The primary requirements for grape varieties are excellent fruiting, large fruit, and undemanding growing conditions. The new "Baikonur" variety possesses all these qualities. This large-fruited hybrid was first grown at the Pavlovsky Nursery by crossing the popular "Krasotka" and "Talisman" varieties. It inherited all the best qualities from its parents.
Features of the variety
"Baikonur" grapes have a high survival rate. They are grown in many regions of our country. The vines can withstand severe frosts. They can even be grown in the Moscow region. Here, the grapes are a cover crop—they must be packed in boxes for overwintering.
The variety inherited its remarkable resilience from "Talisman." It's easy to care for and can be grown even by novice winegrowers. The shoots grow to enormous sizes, reaching up to four meters in length.
From "Krasotka," this grape variety inherited excellent fruit production and berry quality. The fruits grow large and have a distinctive flavor that is difficult to compare with any other variety. Harvested bunches retain an attractive presentation for a long time and can be transported over long distances.
"Baikonur" is a versatile grape. Its fruits are suitable for fresh consumption. They are also used to make jams, compotes, and meat dishes. The variety is also of interest to winemakers. The berries produce excellent homemade liqueurs, wines, and cognacs.
Since this crop has only just been developed, its characteristics have not yet been fully explored. To assess the vine's resistance to weather conditions, pests, and diseases, it is necessary to observe the plant for at least ten years. Grapes are too young and do not yet have such statistics.
Description of the culture
Grapes grow quickly. By the third year, they have a well-developed structure. They reach a height of four meters. The bark of the trunks is light brown and strong. The plant is propagated by cuttings and grafting.
It quickly gains foliage mass. The leaves are so numerous that they need to be pinched back repeatedly during cultivation. The leaves have a classic, serrated shape and are dark green in color. They have prominent veins.
The flowers are bisexual and require no additional pollination. This cultivar can be planted separately from other varieties. The first fruits ripen 3.5 months after spring vegetation. The harvest can be collected as early as the last ten days of July or early August.
The berries are elongated oval in shape and can reach 4 cm in length. When ripe, they weigh 14–16 g. They range in color from blue-black to reddish-purple. The outer skin is thick and resistant to cracking in wet weather. The fruits have a light, waxy, black coating.
The fruit's flavor is subtle, with a fruity undertone. The aroma is similar. The flesh is firm and crisp. The berries contain a fair amount of sucrose (up to 20%), which is balanced by a slight tartness. The skin is edible and quite soft.
The bunches are cone-shaped, medium-loose, and have branched tassels. They ripen in the first harvest, reaching a weight of 700 g. Later ones, good care can weigh about a kilogram.
Sometimes, a growing plant produces so many clusters of grapes that they need to be artificially removed. Otherwise, the plant simply wouldn't be able to handle the abundance of berries and wouldn't have time to prepare for winter. In some cases, the vine breaks from the excessive weight of the berries. There are reports that grapes are prone to overwatering during heavy fruiting.
The crop is quite weather-resistant. When the bunches ripen, they don't need to be picked immediately. They retain their marketable appearance and flavor throughout their entire life on the vine.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Despite its young age, "Baikonur" has established itself as an excellent variety with a number of advantages. It is attractive for commercial cultivation, as well as for winemaking. Hobbyist winegrowers note the following advantages:
- powerful bush structure;
- rapid growth of vines;
- frost resistance;
- the presence of male and female flowers on one bush;
- large-fruited;
- excellent taste of berries;
- fruiting period;
- the ability to keep berries on the bush for a long time without losing their properties;
- good adaptability to various natural conditions;
- resistance to fungal diseases.
A drawback of this variety is its lack of research. Information on its hardiness is still insufficient. Some winegrowers express dissatisfaction with the seeds, which are often difficult to separate from the pulp.
Resistance to diseases and pests
In most regions grapes are grown without covering. The crop can withstand temperatures down to -23 degrees Celsius.
Winegrowers are still studying the variety's resistance to pests and fungal diseases. Available data indicates its immunity to mildew, gray mold, and powdery mildew is rated at 3. Disease prevention is essential.
The following measures are taken for this purpose:
- in autumn, bushes are trimmed and fallen leaves are removed;
- Dig up the soil around the roots and mulch thoroughly. Suitable mulch materials include dried moss, straw, and dry sawdust.
- constantly tie up the growing vine;
- During the fruit setting period, the plant is treated with special substances.
Some amateur winegrowers prefer the fungicide "Carbio Top." This product is suitable not only for preventative purposes but also for treating fungal diseases. It is quickly absorbed and is not washed away by seasonal rains. It does not harm beneficial insects.
Treating the bushes during fruit ripening is essential. There's no need to worry about it affecting the yield or quality of the berries. "Baikonur" is a versatile variety that produces abundant harvests. The fruits are of good quality and very light. With proper care, large harvests can be achieved.
Features of agricultural technology. Methods of propagation
Grapes are propagated by cuttings, grafting, and layering. If Baikonur grapes have never been grown on the site before, it is recommended to plant them as cuttings. This will ensure beautiful landscaping and a bountiful harvest of large, delicious berries.
Grafting can be done onto an old variety. The advantage of this propagation method is the presence of a developed root system and mature stem of the old plant. The new shoot develops quite quickly. The disadvantage is that the new plant may adopt the characteristics of the original bush.
To propagate by layering, you need a mature parent plant. The vine shoot is covered with soil and waited for the root system to develop. Then, the layering is dug up and replanted in another convenient location. The advantage of this method is that layering can be done year-round.
Planting grapes
"Baikonur", like everyone else grape varieties, is a heat-loving plant. Therefore, the planting site should be on the south or southwest side of the plot. To avoid winds, it should be planted on the leeward side, not far from a fence, house wall, or shed.
Planting should be done on hillsides. Lowlands are unsuitable, as water will stagnate there during watering. Overwatering will cause the plant to become diseased and susceptible to fungal diseases.
The bushes are undemanding when it comes to soil conditions. When planting, the only requirement is a groundwater table of at least 2 meters above the surface. They grow well in clayey and clayey soils, provided the soil is cultivated. Sand and fertilizer should be added to such soils.
At planting grapes The distance between bushes should be taken into account. It should be at least 3 m, and between rows – 4 m. Preparation for planting begins in advance by digging holes. In southern regions, these holes should be 60 cm deep, while in northern regions, they should be at least 80 cm deep. In arid regions, the depth should be greater than 80 cm.
To prepare the hole, preliminary drainage is required. To do this, pour broken brick or crushed stone into the bottom to a depth of 20 cm. Tamp it down thoroughly. Next, add a layer of fertile soil with some rotted manure.
A special feature of this variety is that its roots should not come into contact with fertilized soil. Therefore, ordinary black soil is added over the fertilized soil. The prepared holes should be left to stand for 14 days.
Grapes can be planted in prepared holes from spring to midsummer. Initially, seedlings are used as planting material. As summer approaches, taller, more developed plants are planted.
Planting can also be done in the fall. Mid-fall is best. Planting this variety in early fall is not recommended. Not only does it root well, but shoots may also begin to grow, preventing the plant from preparing for winter. The bush will simply freeze to death.
When planting seedlings, they are centered in the holes and covered with loose soil. The soil is then carefully mulched. Mulch not only protects the plant from pests and fungal diseases, but also prevents the soil from drying out and helps maintain relative humidity in the root system.
Replanting the cuttings is done in the spring, at the beginning of March. However, some winegrowers believe it can also be done in mid-autumn. Only in this case, the plant requires winter insulation. Before wintering, the cuttings are covered with soil and plastic buckets are placed on top.
To perform the grafting, the scion is prepared in advance. It is trimmed on both ends and placed in water for a while. The surface can be treated with paraffin to prevent rot. The rootstock is also prepared in advance.
First, trim the stems of the old grape vine. Only a stump with smooth, cut edges should remain. Then, cut a slit in it and insert the prepared scion. The rootstock and the lower part of the scion should fit tightly together.
The finished graft is wrapped tightly with a bandage. It is then coated with clay. The scion is watered and mulched with straw.
Caring for plantings
A mature grapevine requires double the amount of water. The soil must be kept moist until the berries begin to form. Watering is usually stopped during this period. However, during particularly dry summers, watering can be continued until the berries ripen. Grapes have strong skins and do not crack when exposed to moisture.
Despite being unpretentious in care, the variety loves top dressingIn spring, humus and superphosphate fertilizer should be worked into the soil around the plant's root system. In summer, before and after flowering, ash should be added to the soil and foliar feeding with complex fertilizers should be performed.
"Baikonur" is a high-yielding variety. Sometimes a single vine produces so many berries that thinning is necessary. It is recommended to leave no more than one or two clusters on a single shoot. Moreover, ripening is slower if two clusters are left.
In the spring and autumn periods it is required pruning bushes, crown formation. During the fruit set period, side shoots are removed and leaves are thinned. The foliage is pinched off so that 14-15 leaves remain above the clusters. If this is not done, the foliage will overwhelm the berries and they will begin to droop.
Autumn pruning is performed to shape the crown. Short, medium, and long pruning are used. Short pruning leaves three buds on each vine, medium pruning leaves eight, and long pruning leaves up to 14. Spring pruning is performed to remove dead shoots.
Since 'Baikonur' is a frost-resistant variety, covering it in southern regions is not necessary. Only in northern regions (for example, in the Leningrad Region and the Moscow region) are the vines bent and covered.
Storage Features
There is no set harvest time for this variety. Once ripe, it can hang on the vines until late autumn. The fruits are resistant to rot, regardless of rainfall. They retain their fresh and attractive appearance for a long time.
Cut bunches of grapes can be kept fresh for up to a month. They should be stacked loosely on top of each other in a cool cellar or refrigerator. Grapes can withstand long transport and retain their attractive appearance under any conditions.
Reviews from amateur winegrowers
Lyudmila, 46 years old
I've been growing "Baikonur" grapes for four years now. They're a beautiful variety. The bunches are cone-shaped, the berries are elongated. They have a pleasant, subtle fruity aroma. They grow up to 4 centimeters long. The flesh is firm and crunchy. The berries have a very delicate, fruity flavor. We eat them fresh. My husband also makes wine.
Andrey, 57 years old
I've been growing "Baikonur" grapes for two years now. I've planted them as seedlings and grafted them. I recently compared the vines. The grafted ones have larger berries. They ripened by the end of July. I harvested the grapes on August 16th. And there was a heavy downpour the night before. Not a single bunch was damaged. The berries are very large, dark purple with a blue tint. A very good variety. I haven't seen a better one in many years.
Maxim, 32 years old
"Baikonur" is a very worthy variety. Unfortunately, the grafts I made of this variety last year didn't take. But I'll try grafting again this season. I've already prepared the cuttings. I really want to grow this variety in my garden.
Although the grape has appeared relatively recently, it has earned a good reputation among amateur winegrowers. The great interest in Baikonur is not only due to its unpretentiousness. cultivationIts fruits are versatile, store well, and are suitable for long-distance transportation.
General cleaning of the vineyard: a list of mandatory activities
When to harvest grapes for wine
Can you eat grapes with seeds? Health benefits and risks
Grape seed oil - properties and uses, benefits and contraindications