Grape Experienced winegrowers recommend Arochny for beginners. It's more suitable than any other variety for learning planting, pruning, and propagation techniques. It's frost-resistant and early-ripening, making it suitable for cultivation throughout the vast expanses of the country.
The variety's name, "Arch," is well-deserved; many gardeners use it as a garden design element. Gazebos, arches, and pergolas look decorative when entwined with the sturdy vines planted next to the structure.
About selection
The work was carried out in Novocherkassk. Breeders from the Ya. I. Potapenko Institute were involved in the hybridization. The following varieties were used as the basis:
- frost-resistant (- 23 °C), early maturing (110-115 days) Druzhba, with good immunity;
- mid-late, table variety, Intervitis Magarach, resistant to fungal infections, frost-resistant to -20 °C.
Among winegrowers, other names for the hybrid form are also in use: Tsvetnoy, III 14-1-1, Pink Friendship.
Description
According to the technical characteristics of the berries, the Arochny hybrid belongs to the group of table varieties. grapesThe harvest is best consumed fresh. The bunches ripen early (115-125 days), and in most regions they are picked during August, making the berries a popular choice. Craftsmen make good-quality homemade wines from Arochnoye grapes.
The bushes are vigorous, with young shoots reaching at least 3 meters in length. Fruiting shoots account for 65 to 80% of the total volume. The recommended planting load is 30-40 buds. A medium pruning schedule (6-8 buds) or a short pruning schedule (3 to 4 buds) is used. This variety is characterized by high fruiting in the lower part of the vine and 100% shoot maturity. They become covered with wood by the end of August.
Fruit characteristics
The size of the bunch is important to the winegrower. Arochny grapes are medium-sized, weighing between 400 and 600 grams. They are conical in shape and have a dense structure. The berries are uniform, oval-shaped, and nipple-shaped, 18 mm wide, 25 mm long, and weigh approximately 6 grams.
The color is memorable, appetizing, with pink-red hues of varying intensity. Bunches exposed to good sunlight deepen the color by the time of harvest. The berries have tasty, aromatic pulp, containing a sufficient amount of juice (5 g/l of acid, 16-18% sugar). The taste test score is 7.7 points. The thick skin and large seeds, which are abundant, deserve criticism.
Productivity
During the fruiting season, Arched grape It begins to ripen at two years of age. Two clusters form on each fruiting shoot. Harvesting begins in August. The clusters, thanks to their beautiful shape and distinctive coloring, have a marketable appearance and are undamaged during transportation.
Area of use of the crop:
- sale;
- juice;
- wine;
- jam;
- cabbage rolls made from leaves.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The variety is resistant to diseases, but some preventative measures are necessary. Before the buds swell, the vines should be treated with ferrous sulfate (1% solution). If symptoms of infection appear on young shoots, the bushes should be sprayed with Bordeaux mixture.
Root phylloxera is a pest to watch out for. Preventative measures can help prevent infestation:
- weeding between rows;
- mulch;
- adding sand to the soil.
Parts of the plant affected by insects are destroyed, and the vine is treated with an oil emulsion containing lindane at the beginning of spring.
About the features of planting
Arochny grape seedlings thrive in any soil. To grow a long-lived plant, don't oversimplify the planting process. It's best to prepare the hole in the fall. The recommended dimensions are:
- depth – 0.8 m;
- diameter – 0.8 m.
Sandy soils may not require a drainage layer, but other soils require one. Crushed rock, broken brick, or gravel can be added to the bottom. To facilitate watering during the first few years after planting, a large-diameter pipe can be driven into the drainage layer.
Fill the hole with garden soil, which must first be enriched with organo-mineral fertilizers:
- add at least 2 buckets of humus;
- ½ bucket of ash;
- 0.5 kg of azophoska.
The seedlings are planted in the second half of April. They are kept in water before planting.
Specifics of care
Watering is essential for the first two years. Young plants need moisture at least once a week. The water should be warm, with one to two buckets per plant. Watering should be stopped at the end of August.
Mature plants have a powerful root system that extends deep into the soil. This system helps the grapevine maintain its moisture supply, so watering is infrequent. Watering is needed before flowering and while the grape clusters are forming.
The yield increases if the Arochny grape receives fertilizer. It responds well to organic fertilizer. Every other year, the soil under the bushes is fertilized with humus (2 buckets per plant), and 1-2 liters of ash annually.
Preparing for winter
In a warm southern climate grape The Arochny vine is not covered for the winter. The hybrid has inherited good frost resistance from its parents. However, the cold winters of the Central Belt are dangerous for it, so before the onset of frost, the vine is removed from its supports and laid on the ground.
Before the snow falls, the vines are covered with several layers of spunbond. In areas with little snow, spruce branches and roofing felt are used for frost protection. Arched grapes recover well from frost damage.
Reviews
Vladimir, Krasnodar Krai
The bush is four years old and is noted for its vigorous growth. Already in its first year, it produced shoots at least 3.5 meters long. It began bearing fruit in its second year, with a few clusters, and the berries were colorless. In its third year, I left seven inflorescences, producing clusters that were small (300 g) and beautifully conical in shape. The berries are bright red. The shoots ripen well, among the first. I've treated the vines twice this season, and there have been no diseases. I cover the vines for the winter. I don't like the large seeds in the berries, but otherwise, I'm happy with the variety. Many of my winegrower friends also want to plant Arochny grapes.
Vitaly, Syzran
This year, the Arochny variety showed signs of failure. I'm not thrilled with the taste. I've left it for now, but I'll decide its fate next year. However, there are no complaints about its disease resistance, and the clusters look good.
Andrey, Moscow region
The vine ripens well in our climate. It exhibits good frost resistance (down to -24°C). It is highly resistant to mildew, gray mold, and powdery mildew (below). I cover it with a double layer of film for the winter. The bushes are vigorous and decorative. I apply gibberellin twice a season, and the bunches are marketable.
Conclusion
The flavor of Arochny is much simpler than that of other early table varieties. However, its shape has its advantages:
- easy to care for;
- has high frost resistance;
- practically never gets sick;
- the berries are in good condition and are not crushed during transportation.
Despite its drawbacks (simple taste, thick skin, large seeds), the variety is in demand in regions with cold winters.
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