Monarch grapes: variety description, planting, cultivation, care
Content:
The article presents the Monarch grapes: a description of the variety, its dignity, the rules for planting, growing, leaving.
Today there is a very large selection of a wide variety of grape varieties for every taste and any climatic conditions. The monarch variety differs in that it has rather large fruits with medium-sized bunches. This variety very often becomes the choice of many agronomists for its unpretentiousness and for its taste. In this article we will tell you all the features of the care and planting of monarch grapes.
Monarch grapes: variety description
Monarch grapes: photo
In general, this variety was bred by the talented breeder Pavlovsky, crossing Talisman and Cardinal. But this variety is still not listed in the state register. Monarch is considered a table grape, although the bunches are not very large, weighing up to 1 kg. The fruits themselves are really quite large, up to 20 grams, one grape, conical or cylindro-conical, amber-yellow in color. They are a bit like plums in size and shape.
Of the advantages of this variety, one can also note a small number of seeds inside the fruit (up to three pieces), the taste is very sweet, juicy. The ripening period is only up to 130 days, due to the high sugar content in the chemical composition, it is considered an early maturing variety. Therefore, the large Monarch grape can be grown even in the northern regions. The harvest is also impressive: up to 7 kg can be harvested from one bush per season. grapes. The vine grows very rapidly, about 2/3 of its original growth and 1.5 meters in height, therefore, in order to avoid stress on the bush, we leave 25-30 eyes during pruning. The plant has flowers of both sexes, so pollination takes place without difficulty or interference. As experienced gardeners note, this process is best done from the shady side. The fruits adhere very well to the bunches and tolerate transportation well. The leaves are dark green, like all hybrids, are resistant to pests.
Monarch grapes: characteristics, pros and cons of the variety
Photo of the Monarch grape variety
This variety is appreciated for its juicy, sweet taste with a nutmeg undertone, for its beautiful bunches and excellent presentation. Among the advantages are the following characteristics:
- early variety, ripens by the end of August
- high yield rate, up to 20 kg per bush
- on the bunches all fruits are of the same size and the same ripeness, there are no small, unripe
- high frost resistance of the bush, withstands up to -250
- resistant to pests and diseases, the bush tolerates weather changes well
- dense skin that is not damaged during transportation
- good taste
- excellent presentation
- cuttings take root well, rooted easily
Unfortunately, not a single plant can do without flaws, here are some limitations:
- shedding of the ovaries, therefore it is very important to thin out the clusters in time, it is impossible to thin out during flowering, this procedure should be postponed to the period when the berries are formed; untimely feeding also leads to shedding of the ovaries
- not resistant to powdery mildew, this disease can lead to a lack of harvest, so preventive measures must be taken immediately.
Monarch grapes: a description of the correct planting of the cuttings
Monarch grapes: a description of the correct planting of the cuttings
If you have not been growing grapes for several years, then it is better to start with buying a ready-made seedling in a proven nursery.You need to immediately look at the cut, so that it is green, fresh, buds in the amount of three pieces. The root system should be developed, strong, with white lateral processes.
Before planting in the ground, the cutting is soaked in water or planted in moist soil, and left in this state until a stable root system develops and the first green leaves appear. To inoculate the cutting, you must first carefully cut it off, then soak it in water for 14 hours at a water temperature of 150. Then, place the cutting in a solution of Humate, 10 drops per 1 liter of water. If you have not found special solutions for a growth stimulant, you can use the old "old-fashioned" method - half a tablespoon of honey for 5 liters of water. Experienced agronomists, in order to preserve the cutting, do the waxing procedure. I do the procedure with care, without damaging the young shoots. Simply dip the branch into molten paraffin, then immediately into cold water and put it to dry.
Monarch grape variety: planting
In general, grapes are considered a heat-loving, southern culture, and the German Monarch grape is no exception. Choosing a place for planting on the sunny side. With a lack of sun, the grapes will not ripen. We shelter the vineyard from the north wind, they do not like drafts. Suitable places where there are courtyard buildings and on their southern side, we plant plants. These buildings will be natural shelters from cold, northerly winds. Plants love fertile, medium moisture soil. Clay soil will definitely not work, sandy soil may do, but the seedlings will take root for a long time. Only black soil is ideal, since the culture is still southern, underwater waters should be at a depth of 1.5 meters.
Monarch grape: variety care
In the first two weeks after planting, Monarch wine grapes need regular watering so that the seedlings take root well and take root. Water in moderation with warm water. If you see that the soil dries up around the bush, then you need to loosen it to a depth of 10 cm. After that, you need to water it only as needed, before flowering you should water it and before the formation of ovaries. In order for moisture to stay at the roots, you can mulch the soil around with ordinary humus, peat or sawdust.
Fertilizers based on phosphorus and potassium are suitable as top dressing. We introduce them while loosening, at the same time deepening into the soil, closer to the roots. Moreover, fertilizers need to be applied in a timely manner, and not as they please. Before flowering is not recommended because minerals will only go to the growth of shoots.
It is advisable to carry out three dressings per season - after flowering, 2 weeks before the expected harvest and in the fall. For the first two dressings, fertilizers such as ammophos, nitrofosk, Solution, Kemir, Novofert are suitable. In autumn, after harvesting, we fertilize with horse or cow dung. We apply top dressing by digging trenches around the bush, if you just leave them on the surface, they will not be absorbed. Remember that grapes cannot tolerate chlorine fertilizers.
At the very beginning, before the berries are formed, the vine is cut off a little and pulled to the spatulas. Then, do not touch until the beginning of the formation of the berries. Then you need to do thinning, 23-35 eyes should remain on each bush, 4-5 buds on one sleeve. Extra branches will interfere with the formation of berries and take away the nutrients necessary for growth, so do not regret it, feel free to cut the vine.
As we said above, the monarch variety is susceptible to powdery mildew, so it is important to take preventive measures. Bordeaux liquid is well suited, we prepare a one percent solution from it, then spray the plant. The procedure is carried out 2-3 times per season.
If the air temperature in your region in winter does not exceed -25 degrees, then there is no need to cover the bushes, as we said, they are frost-resistant, it will be enough to mulch the surface around the bushes and fill in sawdust or moss. If, nevertheless, the temperature can greatly exceed the norm, then it is recommended to cover it with a film, pressing the plants to the ground. The film must be fixed.
Collection, storage of crops
We start harvesting from the end of August, cut off the brushes with a pruner so as not to damage the fruits. Remarkably, the bunches can hang for a very long time and not crumble. For temporary storage, wooden boxes are best.
We store the harvest in the refrigerator, sometimes do not forget to sort it out in order to remove the rotten berries. Can be stored in the cellar by tying the brushes to the twine. In order to increase the shelf life, some vineyards tie potatoes to bristles.
Despite being a table variety, it can be used for a variety of purposes. You can prepare juice, wine, jam.
As you can see, the Monarch grape variety is very unpretentious. Any novice vineyard can grow it. Maintenance and pruning procedures are not complicated at all. We hope our article will help you grow and harvest a good monarch harvest.
Monarch grapes: video about the variety