Grape variety Avatar: photo and description, reviews

The Avatar grape is a novelty brought to Our Country from America. Residents of the post-Soviet space are wary of the variety, since seedlings are not cheap. Due to the special taste and original shape of the berries, the Avatar variety is gradually gaining trust in different regions of the country.

History of breeding

Original cultivar name IFG Six and Moon Drops. The name Avatar was given to him by vine growers. The breeding was carried out by the California breeding station “International Fruit Genetics”. In 2004, scientists conducted a manual hybridization of parental varieties – C22-121 and Beita Mouni. The rejection and propagation of the variety by cuttings was first performed in 2006.

The first commercial collection in America was made in 2013.

Description of the grape variety Avatar

In some countries, the Avatar grape hybrid is called “Sweet Sapphire”. It is also known as “Drops of the Moon”.

bunches

Without taking into account the comb peduncle, the bunch reaches a length of 29 cm, a width of up to 29 cm, and an average weight of 0,7-1 kg. The brush does not require thinning, the berries are collected neatly on a dense comb.

Berries

The fruits are dark blue, almost black. Avatar grapes are characterized by an elongated shape of berries, at the end of which there is a dimple. The skin is dense, there are no seeds. Fruit pulp is firm and crispy. The shape of the berries is cylindrical, elongated. The average weight is 10 g, the size of a mature fruit reaches 45-50 mm in length and 18-20 mm in diameter.

Vine

The vine is of medium vigor, so it is recommended to use a vigorous rootstock. The Avatar throws the main bunch over the 3-4 knot, the subsequent brushes are smaller. Experts propose to carry out arched formation.

Characteristics of Avatar grapes

The flowering of grapes takes place in May. The type of flowers in the Avatar hybrid is bisexual, pollination occurs naturally. The variety does not need additional processing. Ripe clusters look attractive, the berries are the same shape and length. Despite the average yield, if the agrotechnical cultivation standards are observed, the variety gives a stable harvest.

Ripening time for Avatar grapes

In terms of maturation, Avatar belongs to early ripening crops. In the region where Moon Drops was bred, full maturation occurs at the end of summer, beginning of autumn. In Our Country, several factors influence the ripening period: the number of sunny days, soil moisture and its composition.

In the southern regions, ripe berries begin to feast on the second half of August

Productivity

Grapes belong to medium-yielding varieties. Avatar is valued for an interesting type of berries and a pleasant taste, so the average yield is not considered a disadvantage.

Taste qualities of Avatar grapes

The berries are juicy, moderately soft, sweet with a refreshing taste. Acidity index – 3,88 g / dm³, sugar accumulation – 19,4%.

Growing regions

In addition to the USA, black grape Avatar feels good in South Korea, Africa, Asia, and Europe. Culture also began to be cultivated by Ukrainian and growers.

Frost resistance of grapes Avatar

The frost resistance of the hybrid is low. In regions with winters where the temperature stays below -21ᵒС, it is necessary to provide shelter. The vine is removed from the trellis, pressed to the ground, covered with spruce branches or other suitable material. In winter, it is recommended to additionally cover with snow.

Drought tolerance

Avatar grapes are drought-resistant varieties, but they will not refuse water, especially if they are cultivated in regions where rainfall is rare. The crop needs watering if less than 300 mm falls per year.

Disease and pest resistance

The variety shows moderate resistance to diseases and pests. It is recommended to carry out preventive treatment of the plant in a timely manner. You can understand that the grapes have undergone the development of the disease by the appearance of the bush.

Avatar grapes are prone to ailments:

1. Anthracnose – characterized by a brown border on the foliage and spots on the fruits. Damaged parts must be removed. Treatment is carried out with fungicides.

   

2. Downy mildew (mildew) is a fungal disease that affects all parts of the plant. Most often appears at high humidity, expressed as spots on the foliage. Affected parts are torn off and disposed of. Prevention is carried out with Ditan Neotec, Radomil Gold, Acrobat preparations.

   

3. Powdery mildew (oidium) is a disease that affects all parts of the plant. It begins to appear as small greenish spots, with time a powdery coating appears. Prevention is carried out with the drug “DNOC”, it is impossible to cure the affected bushes without fungicides. It is recommended to use Topaz, Strobe.

   

4. Gray rot is characterized by deformation of the fruit, the appearance of plaque on them. Large spots form on the foliage. Treatment is useless. For prevention, before flowering, the bush should be treated with Antrakol, Horus or Svitoch.

   

5. The Avatar variety of kishmish can be attacked by mice, wasps, birds, thyroid glands, cicadas, bears, grapes were relished by a tube-roller, a leaf-roller, and thrips.

It is recommended to carry out preventive treatment of the crop, plant a vineyard on the sunny side of the site, apply fertilizers in a timely manner, prune, plant green manure plants next to the plantings of Avatar.

Methods of Use

The grapes are suitable for raw consumption, storage in a refrigerator is possible. Juice, compote, wine are made from berries.

Advantages and disadvantages

Professional vine growers characterize Avatar as an excellent commercial variety, as the berries endure long transportation. Gardeners fell in love with the culture for the many positive qualities of the hybrid.

Kishmish Avatar produces large clusters, which makes harvesting easier

Pros:

• precocity;
• when planted by cuttings, after three years it begins to bear fruit;
• excellent taste;
• bunches do not need loosening;
• attractive appearance;
• lack of seeds;
• tolerates transportation well;
• berries do not crack, they are stored for a long time.

Cons:

• average yield;
• susceptibility to certain diseases and pests;
• does not tolerate frosts below -21ᵒС;
• high cost of cuttings.

Planting and care

Avatar is a self-rooted grafted culture. Like all grape varieties, the hybrid needs a lot of heat and sunlight. No wonder his homeland is California.

Landing conditions

It is recommended to choose the southern slopes. Stagnation of cold air is contraindicated for this variety. Chernozem or sandy soils are suitable for the cultivation of grapes. On swampy, saline soils, you should not count on the Avatar harvest. Groundwater in the area prepared for growing a hybrid should lie no higher than 1,5 m from the surface.

Before planting grapes, it is necessary to make a vitamin complex or organic fertilizers. The bottom of the pit is drained with crushed stone mixed with soil. On clay soils, experienced growers recommend adding superphosphates. On sandy soils, there is no need for drainage, they already pass air and moisture well.

Grapes are planted to a depth of 50-60 cm so that the roots are reliably protected from freezing. The grafting site should remain above the soil. The seedling is immediately tied to a support, then the bush is watered, the ground around it is mulched.

The variety does not require frequent irrigation. One watering per month is enough. An excessive amount of water threatens the plant with rotting of the roots or their freezing in the winter. To avoid cracking of berries, 10 days before harvesting, it is recommended to stop irrigation.

Feeding

gardeners have not yet fully studied which fertilizers have a beneficial effect on the hybrid. Some of them tend to infrequent complex top dressing. Others choose to feed the Avatar using gibberellin. This tool stimulates the formation of berries of non-standard shape and color.

Trimming

The formation of bushes is a prerequisite for a good harvest. Medium pruning is recommended, but good bunches can form on short vines. The main thing is that the fruit shoot cannot be less than 10-12 cm.

Conclusion

Every year, breeders bring out new varieties, one of the new products is Avatar grapes. To grow an intraspecific seedless hybrid, you will need to purchase a license. The variety is protected by a US patent.

Reviews about grapes Avatar