Russian Early Grapes: Characteristics and Description of the Variety, Planting and Care

In a temperate climate, only early grape varieties ripen. The Russian Early is precisely this. The creator of the variety Ya. I. Potapenko, the breeding work was conducted in Novocherkassk. The genetic material used included Northern Chasselas and Michurinets. Russian Early is grown in Siberia, the Urals, and the Far East. It is popular with winegrowers in the northwestern regions and in central Russia.

Description

This table variety ripens early (80-100 days). With proper cultivation, the harvest ripens in late July. The Russkiy Rare bush grows vigorously and is ideal for planting near arbors. Yields build slowly, with light fruiting during the first three years. Subsequently, each bush yields 20-30 kg of berries.

Bush characteristics:

• the vine is strong;
• the root is powerful;
• bush width up to 5 meters.

The shoots are covered with oval or heart-shaped leaves of a rich, dark green color with subtle dissection. The undersides are lightly pubescent, with the veins lighter in color than the leaf blade. Two to three clusters can form on a single branch.

The weight of the bunch and the size of the berries depend on the growing conditions. With average care, bunches weigh around 400 g, while with good care, the maximum weight is 600 g. They are conical in shape and fairly loose. The average bunch length reaches 25-35 cm.

The berries accumulate sugar well. The ripe fruit has a non-acidic flavor. Pulp composition:

• sugar - 22%;
• acid - 7 g/l.

The ripe fruit is dark pink and round. The dense skin is covered with a waxy, bluish-gray coating. The weight of a single berry can vary from 6 to 10 grams, depending directly on the quality of care provided to the grapes. The flesh has a harmonious flavor.

The harvest can be stored for up to 3 months in a refrigerator or in a room with low temperatures and stable humidity. The berries are rarely damaged during transportation and retain their marketable appearance.

Direction of use

The primary purpose of growing Russian Early is for the market. This early variety sells well in summer. The fruits are versatile in their uses:

• eaten fresh;
• squeeze the juice;
• are allowed to drink wine.

Drinks of varying strengths have a mature taste and contain notes of muscat.

Advantages

All winegrowers emphasize the main advantage of the Russian Early variety: its early maturity. Its early ripening period allows it to be grown in short summers. A major advantage is its comprehensive disease resistance. The vines are rarely affected by gray mold, mildew, and oidium.

The bunches can remain on the vine for a long time without losing their commercial quality. They retain their marketable appearance during transportation. Variety Productive, each fruiting shoot produces 2-3 clusters. Frost resistance is average. The bushes tolerate temperatures down to -23°C.

Flaws

There are relatively few disadvantages, they all concern the fruits, there are three of them:

• small size;
• tendency to crack;
• are attacked by wasps.

Varietal characteristics include slow yield growth in the first years after planting.

Planting and care rules

Experienced winegrowers consider Russian early grapes to be the best training material for beginners.

Seedlings of this variety take root well and begin bearing fruit in their second year. Site selection should be approached carefully, paying attention to the sun exposure and the site's size.

A mature, vigorous shrub requires at least 5 m² to thrive. This should be taken into account when planting. The shrub can become a garden highlight if planted on the south side of a gazebo or terrace.

Planting holes are dug 50 cm deep and at least 60 cm wide. A thick layer of gravel (20 cm) is placed underneath to improve root development and prevent water stagnation. Before backfilling, be sure to add washed river sand, compost, ash, and superphosphate to the garden soil.

Basic set of measures for bush care grapes:

• pruning;
• watering;
• application of fertilizers;
• processing of inter-row spaces, mulching;
• preparing for winter.

Pruning begins in the second year. Short and medium pruning is used. One to two inflorescences are left on each fruiting shoot.

Irrigation is adjusted for soil and weather conditions. Particular attention is paid to irrigation during the first year after planting. A water consumption rate of 15 l/m² can be used as a guideline.
Weeds around the trunk should be removed twice a season, the topsoil should be loosened slightly, and a layer of mulch (peat, humus, or rotted sawdust) should be added. In the spring, fertilize the grapes with mineral fertilizers such as potassium salt, ammonium nitrate, and superphosphate.

Some gardeners prefer complex fertilizers such as Novofer, Aquirin, and Florovit. During summer, when grape clusters are forming, fertilizers containing only phosphorus and potassium are used.

At the end of the season the bushes are fertilized The last time before the first hard frost. Experienced winegrowers recommend covering the vines with non-woven material during prolonged summer rains. This measure helps reduce crop losses from berry cracking and wasp damage.

Pests

Russkiye ranny plantations are rarely affected by the mite. The main pest is phylloxera, a type of aphid. The insect is very small (0.25-2.25 mm) and yellow-green in color. Vineyards suffer from both adults and larvae. The root form of phylloxera attacks the underground parts, while the leaf form attacks the aboveground parts.

Infected areas (thickenings) of infected bushes are cut out and burned. The primary method of pest control is prevention. This consists of the following measures:

• use of healthy planting material;
• treat planting material with hexachlorocyclohexane (24% emulsion);
• adding sand to the planting hole;
• sow parsley between the rows.

In cases of severe infestation, the bushes are uprooted and destroyed. The soil is treated with chemicals. The area is kept in quarantine for at least 5 years.

Diseases

With proper planting and care, the risk of mildew, gray mold, and powdery mildew is low. These diseases only occur in Russky ranny in cases of severe agricultural practices violations and when planting in waterlogged soil.

Reviews

Alexey, Vinnytsia region

My Russian Early bush is old, planted in 1883 on the south side of the house. I haven't used any chemicals or winterized it since then. The variety is prone to overload and requires crop management. We harvest a lightly loaded bush at the end of July. I don't care for it much, but we still harvest 40-50 kg each year.

Vladimir, Krasnodar

I grew the Russian Early variety for many years. It ripened earlier than all the others. A few years ago, I removed all of them. I didn't like many things about it. The clusters are small, the berries are small. The bushes are prone to overload. The flavor is very simple, the flesh is not firm, and wasps really love its berries. All these disadvantages outweigh the advantages. In my opinion, there are two: early maturity and disease resistance.

Alexey, Zelenograd

It's an easy-to-grow variety, so I recommend all beginners gain experience with it. I've been growing 'Russkiy ranniy' for five years now. The clusters and berries are small, but quite good for our region. I regularly feed them with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. The vines are ripening, and the yields are good.

Conclusion

The Russkiy Ranniy variety is an ideal choice for the beginning winegrower. It can be grown in the short summers of the temperate zone; it ripens in any weather and accumulates sugars well. The flavor of its berries will delight any gourmet.