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The Muscat Hamburg grape is a rather old and well-known variety from the universal category all over the world. It is not without significant drawbacks, but many amateur gardeners and professional farmers are not going to refuse it. In their opinion, all the disadvantages and inconveniences during cultivation are redeemed by an amazing taste.
The story of
The grape variety Muscat of Hamburg was first mentioned in 1858. It is characterized as a table variety created in England for year-round cultivation in greenhouses and greenhouses. One of the “parents” is definitely the white Muscat of Alexandria grapes; opinions differ regarding the second opinion – they indicate the varieties Hamburg or Frankenthal.
For more than 150 years, the Muscat Hamburg grape has spread throughout the world. Almost every country has its own “authentic” name for it:
- Black Hamburg (Black Hamburg) or Black Muscat (Black Muscat) in England;
- Golgen Hamburg (Golden Hamburg) in the USA;
- Muscat de Hambourg (Muscat de Hamburg) in France;
- Salamanna Rossa (Salamanna Rossa) in Greece;
- Moscatel Negro (Moscatel Negro) in Argentina, Spain;
- Fekete Muskotaly (Fekete Muskotay) in Hungary.
In the first half of the 1949th century, it was one of the most popular varieties cultivated by large agro-industrial complexes. He “reached” the USSR in XNUMX. Ten years later received “official approval”. The variety is recognized as the most suitable for growing in the North Caucasus.
Muscat of Hamburg – an atypical representative of the “family” of muscats (most of them have a light skin)
Description of the grape variety Muscat Hamburg
Muscat Hamburg, thanks to the light (almost white) pulp of the berries, is easily “identified” among other varieties of Muscat grapes. But outwardly, both vines and berries for a specialist are a typical nutmeg.
bunches
Clusters of Muscat Hamburg grapes weigh 160-270 g, reach 20 cm in length and 16-18 cm in width. Most of them are loose, close to a regular cone in shape. However, there are also “sprawling”, branched, but at the same time quite dense brushes.
The “peduncle” of the clusters is relatively short, up to 5 cm long.
Berries
The berries of Muscat of Hamburg are typical for Muscat grapes in weight (3-4 g) and shape (from round to wide oval). The skin is dense, even thick, blue-violet with a reddish tint that appears in the sun. It is covered with a continuous layer of waxy bluish-blue “plaque”. Dense skin provides Muscat Hamburg berries with very good keeping quality and transportability for grapes.
There are few seeds, in each berry there are 1-2 pieces. The pulp is very juicy, pale green in color, with a characteristic aftertaste. The juice is colorless.
Berries can be stored up to 3-3,5 months without loss of consumer properties
Vine
The vines of Muscat of Hamburg are medium-sized (annual annual growth is 3-4 m). They are extremely rare in height. To do this, this grape variety needs very fertile soil. The bark on young shoots is pinkish-beige, gradually it changes color to red-brown. The branches are densely leafy.
Characteristics of Muscat Hamburg grapes
Muscat of Hamburg is considered a versatile grape. This category includes varieties that cannot be unambiguously classified either as table or industrial varieties.
Maturation period
In terms of ripening in Our Country, Muscat Hamburg is a medium-late grape. The process of ripening berries stretches for 145-150 days. In Crimea, harvesting begins in the second half of October. In most other countries, it is characterized as mid-season.
Productivity
The yield of the Muscat Hamburg grape is high, but “unsustainable”, with “rest” seasons. In good years, when grown on an industrial scale, up to 120 centners of berries per hectare are harvested.
A clear periodicity of the seasons of “rest” in the Muscat Hamburg grapes is not traced
Palatability
In the State Register, the taste of Muscat Hamburg grapes is described as “excellent”. Indeed, this is one of the main advantages of the variety. Also, the berries have a pronounced “nutmeg” aroma and the same aftertaste.
Growing regions
In Our Country, only the North Caucasus and Crimea are suitable for growing Muscat Hamburg. But it is cultivated by the vast majority of countries traditionally engaged in winemaking. This applies to both Western (Italy, France), and Central (Hungary, Romania), and Eastern (Moldova) Europe, and America (USA, Argentina). Less popular, but also found Muscat of Hamburg on the Mediterranean coast (Greece, Tunisia).
Muscat of Hamburg is ubiquitous in the world
Frost resistance
Cold resistance in Muscat of Hamburg is weak. The vine, leaf and flower buds are often damaged even at low temperatures (although its “official” frost resistance is up to -18 ° C).
Drought tolerance
The vine tolerates short drought well. Waterlogging is much more dangerous for her than a short-term moisture deficit. But if the drought drags on, the Muscat Hamburg berries begin to dry and crumble.
Disease and pest resistance
Low immunity is one of the most significant drawbacks of Muscat Hamburg grapes. It suffers greatly from both pathogenic fungi and pests. The variety is subject to almost all the most dangerous diseases typical of the culture – oidium, mildew, bacterial cancer, gray rot. Often the vines are attacked by phylloxera (grape aphid). The only pest that is not particularly interested in Hamburg Muscat grapes is the grape leafworm.
Methods of Use
The versatility of the Hamburg Muscat grape means that the berries can be eaten fresh and used as raw materials for winemaking. Homemade preparations from it (compotes, jams, jams, marmalade) are distinguished by a very beautiful color. After heat treatment, the berries retain their characteristic “nutmeg” flavor and aroma.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Muscat Hamburg grape has remained “competitive” for more than 150 years thanks to its significant advantages:
- versatility of the appointment of berries;
- excellent taste qualities of grapes fresh and after “processing”;
- high juiciness and sugar content of the pulp;
- good yields in “favorable” seasons;
- keeping quality and transportability, sufficient for cultivation on an industrial scale.
Muscat Hamburg grapes are in demand by both amateur gardeners and professional farmers
There are also serious objective shortcomings:
- susceptibility to fungal and bacterial diseases, pest attacks;
- relatively low cold resistance;
- increased fragility of the vines;
- deterioration in the quality of the crop under adverse weather conditions during the season (falling of flowers, “pea” and shedding of berries);
- demand for agricultural technology.
Features of landing
Since Muscat of Hamburg is thermophilic, an open area on the slope of a gentle hill facing south or southwest, located closer to its top, will be an ideal place for its landing. The substrate must be loose, but fertile enough (light sandy loam, loam). In sandy soils, vines also take root and bear fruit, but do not fully reveal their potential.
When planting several seedlings at the same time, at least 1,5 m is left between them, and at least 2,5 m between rows in the vineyard. A place for a trellis must be provided in advance. As the vines grow, it is recommended to limit the height of the stem on it to 1,2-1,3 m.
The best time for planting Muscat Hamburg grapes is the second half of October or the beginning of November. It takes about a month for seedlings to adapt to new habitat conditions. But in the time remaining before the first frosts, they will not have time to start growing (if this happens, the shoots that have begun to form will definitely freeze in winter).
The main requirement for the landing site is good lighting.
The approximate depth and diameter of the landing pit is 70-80 cm. A drainage layer is required at the bottom (8-10 cm). After it is dug out, top fertile turf, mixed with humus (25-30 l), complex “autumn” fertilizer without nitrogen content (280-300 g) and sifted wood ash (3 l) is immediately poured to the bottom. The soil is shed with water, raked into a mound. Then the pit should “stand” for 2-3 weeks.
Before planting, the roots of the Muscat Hamburg grape seedling are dipped in water or a biostimulant solution for at least 10-12 hours (preferably for a day). The existing shoots are shortened to 3-4 “eyes”. The roots are cut to 15-20 cm.
The planting itself takes place according to the standard algorithm for seedlings of fruit trees and berry bushes. The only caveat – having filled about half of the landing pit, the soil is no longer compacted.
Care instructions
Abundant fruiting of Muscat Hamburg grapes is impossible without competent annual pruning. The vines are shortened quite strongly – up to 4-6 “eyes”. Formative pruning is carried out at the end of the active growing season. In addition, Muscat Hamburg grapes need sanitary pruning (twice a year, in spring and autumn). In summer, only pinching and removing plant parts affected by diseases and pests is permissible.
The total “load” on an adult bush with proper pruning is no more than 18-20 “eyes”
Amateur gardeners practice two different watering schemes:
- frequent (suitable for beginners, moisten the soil twice a month, soaking it about 50 cm deep);
- rare (intervals are determined taking into account many factors – the timing of flowering, ripening of grapes, the age of the vines, the gardener’s experience plays a decisive role here).
Drip irrigation is the best method for grapes
Muscat Hamburg grapes are fed 4-5 times per season:
- in mid-April, just before leaving the state of winter “hibernation”;
- about two weeks before flowering;
- 1,5-2 weeks after it, at the time of the appearance of fruit ovaries;
- at the end of August, about 1,5 months before harvest;
- after another 3-4 weeks (as needed).
Muscat Hamburg responds well both to natural organics and folk remedies, as well as to complex store fertilizers. Therefore, they can be alternated, given that vines need nitrogen only at the beginning of the growing season.
For the winter, Muscat of Hamburg needs shelter. All plant and other debris is removed from the beds, they are covered with a layer of mulch 10-12 cm thick. On this “pillow” they place vines removed from the trellis and tied, wrapped in 2-3 layers of burlap or covering material.
From above, it is advisable to cover the vine with straw or fallen leaves.
To protect against fungal diseases, two preventive treatments with fungicides are required – at the beginning and at the end of the active growing season. They spray both the vines themselves and the soil under them. They are repeated monthly during the season. If the weather favorable for the development of pathogenic microflora is established, the interval is reduced to two weeks.
The vines of Muscat Hamburg are regularly inspected. Having found suspicious symptoms, even slightly affected parts of the plant are immediately removed. To combat the disease, the same fungicides are used.
Preparations containing copper are detrimental to pathogenic fungi
Conclusion
Muscat Hamburg grapes are a variety whose advantages and disadvantages have long been well known to amateur gardeners and professional farmers. It does not lose popularity and withstands the “competition” of new selections mainly due to its outstanding taste. A serious disadvantage is susceptibility to diseases. To avoid infection, plantings require regular prevention and competent agricultural technology.
Reviews of Muscat Hamburg grapes
