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Grapes are an ancient culture. Plants have changed a lot over the millennia. Today there are a huge number of varieties and hybrids that differ not only in taste, but also in size and color of berries. That is why gardeners face the dilemma of which grape variety to choose for their site.
Description of the variety, characteristics, reviews of gardeners, as well as photos and videos sent by them help to obtain the necessary information. The article will talk about a plant obtained in Moldova and enjoying the success of gardeners for more than a dozen years. This is a grape variety of the Memory of Negrul.
History of the variety
Sunny Moldova has always been famous for its vineyards and delicious wines. Breeders constantly updated the range of varieties. Grape of the Memory of Negrul, as well as the first description of the variety belongs to the employees of the Moldovan Research Institute of Viticulture and Agriculture.
Back in 1975, the Koarne Nyagre variety and the Pierrel hybrid were crossed. The employees of the Institute gave their brainchild the name of the Soviet scientist A. M. Negrul, whom I. Vavilov once called the “King of Grapes”.
The variety was registered only in 2015, it is considered to belong to the Republic of Moldova.
Important Information
Let’s start the description of the Negrul Memory grape with the fact that it is a hybrid form of medium-late ripening. As a rule, 145-155 days pass from the moment of flowering to harvest. Although gardeners living in the southern regions note earlier ripening of clusters in the reviews.
Harvest time is the first half of September. The yield of grapes is excellent. When growing the Memory of Negrul variety on an industrial scale, from 180 to 200 centners of juicy berries are harvested per hectare.
Description of bushes
Grapes of this variety are distinguished by a powerful skeleton, capable of bearing fruit with a heavy load on the vine. There are about ¾ fruiting shoots on it. The survival rate of seedlings is slightly less than 100%.
The ripeness of shoots of grapes of the Memory of Negrul grape is high, about 90%. But you need to pay attention to the young vine, because it is fragile, often breaks. All shoots of the first year must be tied to a reliable support.
The grape variety of Moldovan selection is a tall plant with rounded five-lobed and dissected leaves of a light green color. The underside of the leaf blade has a clearly visible pubescence.
The flowering of grapes is plentiful, the berries are tied well. The thing is that the variety has both male and female flowers. The plant does not need to be artificially pollinated, on the contrary, it is itself an excellent pollinator for other grape varieties. The clusters are always full, with berries of almost the same size, since peas do not threaten the Memory of Negrul grapes.
Description of grapes and berries
Clusters of a variety of the correct cylindrical shape, often with wings. If you look at the photo below, then outwardly they are spectacular and attractive. Clusters of grapes weigh on average 300-700 grams, although the Memory of Negrul variety has its record holders, reaching a mass of about a kilogram. Clusters up to 20 long and up to 12 cm wide.
In biological ripeness, the berries of the variety turn dark purple, almost black. From the side, they appear blue due to the thick coating of spring.
The fruits are elongated, ovoid in shape, the tips are slightly pointed, 3 cm long and 2 cm wide. Each berry weighs about 9 grams on average. There are only 2-3 bones. The skin is dense, crunches while eating. The taste of juicy dense pulp is ordinary without any frills, sweetish-sour.
The sugar content in fruits is 16-18 g/100 cm3; acids – 6-8 g / l. The tasters highly appreciated the variety, their score was 9,2 points.
Characteristics
Without the characteristics of the grape variety Memory Negrul, knowing only the description, it is difficult to make a choice. You need to know the positives as well as the negatives.
Advantages
- The yield of the variety is high and stable from year to year.
- The safety of the grapes is excellent. They can hang on the bush until frost. If you store grape varieties in the basement, then on New Year’s Eve you can enjoy delicious fruits from your garden. In the refrigerator, the keeping quality is slightly lower.
- Berries with dense skin are highly transportable, they do not lose their presentation even during long-term transportation.
- The use of the Memory of Negrul grapes is universal. In addition to fresh consumption, excellent juice, jam, compotes are obtained from berries.
- The variety is represented by own-rooted bushes that can withstand temperatures down to -25 degrees. When growing in harsher conditions, shelter is required.
- The plant is drought-resistant, although timely watering helps to increase the yield and quality of the bunches.
- Shoots ripen almost 100%, cuttings can be planted on the stock.
- The grape variety of the Memory of Negrul, unlike other plants of the culture, has a high immunity. Oidium, mildew, gray mold, phylloxera, grape mites are rarely sick. Although preventive measures should not be neglected. As for pests, according to gardeners, wasps do not damage clusters, but you have to defend yourself from birds.
Cons
As you can see, the Memory of Negrul variety has many, and significant, advantages. Although the disadvantages should not be silent either. According to gardeners, this is:
- The grape variety of Moldovan selection needs shelter if it is grown in regions where the temperature drops below -26 degrees in winter.
- In order for the harvest to be high and stable, it is necessary to regulate the load on the vine so that there is no overload.
What gardeners think about the Memory Negrul variety:
Features of landing
Grapes of the Memory of Negrul can be planted in spring in April-May, or in autumn, until frosts begin.
When choosing a site, you need to consider the composition of the soil. Salt marshes, soil with a high content of clay are not suitable for planting grapes. It is also dangerous to plant a variety on soils where groundwater comes close to the surface.
Rules of landing
It is necessary to take into account the rules for planting seedlings or grapevine cuttings:
- The soil for grapes of any variety is prepared in advance; when digging, weeds are removed along with the roots.
- Planting material must be of high quality, healthy: ripened shoots and a powerful root system.
- Landing pits should be at least 100 cm in diameter, and a depth of about 80 cm. Drainage from fine gravel and sand is laid at the bottom.
- Superphosphate, potassium chloride are added to one part of the soil, which is folded when digging next to the pit. Drainage is covered with this mixture. Humus or compost is added to another part of the soil, and the rest of the pit is filled with it. Grape roots should not come into contact with mineral fertilizer to avoid burns.
- The seedling is set in the center, sprinkled with earth and watered abundantly.
- To retain moisture, plantings are mulched.
Since the young shoots of the Memory Negrul grape variety are fragile, they are immediately tied to a wooden peg. Support is necessary to give the future bush the desired direction.
Care of grapes
According to the description and characteristics of the variety, the Negrul Memory grape does not cause much trouble, but you need to know the rules of agricultural technology. Care consists of the following activities:
- regular watering, cleaning plantings from weeds, loosening;
- mulching the plantation, shelter for the winter, if required by the climatic conditions of the region;
- bush formation and vine pruning;
- fertilizing;
- preventive measures for growing healthy vines.
And now about some activities for the care of grapes in more detail.
Watering
According to the description and characteristics, the variety of Moldovan selection is drought-resistant. But you need to water the plants in a timely manner. With insufficient watering, you can not only lose the crop, but also get low-quality bunches.
You need to water the grapes of the Memory of Negrul as follows:
- early spring and autumn after shelter, water-charging irrigation is carried out;
- when the eyes open, the plantings moisturize again;
- subsequent waterings as the soil dries.
Additional fertilizing
Liquid top dressing is carried out simultaneously with watering. Grapes need potash and phosphate fertilizers. These top dressings are necessary:
- for the proper development of the vine;
- formation of fruit buds;
- obtaining a quality crop;
- increase the viability of plants.
Mineral fertilizers are applied strictly according to the instructions at a certain time.
The Memory Negrul variety also needs fresh manure, which is brought in in the fall. Thanks to organic matter, beneficial bacteria settle in the soil, which have a beneficial effect on the development of the vine.
Useful for grapes and foliar top dressing. For this, special preparations are used.
Trimming
Pruning is necessary for the plant to form a bush. It is carried out in autumn and spring. Before shelter, shoots are cut out that have not had time to ripen. Moreover, strong pruning is not carried out in the autumn, you need to leave a reserve: it is not known how the grapes will winter.
Frozen or broken shoots are subjected to spring pruning. As a rule, 7-8 eyes should remain on the vine.
Protective measures
As the originators indicate in the description, as well as gardeners in the reviews, the Moldavian grape variety has a high immunity to many diseases. But prevention still does not hurt. Gardeners treat bushes with fungicides against diseases. Any drugs are used, taking into account the instructions.
From the invasion of feathered sweets, planting grapes is covered with a net or clusters are hidden in gauze bags, as in the photo below.
