Blagovest vineyard

Those who are fond of viticulture try to find the best grape varieties for their site. This is easy to do and difficult at the same time. It’s all about the huge variety of varieties of this culture. Among them are varieties bred by professional breeders and amateur breeders. Blagovest grapes belong to the last group. It has a number of outstanding characteristics, so it will be of interest to many gardeners. Here will be given a description of the Blagovest grape variety, its photo and reviews of winegrowers about it.

Description

Blagovest is a hybrid form from the lover of this culture Krainov V.N., the author of many wonderful grapes. Parental forms – varieties Talisman and Kishmsh radiant. This is a table variety of early (115 days) or medium early ripening. Ripens around mid-August.

Description of the Blagovest grape variety with a photo:

• vigorous bush;
• flowers bisexual;
• brush from large to very large, its shape is cylindrical or elongated-conical;
• the average weight of a bunch is 0,8-1,2 kg, individual specimens can weigh 2-3 kg;
• the density of the brushes is different – from very dense to loose;
• very large berries, oval or oval-nipple-shaped, the weight of 1 berry is 12-15 g;
• the skin is rather firm, but edible, in ripe berries from milky green to yellow-green, amber with a tan on the side facing the sun;
• the pulp is dense, juicy, fleshy;
• the seeds are small.

The taste of Blagovest grapes, as noted by its owners, is light nutmeg, with hints of duchesse. It manifests itself most clearly some time after the full maturation of the brushes. Ripe bunches of Blagovest can hang on a bush for a long time, the berries do not crack and remain just as attractive and tasty.

Advantages and disadvantages

The description of the Blagovest grape variety also indicates its inherent positive characteristics:

1. The vine of this grape ripens perfectly, the cuttings take root well.
2. The flowers are well pollinated, so there is practically no pea.
3. Resistance to diseases with oidium, gray mold and mildew in Blagovest is increased – 3,5-4,0 score.
4. Frost resistance – above average (up to – 22 ° C), in regions where there is a sharp or prolonged decrease in temperatures below this level in winter, vine bushes require shelter.
5. There is a good accumulation of sugar in the berries. Wasp damage is not observed.
6. Clusters grow large, excellent trade dress. They tolerate transportation well, are stored in the refrigerator for a long time, so Blagovest grapes can be grown for sale.

The disadvantages of this hybrid form: in the brush there may be berries that are not fully ripe or slightly different in taste from all the others, and also that the bush does not like overload, which is why it requires rationing.

Features

Blagovest grapes differ in that the timing of the ripening of its brushes may depend on the method of cultivation, for example, on the load that the gardener decided to give to the bush. Therefore, Blagovest can be early, medium early or even medium ripening.

In the first 2 years of his life, all inflorescences should be cut off and 1-2 signal brushes should be left.

An adult bush should not be overloaded either. On such a plant, the size of the berries may differ from the typical one by half, the crop will ripen later, the sweetness of the pulp will decrease, and the nutmeg flavor will be lost. Even one season with excessive load can adversely affect the bush, and he will spend the next few years recuperating. The yield of Blagovest grapes is more than 6 kg per bush, which is considered a good indicator. Fruiting is stable.

Landing

It is permissible to plant young bushes of Blagovest both in early spring and in autumn, since it tolerates minor temperature changes quite well. Seedlings with lignified shoots and developed roots are suitable for planting. Before planting, it is necessary to shorten the roots and shoot somewhat, leaving 2-3 eyes. If the grape seedling is more developed and has 2 or more shoots on it, then the strongest one should be left, the rest should be cut out. Dip the roots in a mash of clay and mullein.

Planting holes for Blagovest grapes should be approximately 0,8 m long, wide and deep. At the bottom, you need to pour a mixture of soil that was formed during digging, 2-3 buckets of humus, ash and superphosphate (about 0,3 kg). The height of this layer should be half the depth of the pit. Then you need to put a seedling in it and sprinkle it first with the same mixture, and on top with ordinary soil and compact it. Fill the hole completely should not be, so that when watering the water does not spread. After planting, the grapes need to be watered and a layer of mulch made of straw, hay, not rotted wood leaf, sawdust, or covered with a dark film or black agrofiber should be put on the soil. If you plan to plant several bushes, then you need to place them at least 1,5-2 m apart.

Near each bush of Blagovest grapes, you need to put a strong support on which it will rely. The simplest trellis design is 2 wooden or metal poles dug into the sides of the bush and with several rows of wire stretched between them. You need to tie the vine to them as it forms, giving it the right direction. You can also use other structures made of metal or wood, or plant grapes near buildings, arbors, fences. In such places, it will not only grow well, but also serve as a green decoration.

Cultivation

Young bushes of Blagovest should be watered regularly, especially in the heat of summer, until they take root. The approximate frequency of watering is 1 time in 2 weeks, but you need to be guided by the weather. It is better to pour water not under the root, but into several holes that need to be dug at a distance of 0,5 m from the bush or into plastic bottles or pipe sections installed in these places.

Adult Blagovest bushes also need to be watered, especially in dry seasons:

1. The first watering should be done before the leaves bloom, if the winter was not very snowy.
2. The second – 2-3 weeks before flowering.
3. The third watering is carried out when the berries become the size of a pea.
4. The fourth – 3 weeks before the ripening of the grapes.
5. The last watering – moisture charging – must be done after leaf fall, if the autumn is dry. If it rains, it is not held.

Grapes need a lot of moisture, so you need to pour at least 5-7 buckets of water under each bush.

It is necessary to fertilize the grapes competently, since its yield depends on what nutrition the plant receives. It is necessary to feed the bushes, starting from the second season, no more than 3 times during the growing season with an interval of a month. Carry out the first dressing before flowering. It is recommended to use mineral fertilizers. Apply organics 1 time in 2-3 years, 1-1,5 buckets per 1 bush.

Blagovest grapes should be cut in the fall around mid-October, after the leaves have fallen. Spring pruning is less preferred. On each adult strong bush, no more than 25-30 young shoots should be left – this will allow you to distribute the load most successfully. Shoots cut into 8-9 eyes. Trimmings can be used to cut cuttings suitable for further propagation. They need to be prepared and lowered for storage in the basement, and planted in the spring on the prepared site. This hybrid form shows good compatibility with rootstocks, so cuttings obtained from bushes can be grafted onto other varieties.

You need to harvest Blagovest as it ripens. It is best to cut the ripe bunches with secateurs, and not cut them off with your hands. So they will retain their appearance, density, the berries will remain intact, they will not wrinkle. Such grapes can be stored, if they are not supposed to be eaten immediately or sold, for longer and better. Clusters should be stored in a dark and cool place.

For the winter, the young bushes of Blagovest need to be securely covered. To do this, they need to be tied, put on boards or slate, previously laid on the ground, set low arcs of thick metal wire or wooden rods on top, cover everything with burlap, film, roofing felt and sprinkle a little earth. Leave a few holes in the covering material for air circulation. In the spring, as soon as the weather is warm enough, the covering material must be removed, and the vine should be tied back to the trellis. It is impossible to be late with this operation, since the grape buds can die from the high temperature and humidity inside the shelter. Adult bushes of this grape do not need shelter for the winter.

Testimonials and videos

Conclusion

The hybrid form of Blagovest grapes can be advised to those gardeners who love light table varieties of early ripening. It has practically no drawbacks, therefore, subject to all the rules of agricultural technology, any gardener can get a generous harvest of delicious grape berries.