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Georgia can be safely called a big vineyard. There are so many varieties growing here that no one even knows about some. The grapes grow wild in this area and are therefore particularly resistant to weather fluctuations. The well-known and famous white grape variety is Rkatsiteli.
Although it belongs to the technical ones, it is highly valued for its taste and worthy characteristics. The birthplace of the Rkatsiteli grape is the Kakheti region, but it grows no less successfully in other regions of Georgia. If you grow a variety outside of Georgia, then the harvest will be just as fragrant, only the berries ripen a little more sour. Let us dwell on a detailed description of the variety and a photo of the Rkatsiteli grape so that its cultivation does not cause any difficulties.
Description and characteristics of the variety
One of the important characteristics of Rkatsiteli grapes is the type of structure of the bush. Knowing this parameter, growers can plan plantings and their employment when caring for a variety.
The bush at “Rkatsiteli” is vigorous, in adulthood it forms a pyramidal shape.
Translated from Georgian, the name of the grape sounds like “red vine”. Annual mature shoots have a characteristic red-yellow color and a vertical orientation.
The leaves grow medium or large, there may be three-lobed or five-lobed specimens. Color has a bronze tint.
Flowers bisexual. Variety “Rkatsiteli” is characterized by good self-pollination and does not require additional efforts of the grower to increase the number of ovaries.
A bunch of ripe grapes reaches an average weight of about 170 g, a length of 15-17 cm. Outwardly, it forms a cylindrical or conical shape of medium density.
The berries of the Rkatsiteli variety are golden yellow in color with harmonious brown patches, round or oval in shape (see photo).
To taste, the berries are sweet with a slight sourness, at the same time juicy and fragrant. The sugar content is high (23%), the variety is famous for its taste among winemakers.
The ripening period of grapes is medium-late. Berries fully ripen 150 days after bud break. Harvested in September, in the first half of the month. The maturity is 90%, which is very pleasing to gardeners.
The yield of Rkatsiteli grapes, according to the description of the variety and the experienced observations of gardeners, is 150 c/ha. But this parameter is not fixed, the yield index fluctuates for several reasons in different years. One of them is a different number of fruitful shoots, the variability is from 20% to 70%. The minimum harvest per season is 90 c/ha.
Frost resistance of Rkatsiteli grapes is at a high level. It tolerates wintering well on a high stem without shelter down to -25°C. But this variety is more sensitive to drought and does not tolerate the lack of watering.
According to the description, Rkatsiteli grapes are susceptible to mildew and oidium lesions. And from the list of pests, you should be wary of the spider mite and grape leafworm. The positive aspect is that the variety is resistant to phylloxera and gray rot.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the Rkatsiteli “Magaracha” grape variety, which has similar characteristics. This is easily explained by the fact that the grapes “Rkatsiteli Magarach” are eaten out by crossing the white “Rkatsiteli”, the “Magarach” variety and a line of other varieties of the crop. Depending on the parental composition, the subspecies of Magarach grapes are divided according to the ripening period. “Rkatsiteli Magarach” refers to early white wine varieties.
Planting a wine variety
Despite the fact that Rkatsiteli grapes are unpretentious, soil of a certain structure should be chosen for planting. The variety grows well on loam or sandy loam with sufficient moisture. If the site is located in a region with very hot summers, then the Rkatsiteli variety is planted on the northern slopes. This will keep the variety from ripening too quickly.
Vine growers pay special attention to the possibilities of irrigation, otherwise a good harvest will not be obtained. Variety “Rkatsiteli” refers to perennial crops, so the choice of a place for planting should be taken responsibly. It is the quality of the work performed when laying the vineyard and choosing the site that determines the profitability, durability and productivity of the variety. Mistakes made affect the result even after decades. In addition, they are often impossible to fix.
Before planting seedlings of “Rkatsiteli”, a breakdown is carried out with the marking of planting pits. Between the bushes leave at least 2 m, and the aisles make 3-3,5 m.
It is better to choose a cloudy day for planting Rkatsiteli grapes. In this case, young seedlings will be protected from sunlight.
The pits are prepared large, for each seedling it will be necessary to maintain dimensions of 80 cm for each parameter – depth, length and width. Get a cube.
If an industrial planting is planned, then this process is carried out mechanized.
Drainage is placed at the bottom of the pit, then a layer of fertile soil and fertilizer. When landing at the bottom of the pit, 3-4 buckets of organics are laid, 0,5 kg of nitroammophoska and wood ash. On top is another layer of earth 10 cm thick. The components are mixed, the seedling is placed in a hole and the roots are straightened. After filling the hole with soil, tamp the top layer a little and water the plant.
Care of grapes
When growing the variety “Rkatsiteli” be sure to monitor the location of the arrows. The main shoots of the grapes are directed upwards, so there is a danger of a shortage of lighting for grones. The arrows are placed horizontally, then the clusters receive enough light. The load is normalized so that no more than 30 fruit-bearing shoots remain on the bush, on which 50-60 eyes are located. During the pruning period, 12 eyes are left on one arrow of the Rkatsiteli grape. If the grower grows a variety in the conditions of a stemless fan formation, then the sleeves are made 70 cm long.
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For grape plantings, the following activities are carried out:
- Pruning of superficial roots. To do this, the soil is raked to a depth of 25 cm and the upper roots are cut.
- They pinch the tops at the end of summer, in the fall (mid-October) they cut off the unripe part of the vine on the bushes of the Rkatsiteli variety.
- In areas with frosty winters, young grape seedlings cover. You can cover only dry shoots.
- In the spring, the Rkatsiteli vine is freed from shelter, dried, and cut. Leave 2 buds on the shoots.
- Vegetative shoots (without flowers) are annually cut to ½ length or carefully broken out.
- Provide adequate watering. For one bush of the Rkatsiteli variety, at least 2-3 buckets of water are required. When the plants grow up, the bushes are abundantly watered 2 times during the summer and at the beginning of autumn. Before the seedlings become stronger, water the plants as the topsoil dries up.
- The grapes are fed in spring with infusion of bird droppings, and at the end of August with infusion or dry wood ash powder. Adult bushes are fed with ammonium nitrate in the spring. Enough 1 tbsp. l. substances on a bucket of water. Be sure to combine top dressing with watering (3 buckets of water). This will protect the roots from burns.
- The vineyard is regularly loosened and weeded.
Pests and diseases
The main pests that annoy the Rkatsiteli grapes are the spider mite and the grape leafworm.
A spider mite infestation can be detected with the appearance of yellow leaves, which then dry and die. To combat the tick, acaricides are used – “Kleshchevit”, “Fitoverm”, “Akarin”, “Thiovit Jet”. The drugs are diluted and used according to the instructions.
To destroy the leaf rollers, you will need insecticides – Aliot, Decis, Inta-Vir, Fufanon-Nova. Spraying is carried out before flowering and after.
Grapes “Rkatsiteli” will have to be saved from this powdery mildew. The variety does not have strong immunity to this disease. In order to prevent infection, it is necessary, for the purpose of prevention, to spray the bushes with one of the fungicides – Topaz, Thiovit Jet, Strobi. To prevent downy mildew, Strobe, Ridomil Gold, Horus are well suited. The treatment is repeated 3 times a week. So that the grapes are not exposed to gray rot, Fitosporin or Alirin is used.
Regular inspection of young plants helps to avoid unnecessary treatments. As soon as the first signs of a problem appear on the Rkatsiteli grapes (see photo),
gardener’s intervention is required. Up to this point, you just need to follow the requirements of agricultural technology, and pests will not appear:
- clean the bushes from parts of the old bark;
- burn this bark outside the vineyard;
- carry out preventive spraying.
Garlic-onion infusion has proven itself excellently. It is prepared from 3-4 heads of garlic, 200 g of onion peel and 5 liters of water. The mixture is insisted for 6 days, then the grapes are sprayed.
The Rkatsiteli grape variety is used for making juices and wines. In one technology, only berries are used, in the other, they are processed together with combs. Such drinks are more tart. Winegrowers appreciate the variety for its unpretentiousness and good returns, therefore, if there is space on the site, the famous variety is sure to be planted.