Arcadia grapes: characteristics and description, planting and care

The Arcadia grape is a table grape variety. The parents were the Cardinal and Moldova varieties.

This berry crop has gained recognition in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. The originator of the selection was Odessa scientist L.F. Meleshko from the Tairov Research Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking.

Characteristics of grapes

This table grape variety has moderate resistance to fungal diseases. It is often attacked by powdery mildew and gray mold. The plant is frost-hardy. The vines do not freeze at temperatures down to -24°C. Covering grapes is essential for central and northern Russia. It can be grown in any region of the country, but is preferable in the south, where winter temperatures do not drop below -30°C.

Description of the variety

The bushes are medium-sized and well-foliated. The leaves are broad and five-lobed. The vines and shoots are vigorous, with 60-70% of the shoots bearing fruit. The flowers are bisexual, so there's no need to plant them close together for pollination; some varieties are pollinators. The vines ripen well if the weather is unfavorable. Full lignification occurs within a year. Ripening is early, with fruit forming in 110-120 days.

The clusters grow cylindrical. The berries are lightly dense. The average cluster weight is 600-800 grams. The heaviest bunch has reached 3 kilograms. The berries are oval or ovoid, weighing 10-15 grams per berry. The flesh is firm and fleshy. The skin is smooth, shiny, covered with a slight waxy coating, and amber-colored. The flavor is pleasant and sweet. Fruiting begins in the first year after the seedling is planted in the garden. By the fourth year, the yield per bush reaches 20-30 kilograms. The berries are used for fresh consumption and also for processing into juice.

Advantages and disadvantages of grapes

The hybrid has the following advantages:

• high annual yield;
• resistance to most fungal diseases;
• excellent presentation of bunches and berries;
• excellent taste of fruits;
• early and simultaneous ripening of the crop.

Disadvantages of berry crops:

• instability to powdery mildew and grey mould;
• in conditions of high humidity, berries are prone to cracking;
• Due to the large number of fruiting shoots, the plant suffers from overload.

Planting, growing and caring for grapes

Before planting the cuttings, select a site. The grapevine site should be:

• sunny;
• clayey or loamy soil;
• so that groundwater does not lie close to the surface of the earth;
• not windy, so that drafts don’t blow through it;
• The distance from buildings must be at least half a meter.

Plant the cuttings in holes 50 centimeters deep and 50 centimeters wide. Line the bottom with pebbles to reduce water stagnation near the central root system. The minimum distance between garden plants should be 1-1.5 meters. If the soil in the area is fertile, there is no need to fertilize it. If the soil is depleted, fertilize it with organic matter in the fall (2 buckets per 1 m²), and in the spring, add a complete fertilizer at 100 grams per plant before planting the cuttings.

Place the cutting in the prepared hole and carefully fill it with soil, compacting it lightly. Water the plant with a bucket of water.

After planting the cutting, place a bottomless bucket on top. This is necessary to protect the plant from drafts and animals, which can break off young shoots on the grapevine.

Caring for berry crops consists of the following activities:

1. Fertilizing. During the growing season, vines are fertilized at least four times. The first feeding occurs in early spring, as soon as the first leaves appear. To boost vitality, it is recommended to fertilize the plants with a poultry manure infusion. It contains all the necessary nutrients for normal development. Preparation: Pour two kilograms of fresh chicken manure into 5 liters of water and let it steep for five days. After this time, dilute one liter of the infusion in 10 liters of water. Pour the resulting mixture into a watering can and water the root area of ​​the vines.

The second feeding is done during flowering. The third, during the period of active berry formation. Use potassium and phosphorus fertilizers. You'll need 40 grams of potassium sulfate and 40 grams of superphosphate per bush.

2. Pruning the vines. First, remove shoots growing into the bushes. Prune weak branches or those that have not developed sufficient lignification. To avoid overloading the bushes with clusters, leave 6-8 main branches on the plant, with no more than 50 buds on them.
3. Water regularly and on a timely basis. In spring, water the plants every two weeks, and in summer, until the berries begin to actively ripen, water every 1.5 weeks. Use 30-40 liters of water per bush. The day after watering, loosen the soil beneath the plants to ensure adequate oxygenation of the root system.
4. Preventative spraying. To prevent disease, treat the plants with copper-containing products in the spring. Gardeners recommend using Bordeaux mixture or a copper sulfate solution. The first spraying should be done before bud break, and the second when the leaves are fully formed.

Gardeners' reviews

Petr Semenovich, 60 years old, Rostov region.

The Arcadia grape is delicious, but it's disadvantageous for two reasons. First, the berries are susceptible to cracking in poor weather conditions, and second, it freezes if not covered in time. Next year, I'll uproot it and try planting a different, more resilient variety. I can't recommend it to my colleagues.

Sofia Romanovna, 51 years old, Krasnodar region.

I've been growing the Arcadia grape variety for four years. The bunches and berries grow large. It has a pleasant, delicate flavor. After harvesting, it can be stored in a cool place for up to a week. The yield is high. I sell half of the grapes I grow. I've even found regular customers. The Arcadia would be priceless if it weren't so susceptible to disease.