Growing grapes in the Moscow region
Industrial southern berries are grown in hot countries, but residents of the northern regions should not be upset: grapes in the Moscow region can and should be cultivated.
Growing grapes in the Moscow region
Choosing a variety for cultivation
Viticulture in the country is the dream of many. It is easy to plant your own tasty berry nursery on a plot in the Moscow region.
The following varieties are considered the best species for planting in the Moscow region:
- Don Agate;
- Alpha;
- Aleshenkin;
- Welliant;
- Beauty of the North.
These types of crops mature quickly, in about 160 days. They are winter-hardy: without snow they can withstand temperatures down to -12 ° C. If you choose non-sheltering varieties and do not protect them during the wintering period, they will die. Without a thick layer of snow, the uncovered roots of the bush will freeze or undergo disease. The plant will no longer bloom and bear fruit.
An important stage is the planting of grapes in the Moscow region. The planting site should not be windy. Some species are planted immediately in open soil, without worrying about the preparation of cuttings.
Soil for planting
Growing grapes in the open field in the Moscow region involves preparing the right soil. The culture loves loose, saturated with nitrogen, manganese, boron. With a lack of the necessary minerals and trace elements, the leaves of the bush will turn yellow due to disease.
Specially bred species for temperate climates are relatively resistant to fungi, infections and diseases:
- to powdery mildew (powdery mildew);
- to downy mildew (mildew);
- to chlorosis.
Some ailments are incurable. If the bush is sick with spotted mosaic (infectious chlorosis), it is uprooted and destroyed. To avoid this condition, the soil cannot be fed and fertilized with fresh manure; nitric acid compounds of sodium and calcium; large doses of superphosphates.
Culture care
Caring for grapes in the Moscow region practically does not differ from the rules for caring for berries in other regions.
Resistant hybrid varieties are suitable for novice winegrowers. They are planted in open ground with cuttings, having previously prepared them. The planting scheme provides for a distance between them no more than 1 m. This rule simplifies planting and caring for grapes in the Moscow region.
The three significant steps for a plant are wintering, pruning and harvesting. All vineyards, including those in the northern latitudes, require increased attention in spring and autumn.
How to properly leave a plant to winter
It is important to properly prepare plants for wintering.
An important point for growing and caring for grapes in the Moscow region is the wintering of the culture.
Vineyards are sheltered for the winter at night temperatures of -2 ° C. Hiding a culture too early or late leads to:
- condensation and root decay;
- death of shoots due to lack of nutrients;
- infection with fungi or infections in an excessively hot and humid environment.
All these factors do not contribute to the development of the bush and a good high-quality harvest, therefore, the berry is not covered in winter or early autumn, but during the first permanent frosts. Healthy shoots are chosen for the winter, and during the season they take care of the crop so that it can better endure the cold.
Plant shoots in the Moscow region are covered with the following materials:
- land;
- coniferous branches;
- slate;
- roofing material;
- agrofiber.
The material should be taken care of in advance. If necessary, it is dried and cleaned from wet soil and mold.
The age of the vine is also important for choosing a method. Young bushes are covered with a "house", trying not to bend or break. They are protected in several ways simultaneously. Older and stronger plants are allowed to be bent to the ground or covered. Before wintering, the bushes are cut off.
Bush pruning technology
Cropping is necessary for several reasons:
- It gives the bushes the correct shape.
- It makes it easier for the plant to bear fruit (when it comes to adjusting the crop).
- It helps to remove excess branches and focuses the plant on fruiting.
Pruning is done in spring and autumn. In the fall, it is needed to prepare the vine for wintering, to reduce the area of the bush, which will be covered with protective materials.
The culture in the Moscow region is pruned with a small fan, since this scheme makes it easy to cover the bush for winter. In addition, due to the temperate climate and low temperatures, loose bushes give less fruit and grow worse.
Harvesting the harvest
In cold regions, it is recommended to plant varieties that, at the time of ripening, contain the maximum amount of sugar in the fruit. They make good wines. For harvesting berries, the following recommendations are appropriate:
- Choose an afternoon on a dry day.
- The fruits are harvested as the bunches ripen.
- They monitor the number of rotten berries, and, if necessary, accelerate the harvest.
- After collection, the bunches are reviewed and sorted.
It is not worth staying with an unharvested vineyard in the Moscow region: due to high humidity and low temperatures, the fruits can rot right on the bushes. The more fruits remain on the branches, the worse their taste is.
Conclusion
It is quite possible to grow grapes near Moscow. The test of culture in the north was carried out by the MOIP society, observing its engraftment in the north. Now M. Schemerov is testing new varieties.
It is not difficult to grow grapes in the Moscow region, it is enough to adhere to the correct agricultural technology: choose a resistant variety, plant it on time, take care of the crop.
Shoots are pruned 2 times a year, harvest in time and provide shelter for the winter.