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Unpretentious fruit crops are popular among gardeners. It is to such plants that Baikonur grapes are referred. Today we will tell you how to plant and grow a little-known table variety on the site.
History of occurrence
Baikonur grapes were bred relatively recently – in 2012. The author of the interspecific form was the famous amateur breeder Evgeny Pavlovsky. The progenitors of Baikonur are varieties Talisman and Beauty. The fruit and berry crop bred as a result of hybridization was recognized as highly promising, since it adopted only positive qualities from parental forms. So, the Talisman “shared” excellent taste properties, resistance to diseases, pests and adverse weather disasters. From Krasotka grapes, the hybrid adopted high transportability and excellent product characteristics.
Baikonur grapes are undemanding to the growing environment. Fruit and berry crops are massively grown in Belarus, Ukraine and throughout the Federation.
Video “Introduction to Baikonur grapes”
This video presents the main varietal characteristics of fruit and berry crops.
Variety description
Interspecific hybrid Baikonur belongs to tall and fast-growing shrubs. According to the reviews of gardeners, grapes can be used to decorate arches and arbors on the territory of a personal plot.
Bushes and vine
Tall, solid bushes grow rapidly. A strong and powerful vine is resistant to winds and other weather disasters. In one season, young shoots grow up to 4 m. Young branches are painted in a beautiful brown-green hue. Over time, the bark changes color to dark brown.
Leaves give a special charm to the vineyard. Large sheet plates have the correct shape. Color – uniform, rich green. With proper care, the plant retains its decorative characteristics throughout the growing season.
Commodity qualities of fruits
Clusters are of medium and large sizes. The shape is conical or cylindrical. Since the density of berries is low, the clusters have a loose or medium loose structure. The average weight of one brush is 400–600 g. Under favorable weather conditions and proper care, the weight of a brush can reach 2–2,5 kg.
Baikonur grape berries are characterized by elongated and nipple-shaped forms. The average length of one berry is 3-4 cm, weight – 12-16 g. The color of the peel combines purple and cherry hues.
Taste qualities of fruits
Juicy, fleshy and fragrant pulp is hidden under a dense peel. The taste is harmonious, sweet and sour. The level of sugar accumulation reaches 19–20%, while the acidity does not exceed 7%.
A feature of the Baikonur variety is the ability to maintain commercial and taste qualities for a long time. The harvested crop can be transported over short distances.
Features of fruiting
The flowers of the fruit and berry culture are bisexual. Pollination does not require the planting of additional pollinators. After 105–115 days from the beginning of the growing season, the first crop is harvested. Under favorable weather conditions, the harvest falls at the end of July and the beginning of August.
Productivity and application of the variety
There is no exact data on the yield of the variety, since the young hybrid is undergoing a testing stage. It is reliably known that with proper care from one bush, you can collect about 18–40 kg of usable berries.
Juicy and fragrant berries are consumed fresh, added to desserts, pastries, salads and various snacks. Due to the high sugar content, the Baikonur variety can be used for making juices and wine.
Please note that there are seeds inside the berries. We do not recommend giving Baikonur grapes to young children.
Author’s advice
Advantages and disadvantages
Baikonur grapes have a number of positive and negative qualities:
Advantages:
- unpretentiousness in care;
- early ripening;
- resistance to natural anomalies;
- lack of peas;
- excellent taste and pleasant aroma;
- versatility of application;
- high transportability and good lying.
Disadvantages:
- the presence of hard-to-separate bones;
- tendency to crack with an abundance of sunlight.
Features of planting and growing
Yield indicators, marketable and taste qualities depend on the observance of the agricultural technology of the plant.
Site selection, soil and planting material
Vineyards need sunlight to thrive. The best option is a section of the garden closed from drafts and winds on the south or south-west side.
As for the soil, grapes love light and nutritious soil. At the same time, the level of occurrence of groundwater should be no higher than 2 m from the surface of the earth. Heavy clay, saline and marshy soils are not suitable.
It is equally important to choose the right planting material. The Baikonur variety can be propagated by seeds, layering, cuttings and seedlings. It is better to buy seedlings and cuttings in specialized nurseries. So, a seedling suitable for planting has a healthy appearance, a well-developed root system and several small branches.
Rules of landing
The landing pit is prepared in advance. The bottom of the pit is laid out with broken brick, expanded clay or gravel. A drainage system is necessary to remove excess moisture. Then a nutrient mixture is added, consisting of river sand, peat and rotted manure.
The depth of planting a seedling depends on the natural conditions of the growing region:
- 50–55 cm – southern regions;
- 60–70 cm – central regions;
- 80 cm – northern regions.
You can plant seedlings and cuttings both in spring and autumn. Autumn planting is carried out 3-5 weeks before the upcoming frosts. A seedling / cutting planted in the ground is carefully sprinkled with earth, watered along the edge of the near-trunk circle and mulched.
grape bush processing
Baikonur belongs to moisture-loving fruit and berry crops. Water the plant often and plentifully. However, don’t overdo it. Excess moisture in the soil can lead to rot on the root shoots. Therefore, the plant should be watered as the top layer of the earth dries out.
2-3 weeks before harvesting, the vineyard is stopped moistening.
Feeding with nutrients will help to increase fertility and productivity. In the spring – before and after flowering – foliar top dressing is carried out with complex mineral mixtures. In summer, the area near the trunk circle is sprinkled with wood ash.
Pruning and fixing the vines are important steps in the care of the vineyard. Since the Baikonur grape vine has short internodes, about 10 eyes should be left on one shoot. Pruning of shrubs falls on the autumn period, when all the leaves fall off.
Do not forget about the need to secure the vine. Rapidly growing shoots can fall under the weight of clusters. You can avoid such an unpleasant phenomenon by tying the vines to vertical trellises and a wire stretched between them.
Covering the vineyard for the winter
The description of the variety indicates that Baikonur endures a decrease in air temperature to -23 ° C. Grapes grown in the southern and central regions overwinter without shelter.
Vineyards in the northern regions are insulated for the winter. The branches are partially cut and bent to the ground. Dry fallen leaves are poured over the vines and branches of pine spruce branches are laid.
Morbidity and preventive measures
The Baikonur variety is resistant to diseases and pests typical for grape crops. To prevent infection with gray rot, oidium and mildew, preventive treatments of shrubs with a Bordeaux mixture (3%) or a solution of ferrous sulfate (3-5%) will help.
Thanks to its amazing commercial and taste qualities, the Baikonur variety is considered one of the best. Subject to the rules of planting and growing described above, high crop yields can be achieved.