Grapes Galahad

Among the novelties of selection, Galahad grapes, an early-ripening hybrid for table use, have gained particular popularity. Its large amber berries attract with fragrant aroma and pleasant moderately sweet taste.

The grapes were the result of the successful work of scientists from the Ya. I. Potapenko Institute to cross three different varieties. What is especially important, the Galahad hybrid is adapted to the climatic features of the southern and central regions of Our Country.

Characteristic of the variety

Not much time has passed since the appearance of the Galahad variety, but numerous positive reviews from professionals testify to the high technical characteristics of the grapes.

In the southern latitudes and the middle lane, the Galahad grape variety is harvested by the end of July or at the beginning of August. Due to early ripening, many summer residents are trying to grow crops in more northern latitudes. Here, the ripening period of the Galahad variety increases by 10-15 days, higher humidity and cold winters are also an obstacle.

Under favorable conditions, the Galahad hybrid variety exhibits:

• fast growth – during the season the shoots reach 2 m;
• high-quality pollination – due to the versatility of peduncles;
• early ripening period – about 100 days;
• good fruiting – up to 70%;
• high frost resistance;
• significant resistance of grapes to diseases;
• rapid rooting of cuttings;
• high productivity.

Description of berries

Galahad grapes, as evidenced by the description of the variety and confirmed by reviews and photos, form large cone-shaped clusters weighing up to 600 g. Under the thin skin of large amber-yellow berries there is a dense fleshy pulp with a thin, very pleasant, sweetish taste. Galahad grapes are distinguished by their excellent presentation. In shady places, the berries acquire a milky-white wax coating. Their skin is strong enough to withstand long transportation. Berries do not crack even in rainy seasons. Among the technical characteristics of the Galahad variety are:

• tasting score – up to 9 points;
• sugar content index – about 21%;
• acidity – about 6 g / l.

In the description of the Galahad grape variety, it is mentioned that with numerous advantages, it has minor drawbacks, including:

• attractiveness for birds, therefore, during the ripening period of grapes, it is advisable to install scarecrows among the bushes or wrap ripening brushes in nets. So that the grapes do not begin to fall off, you should harvest on time;
• with intense exposure to the sun, Galahad berries change their shade to a darker one, so you need to adjust the degree of illumination;
• the nutritional composition of the soil is important;
• despite resistance to many diseases, Galahad grapes require preventive treatments.

Preparing for planting

Galahad grapes, as the description of the variety, photos and videos show, can be propagated by seedlings or cuttings that take root very quickly. Planted in spring, by autumn they already give two powerful shoots from each cutting. Before planting, it is necessary to carefully examine the seedlings and select fresh and healthy ones, they differ:

• light brown in color, without any spots, damage, signs of wilting;
• for planting the hybrid variety Galahad, only annual seedlings are selected – the old ones have an earthy tint;
• the roots of healthy seedlings should be elastic, without traces of mold, and the shoots of grapes should be greenish in color with fresh leaves.

You need to choose the right place for planting Galahad grapes. Berries need plenty of sunlight to ripen quickly and accumulate sugar. Therefore, the site should be open, well lit. At the same time, Galahad grapes need protection from cold winds. A wall or fence that does not shade the vineyard will serve as a good shelter from the wind. In addition, the wall that has warmed up during the day will give off heat to the vine bushes at night.

A negative factor for the normal development of the Galahad variety will be the proximity to the groundwater surface. If they rise up to 2-3 m from the ground surface, it is necessary to organize a good drainage system using expanded clay or gravel. The surface of the earth must be flat so that water cannot stagnate on it, since it is high humidity that causes root rot on Galahad grape bushes. The best choice would be an elevated place in the southern part of the site. Grapes are not very capricious regarding the composition of the soil and grow well on both loam and peat soils. The main thing is that the soil should not be saline.

Holes for planting Galahad grapes must be prepared in advance:

• for autumn planting, holes are prepared at the end of August, and for spring – in October;
• the dimensions of the pits should be quite large, optimally – 80×80 cm;
• since the bushes of the Galahad variety grow strongly, a distance of up to 2 m must be left between them;
• between rows the gap is up to 3 m;
• the bottom of the pit is filled with fertile soil mixed with compost.

Planting seedlings

The technology for planting the Galahad grape variety is simple:

• the day before the procedure, the seedlings should be placed in water, you can add a few crystals of potassium permanganate to it to strengthen the immune system;
• coat the roots with a mixture of manure and clay and let dry;
• each plant is carefully placed on a mound of fertile soil with growth buds oriented to the north and covered with earth almost to the root neck;
• grape seedlings, the length of which is more than 25 cm, are placed in the hole in an inclined form;
• compact the soil and water all the bushes with plenty of water;
• to prevent too rapid evaporation of moisture, mulch the soil under the grapes;
• next to the plant there should be a support for gartering the vine as it grows.

If you need to plant several seedlings at once, the trench method of planting grapes is usually used. The support for tying the vine must be installed in the hole in advance, otherwise it can damage the root system of the seedling. It is most convenient to stretch several rows of wire between the poles parallel to the ground. For more efficient watering, a small plastic watering pipe is vertically fixed in the hole next to the bush. It should protrude 10-20 cm above the ground. Galahad grape seedlings are cut to 3-4 eyes and covered with a plastic container to create a greenhouse effect. After 10-15 days, the shelter should be removed.

Features of care

Agrotechnics of the hybrid variety Galahad is characterized by some features that should be borne in mind:

• Galahad grapes are included in the category of heat-loving species, and although it is resistant to 25-degree frosts, in the middle latitudes the bushes need to be well covered for the winter;
• often Galahad grapes begin to bear fruit already in the first season, which leads to too intense stress on the vine, so thinning is necessary;
• to reduce the load on the roots, stepchildren are removed in the middle of summer; reviews note that the Galahad grape variety does not grow well on soils with high acidity – their neutralization is necessary;

  

• plants do not tolerate drought well, so the soil under the bushes should not be allowed to dry out;
• fallen leaves and berries must be collected and immediately destroyed, otherwise they will become a favorable environment for the development of pathogenic microflora.

For young seedlings of Galahad grapes, in the first months after planting, a canopy of white covering material is arranged. It will protect the shoots from the direct rays of the sun.

The hybrid variety Galahad responds very well to any type of fertilizer – organic and mineral. Therefore, you can use complex fertilizers, alternating them with manure or compost. Plants must be thoroughly watered before fertilizing.

Disease control

The description of the Galahad grape indicates that it resists fungal diseases well. The risk of powdery mildew increases if diseased plants are nearby for a long time. Its high resistance to mildew is also observed.

If, when examining grape leaves, signs of a disease are found – yellow or brown spots, dried shoots, they should be collected and burned immediately. In the fight against disease, prevention is more beneficial. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out periodic spraying of Galahad grape bushes by various means.

Usually three times is enough:

• a week after the awakening of the vine, it is sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate, Bordeaux liquid is also suitable for processing;
• when the leaves bloom, the treatment is repeated with a weaker solution;
• when the flowering of the grapes ends, the bushes can be treated with a solution of colloidal sulfur.

Reviews of growers

Conclusion

Galahad grapes are a real find for areas with a temperate climate. Compliance with simple rules of agricultural technology guarantees its high yields every year.