Rumba grapes

Thanks to the efforts of breeders, grapes are now grown not only in the southern regions, but also in temperate latitudes. Many frost-resistant varieties appeared, among which Rumba grapes gained great popularity.

This table grape variety, bred by an amateur gardener by crossing two others, has excellent characteristics:

• beautiful appearance;
• excellent taste;
• simple rules of care.

Variety description

Large oval grapes of the Rumba variety of amber-pink color, collected in large clusters of a cylindrical shape, attract with a beautiful appearance and a barely perceptible aroma of nutmeg. The weight of each berry can reach 9-10 g. The dense skin protects them from hornets, but it is not felt at all when consumed. Juicy fleshy berries of the Rumba variety are characterized by:

• high sugar content – up to 24%;
• high content of vitamins B and C;
• the presence of trace elements and organic acids.

The enzymes contained in Rumba grapes are involved in the processes of hematopoiesis, so it is often recommended for various diseases. The weight of Rumba grapes, on average, is about 800 g, but can be more. Each brush contains up to 100 grapes. Rumba grapes tolerate transportation well and retain an excellent presentation.

Rumba grapes give large strong bushes with long, up to 5-6 m, annual shoots, which are already beginning to bear fruit in the second or third year. The Rumba variety is characterized by early ripening – the grape harvest begins to be harvested in early August. But even if the bunches are harvested later, they will not lose their taste and presentation – after watching the video, you can get acquainted with the description of Rumba grapes:

Attractive for gardeners are such characteristics of the Rumba variety as:

• consistently high yields every season;
• good frost resistance – the variety can withstand 20-degree frosts;
• resistance to diseases and pests;
• fast survival of cuttings;
• unpretentiousness in the care of grapes.

Features of landing

Rumba grape seedlings are usually planted in the spring. There are also options for autumn planting, but then you need to monitor night frosts. If the temperature drops below 0 degrees, the bushes may freeze. The Rumba variety is undemanding to the soil, the main thing is the organization of proper care. However, growing vine bushes require a strong root system, so they need to provide enough space. To do this, a distance of 3 m must be left between grape seedlings. Otherwise:

• neighboring bushes will intertwine with long shoots, injuring clusters and berries;
• the root system of the grapes will remain weak, which will cause a decrease in yield;
• lack of sunlight due to the thickening of the bushes will lead to crushing of the berries.

Well preparation

Features of preparing holes for planting Rumba grapes are as follows:

• for planting seedlings, it is necessary to dig spacious holes with a diameter and a depth of 1 m;
• at the same time, the upper, more fertile soil layer of about 0,5 m should be laid out separately from the second, deeper one;
• if the groundwater is too high, lay drainage from fine gravel at the bottom of the hole;
• a mixture of humus is poured over the drainage with the top layer of earth set aside.

Thus, the soil layers are reversed, placing a fatter, nutrient-rich soil under the root system of the grapes. The lower layer, which has much less organic and mineral salts, is used to fix the grape stem.

Rules for planting Rumba grapes

To plant this variety, you need to select seedlings that have well-developed roots and young shoots about 20 cm long. Each of them should have no more than 4 buds.

A few recommendations will help you properly plant Rumba grape seedlings:

• the day before planting, the roots of seedlings are slightly cut and placed in a nutrient solution;
• in the hole, the root system of the seedling is carefully placed and covered with earth, ramming layer by layer;
• the hole is not completely filled up, leaving a small depression around it a few centimeters;
• 2-3 buckets of settled water are poured into the recess;
• loosen the ground around the bushes after watering to facilitate the availability of oxygen to the roots, and then mulch it;
• vines are tied to vertical supports to guide them.

Care of grapes

The description of the Rumba grape variety, photos and reviews testify to the simplicity of the agricultural practices necessary for its cultivation.

However, these activities should be regular and timely:

Watering

Rumba grapes need to be watered regularly throughout the season from April to October. The first watering of the bushes is carried out immediately after planting. After 2-3 weeks, the grapes are pruned, after which the seedlings are watered again. It is necessary to monitor the regularity of watering, but waterlogging of the soil should not be allowed – this is fraught with the occurrence of fungal infections or provoking rotting processes in the root system of grapes.

In the vegetation phase, it is necessary to provide young shoots of Rumba grapes with optimal conditions for development, therefore more water is required. You should stop watering the bushes during flowering, as excess water is fraught with shedding of flowers and a decrease in the yield of the Rumba variety.

When organizing irrigation, it is worth following some recommendations:

• water should not fall on the green parts of the plant; you need to moisten the soil around the bushes;
• the water temperature should be comfortable enough for the vine;
• before watering, water should be defended for some time;
•  especially you need to beware of high humidity during the ripening of grapes, as cracks can form on their surface.

Feeding

The Rumba grape variety does not require frequent feeding – it is enough to apply humus or bird droppings every three years as an organic fertilizer. To do this, small holes are prepared around the Rumba grape bushes. Of the mineral compounds, nitrogen salts are effective after wintering grapes. Top dressing with potash and phosphorus fertilizers should be carried out before the flowering of grapes and before sheltering it for the winter.

The Rumba grape variety, as its description shows, is resistant to pests and fungal infections. One of the most common diseases is mildew. It infects grape leaves, causing them to fall off. The characteristic signs of the disease are the formation of white plaque and yellow spots on the leaves. If treatment is not taken, the disease will affect the entire bush. Deprived of the deciduous cover that provides the vine with nutrition and oxygen, it will die. To combat the fungus, copper-containing preparations are most effective. However, Rumba bushes should not be processed during the ripening period of berries.

Another dangerous pest is the itch. It can hide under the bark and manifests itself as a tiny white cobweb covering the inside of the grape leaf. Affected leaves gradually swell and wilt. At the first signs of the disease, leaf blades should be treated to prevent further spread of the disease.

To protect Rumba grapes from these diseases, it is necessary to periodically carry out preventive work:

• avoid strong thickening of shoots;
• timely clean the near-stem areas from weeds;
• free boles from old bark;
• regularly spray Rumba bushes with disinfectants.

Usually, gardeners spray vines before and towards the end of flowering with phosphorus-containing fungicides.

Mulching bushes

By mulching the soil under the grape bushes, moisture can be retained for a longer time. An additional benefit of mulch is that soil microorganisms break down small particles, providing the vine with useful substances. For mulching Rumba grapes, you can use materials at hand such as:

• herbal compost;
• a layer of fallen leaves;
• straw;
• small branches;
• silage and cake from the juicer.

Sometimes a special mulch paper is used for mulching, to which instructions are attached for proper use. The thickness of the mulch layer should be at least 5 cm.

Rumba grape pruning

During the summer, many young shoots form on the vines, creating an additional load for the vine. In order to have enough nutrition for the formation of berries and not crush them, you need to adjust the number of shoots. Excess must be removed when trimming.

The optimal number of shoots on young bushes of the Rumba variety after pruning is no more than 20 brushes, and on adults – up to 40. 6-8 eyes should remain on the remaining shoots. Autumn pruning of Rumba grapes is performed before shelter for the winter, around the end of October.

Shelter before winter

In the southern regions, vineyards are not covered for the winter, but this procedure is mandatory for temperate latitudes. There are several ways to cover the vine. But in any case, it is bent to the ground and fixed with brackets or wooden horns, having previously laid plywood. After that, the vine must be treated with a solution of copper sulfate and sprinkled with wood ash, which has an antifungal effect.

From above, the vine can be sprinkled with earth or arcuate rods can be preliminarily installed above the shelter, on which plastic wrap should be stretched. From the sides, the film is sprinkled with earth, and the ends remain open to provide oxygen to the vines.

In spring, Rumba grapes should be opened gradually, as return frosts are possible. You can open the film during the daytime, and close it again at night. You can fully open the vine after the end of night frosts.

Reviews

Numerous reviews of Rumba grapes testify to the unpretentiousness of the variety, its high yield and unusually sweet berries.

Conclusion

Wonderful taste, beautiful appearance, adaptability to different climatic conditions and simple rules of agricultural technology make Rumba grapes one of the most attractive for growing on your site.