Vinograd Helios

The dream of every grower is an unpretentious variety with large berries, beautiful bunches and excellent taste. Before everyone, sooner or later, the question of choice arises: white or blue, early or late, covering or winter-hardy. Unfortunately, there are rarely grape varieties that have only pluses – at least one drawback, but you have to put up with it. Of the high-quality and popular varieties, Helios can be distinguished. The strengths of this grape: productivity, large size of clusters and berries, delicate nutmeg taste of fruits, resistance to various diseases. Helios also has a small minus: the variety is quite capricious, needs good care and nutritious soil.

Below is a description of the Helios grape variety, with photos and reviews from experienced gardeners. Here you can also find recommendations on planting and caring for the vine, learn about the strengths and weaknesses of the variety in more detail.

Characteristics of the hybrid

Helios is the brainchild of amateur breeder Krainov, who owns the authorship of many varieties and hybrids popular in the country. In fact, Helios is a hybrid, its “parents” are Arcadia and Nakhodka raisins.

Helios is a pink grape of table type and early ripening. Recommended for cultivation in regions with a mild climate – the southern part of the continent from Moldova to the Caucasus. In a temperate climate, Helios also shows itself well, but for the winter the vine must be covered.

Description of grape variety Helios:

• Helios needs 110-115 days to fully ripen – usually ripe berries can be harvested already in early August (by autumn, the fruits gain even more sugar and become tastier, so you can not rush to harvest);
• hybrid bushes are distinguished by their high height and high growth rate, so Helios is suitable for decorating hedges and arbors;
• the shoots are painted in a golden brown hue, the internodes on them are red;
• the leaves are large, dark green in color, strongly indented;
• цветки у Гелиоса обоеполые (гермафродитные);
• pollination of grapes goes well even under bad weather conditions;
• variety Helios is distinguished by a high level of shoot ripening, good rooting of cuttings, compatibility with different rootstocks;
• грозди у Розовой Аркадии крупные, имеют форму конуса или конусного цилиндра;
• the average weight of one bunch is 600-900 grams (often there are bunches weighing 1,5 kg or more);
• clusters of medium density, not prone to pea berries;
• berries are large, weighing about 13-15 grams;
• the shape of the fruit is oval, the peel is painted in a light red shade;
• the skin on the berries is dense, not prone to cracking, it is easy to chew while eating;
• one or two seeds are present in the pulp of grapes;
• the structure of the pulp is fleshy, dense, juicy;
• the taste of Helios is nutmeg, sweet, with pleasant fruity and floral notes;
• the yield of the Helios variety is high, it increases even more with frequent feeding and proper care;
• the harvested crop is suitable for long-term storage and transportation over long distances;
• frost resistance of the hybrid is average – without shelter, the vine can withstand a temperature drop to a maximum of -23-24 degrees;
• Helios has good immunity, this grape rarely suffers from oidium, phylloxera, mildew, and is not subject to various rots;
• a big plus of the variety is its resistance to wasps – insects cannot damage the dense peel of sweet berries;
• this grape hybrid is quite whimsical and needs good nutrition, constant care.

You can use the Helios crop in different ways: eat large fresh berries, make rose wine from grapes, various juices, compotes or jams. The sugar content in fruits is high, its amount depends on the light and temperature during the ripening period.

Advantages and disadvantages

The Helios grape variety is very loved by private gardeners and summer residents. This hybrid is also chosen by large farmers who grow grapes for sale or for processing. Such popularity is quite justified, because Pink Arcadia has a lot of advantages:

• high yield;
• early maturation;
• excellent taste and high sugar content of berries;
• disinclination to pea, cracking and wasp attacks;
• immunity to the most frequent and dangerous grape diseases;
• good frost resistance;
• high commercial qualities (appearance, suitability for storage and transportation);
• ease of propagation and cultivation.

Виноградарь должен помнить, что Гелиос – весьма капризный сорт. Любые погрешности в уходе и выращивании этот виноград обязательно «заметит» и отреагирует снижением урожайности, ухудшением качества и вкуса ягод, плохим состоянием лозы.

Planting a capricious hybrid

It is imperative to plant Helios in the right place. This should be a well-lit area with natural protection from the north wind in the form of a house wall, outbuilding, hedge or gazebo. Due to the strong growth and branching of the shoots, Helios grapes will be an excellent decoration for a garden or local area. The soil at the landing site should be fertile, loose, well pass moisture and air.

It is equally important to choose high-quality planting material. Helios cuttings must be strong and healthy, with a well-developed root system without signs of damage and infection.

Before planting, grape cuttings should be prepared:

1. Rejuvenate the root system of the cuttings by cutting their roots by about 10 cm.
2. Choose the longest and strongest shoot (if there are several of them on the seedling), cut out the rest of the shoots.
3. Подрезать оставшийся основной побег винограда до четвертой-пятой почки.
4. The day before planting, place the root system of grapes in water or in a growth stimulator.

The time for planting Helios grapes can be chosen both in spring and autumn. If the planting is autumn, it will be necessary to cover the seedling for the winter to prevent it from freezing.

It is advisable to prepare pits for planting grapes in advance (optimally, six months before planting cuttings). The distance between adjacent Helios bushes should be about 2,5-3 meters, since the variety is vigorous and spreading. The dimensions of the landing pit are slightly larger than the standard ones: 80x80x80 cm.

In the process of planting, it is very important to correctly distribute the layers of soil. The top layer (about half) is removed from the pit and mixed with fertilizers: superphosphate, potassium salt, humus or compost. After that, the fertilized soil is laid on the bottom of the pit (a layer of about 35 cm in height should form) and a grape stalk is placed on it.

The roots of the grapes are carefully straightened, making sure that they are not directed upwards. Then the Helios root system is sprinkled with soil from the second, lower, soil layer. The earth near the grapes is well tamped.

Water the grapes after planting regularly, pouring about 25 liters of water per square meter of soil. Before watering, the soil must be loosened or the hole filled with mulching material.

Proper care

As already mentioned, Helios grapes need competent and correct care – this hybrid does not forgive mistakes. In principle, the care steps are the same as usual, but it is important to follow the instructions and do everything in a timely manner.

Helios grapes need the following:

1. Water rose-fruited grapes need to be very careful. For Helios, both a lack of moisture and its excess are equally dangerous. In early spring, the vine should be watered as soon as the thermometer stays above zero. At sub-zero temperatures, the grapes are not watered, because of this, its roots can freeze. The second time Helios is watered immediately after spring pruning, you need to pour about 30 liters per square meter. Before and after flowering, at the stage of berry formation, the vine is watered several more times. The last watering should take place before wintering, then the amount of water is increased to 50 l / m². Важно понимать, что искусственное орошение необходимо только в периоды засухи, когда недостаточно естественных осадков.

   

2. To retain moisture at the roots, to protect the root system of grapes from overheating, it is recommended use mulch. Dry leaves, straw, grass cuttings, sawdust, humus or peat are poured in a thick layer (about 5 cm) around the vine.
3. High-yielding Helios grapes need quality pruning and normalization, otherwise its shoots may break, and the berries will become smaller. It is necessary to carry out pruning in early spring, until the sap flow in the vine has begun. Each shoot should be shortened to a maximum of seven eyes. On each adult bush, in total, there should be 35-40 buds.

   

4. Feeding for Helios, they should be regular and sufficiently plentiful. Mineral fertilizers should be applied at least once a year to the soil. Once every three years, usually organic matter is added. The optimal feeding regimen is as follows: ammonium nitrate in early spring, before flowering and after flowering – superphosphate and potassium salt, in between – watering with the addition of organic matter (slurry, bird droppings, wood ash).
5. Fighting diseases and pests should be reduced to prevention, especially since Helios is not susceptible to infection. Effective treatment of the vine before and after flowering with fungicidal agents, such as Bordeaux liquid, for example. Wasps are rarely tempted by Helios berries, but if they do, the clusters can be placed in special protective nets.
6. In regions with harsh or snowless winters, grapes needs to be covered. Usually, each bush is divided in half, the vine is tied and laid on the ground, previously covered with agrofibre. Each half of the bush must be pinned to the ground. Metal arcs are installed above the grape shoots, which must be covered with a film. You can also use the ground for shelter, but this method is more suitable for regions with snowy winters.

   

If everything is done correctly, the clusters of Helios will grow the same as in the photo. Growers’ reviews of this variety are mostly positive, so there should not be any problems with the pink hybrid.

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Conclusion

Pink Helios grapes are perfect for winegrowers from the southern regions with a mild climate and relatively cold winters. Probably, you should not start this variety for those who are just starting to grow wine berries, and for those who do not have time to care for the vineyard. Otherwise, the Pink Arcadia hybrid is very good: the yield is high, it rarely gets sick, it bears fruit in large and beautiful clusters.