky for viticulture.
Thanks to all the qualities, growing grapes in the northern regions has become more accessible.
Origin
World famous Russian breeder A.I. Potapenko conducted a rather bold experiment in the last century: as a result of crossing frost-resistant varieties of wild grapes that came from the northern regions of China and the Far East, new grapes with amazing characteristics appeared.
The new variety was called “Amur breakthrough” (other names: “Potapenko - 7” or “one”) and it amazed the minds of winegrowers of that time with unprecedented indicators of frost resistance and high immunity to most grape diseases.
general description
This grape variety has an average ripening period.
It is suitable for food and for making wine. This variety can be a real salvation for those who are just learning about viticulture. The shoots are not afraid of transplantation and adapt well to a new place. It tolerates the effects of low temperatures well and does not require shelter for the winter. It has excellent taste, natural sugar content can be up to 25%. The liana has the appearance of a powerful stem with leaves and loose clusters. The plant quickly entwines nearby buildings and fences and can rise to a height of up to 30 meters. The trunk diameter reaches up to 20 centimeters in diameter.
Has a good shoot formation rate. Over the course of a year, the plant can grow up to 2.5 meters in height. It not only tolerates pruning well, but also needs it.
The plant can withstand low temperatures (up to -40 °C).
Advantages of the variety:
- High yield.
- The vine ripens in parallel with the harvest.
- Good ductility.
- High resistance to frost.
- Even with a high load (good harvest), the vines do not reduce their growth.
- Amazing ability to recover. The fruits ripen even on young shoots.
- Excellent taste. Excellent for making juices and wine.
Grape vines are often used as decoration. It looks especially beautiful in the fall, when the leaves acquire a variety of colors and shades. Bright large triangular-oval leaves look great against the backdrop of ripe fruits.
Nutritional value and chemical composition
100 g of white grapes contains 45 kcal, red - 65 kcal.
The skin of Amur grape berries and leaves contain a significant amount of resveratrol, a unique active substance that scientists call an “aging inhibitor.” In addition, the composition contains: sugars, essential oils, coloring and tannins, organic acids, nitrogenous substances.
Appearance
Amur white pleases its fans with fruits already in late August - early September. The plant is moisture-loving and normally requires up to 700 mm of precipitation. If the climate is drier, then the vineyards need watering.
It looks different from its counterparts. Distinctive features:
- Large fruits are yellow in color, their shape can be from oval to nipple-shaped, weight from 2.5 to 4 g.
- The bunch has a conical shape, the weight of which reaches 1 kg.
- Has a sweet taste.
Amur white was bred from Amur breakthrough seeds. It combines all the best from European table varieties and Amur wild.
This is what a bunch of Amur white grapes looks like
Where did grapes come from in the Far East?
Amur grape (Vítis amurensis) has remained in the Far East since the pre-glacial period, when these places were subtropical. The Far East itself survived the Ice Age more easily than, for example, the European part. The conditions, apparently, were milder, which allowed representatives of the subtropical flora to survive: Amur grapes, ginseng, Manchurian aralia, lemongrass, velvet tree, etc. They survived and adapted. Although today the conditions in the places where these plants grow are very different and very difficult.
Amur grapes grow from the southern regions of China to the lower reaches of the Amur (Lake Bolshie Kizi, 500 kilometers northeast of Khabarovsk). Of course, throughout this vast territory the grapes, although Amur, are different. It is customary to distinguish three ecological types: northern - Khabarovsk , southern - Vladivostok , and Chinese - the one in the southern regions of China.
The most frost-resistant, of course, is the northern one. Just around Komsomolsk-on-Amur. The climate looks like this: an absolute minimum of -45.5 °C does not happen every year, but 40-degree frosts are not at all uncommon. Snow cover lasts for about 6 months. The absolute maximum of +35 °C is also not every year, but summer heat of 30 degrees is normal. Maximum rainfall occurs in summer, with typhoon rainy season in August. And wind. This is almost constant, with higher wind speeds in winter. “Black frosts”—temperatures dropping below -20°C in the absence of snow—are not uncommon.
The southern one (Vladivostok) has its own difficulties: here the absolute minimum is -31.5 °C, but it happens very rarely, on average, winter temperatures are -10...-20 °C, often with thaws. Summer is less warm (absolute maximum +33.6 °C) and much wetter. That is, the main problems here are dampness, noticeably less sun and heat in the summer, and thaws.
And if Amur grapes grow and bear fruit normally in such conditions, then they can be successfully grown in other “non-grape-growing” regions of our country.
First, my Amur grape (Vítis amurensis) braided the fence, then climbed onto the poplar and hangs from there.
Features of the variety
Amur grapes, the planting and care of which require certain conditions, are considered unpretentious. The plant loves loose and acidic soil. Strongly acidic peat is excellent as a fertilizer.
Peculiarities:
- Due to its good resistance to frost, it is used for breeding new varieties.
- It tolerates the first frosts well: they make the fruits sweeter.
- Excellent resistance to pests and diseases.
- Good yield.
- Thanks to its thick skin, it is easily transported.
- Bushes of overall dimensions.
- Used for landscaping.
Grape growers should remember that Amur white needs frequent pruning.
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Sustainability
Scientists were faced with the task of improving the frost resistance of grapes, as well as protecting them from common diseases. They coped with the task. Bushes do not need shelter for the winter. Young seedlings are more vulnerable and need insulation. Especially those that were planted in the fall.
Amur white grapes are resistant to various plant diseases, but spraying with special means is necessary. He practically does not suffer from mildew and oidium, but it is better to be safe.
Landing
Grapes can be propagated by cuttings, seedlings and seeds.
It is recommended to plant cuttings at the end of September. Although the variety is unpretentious, it is better to plant it in sunny areas not blown by the wind. You should not plant near trees; the vine can completely entwine them, thereby losing productivity. The cuttings are placed no closer than a meter from each other. Amur white is often propagated by seeds. The seeds are planted in the fall to a depth of about 1.5 cm, and after 30 days shoots can be seen. Planting seedlings is practically no different from planting ordinary grapes.
Care
Although the plant is moisture-loving, only young shoots need watering. Mature vineyards do not suffer from drought, although watering them will not be superfluous. The soil around the bush is mulched to retain moisture longer.
Does not require shelter for the winter; placement in greenhouses is contraindicated.
Amur grapes are fertilized once a year. You should constantly remove choking shoots. With proper care, this variety will last for many years, not only as a dessert, but also as a decoration for the area.
Productivity
It is not only frost-resistant, it has good taste, as well as high yield (3-4 bunches per shoot). To increase performance, it is important to control the height of the plant. An excellent solution would be to plant vines on a gazebo 2.5 meters high.
How to choose quality seedlings when purchasing
The quality of the future vineyard and its vital activity will be largely determined by the quality of planting material. Experienced gardeners recommend purchasing crop seedlings from special nurseries or from long-trusted sellers.
Important! The plant is rarely grown on an industrial scale. Winegrowers prefer more elite varieties.
Before purchasing, you should conduct a visual inspection of the planting material and pay attention to the following aspects:
- Root system. The seedling must have good development, healthy, strong, not dry root shoots, without rot, damage, or pests. Rootstock roots are a sign of poor planting material, which should be discarded.
- Escape. A good seedling should have mature shoots and several fully formed buds. In this case, the diameter of the cutting must be at least 5 mm.
- Leaves. A large number of leaves on a seedling, as well as a woody trunk, will take away moisture and nutrients from the plant, as a result of which the crop will take root poorly and will bear fruit poorly.
- Graft. The grafting site must be visualized on the stem. Its absence indicates that the seedling was grown without following the basic rules of agricultural technology.
Review of reviews on cultivation and use
Regarding the question of whether Amur grapes are good, reviews from winegrowers sometimes contradict each other.
Some people never stop praising this variety. Others are in no hurry to draw conclusions. The further north the consumer lives, the more he likes this variety. Grapes do not respond well to warm winters, and residents of the southern regions were unable to appreciate them. Many who have not yet had time to test the variety on their own plot are skeptical about its resistance to frosts up to 40 degrees. One of the biggest disadvantages is the rapid growth in height. If all conditions are met, Amur white grapes give very good results.
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Viticulture in the capital region
The Amur grape vine is easily grown in the Moscow region. The winding vine grows more than 10 m. This beautiful grape in a purple-gold mantle curls like a lush blanket over trees and country houses. It is not susceptible to disease, unlike cultivated varieties of southern vines. Leaves appear in the second ten days of May, when the temperature becomes above +60 C. It blooms at the end of June, shoots stop growing in July - early August. The berries are collected from the beginning of September, without delay on the vine - they may fall off.
Not everyone wants to care for delicate southern varieties, carefully covering the bushes for the winter. And the vines, whose ancestor was the Far Eastern liana, come to the rescue. Among the non-covering varieties for the Moscow region, Agat Donskoy, Moscow White, Muscat Dalnevostochny, New Russian, Sputnik, Alfa and others are popular. But still, winegrowers mulch the soil around the bushes, because snowless, frosty winters are not uncommon in these parts.
