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

The Gourmand Early grape, or, as it was previously known, Red Novocherkassky, was bred by V.N. Kraynov. This renowned breeder created a variety with numerous advantages, but to maximize its potential, growers should follow certain growing and care recommendations.

Description of the variety

Kishmish (Radiant) and Talisman were used to develop Gurman. These varieties created a hybrid with the following advantages:

• early ripening (berries can be eaten approximately 115 days after the buds swell);
• edible skin;
• the density of the skin, which wasps cannot “defeat”;
• versatility of use (eaten fresh, frozen, used for making juices);
• high yield;
• unpretentiousness to conditions cultivation.

The plant is medium-sized. The flowers are female. The clusters are quite large, weighing between 700 and 1800 grams. The berries are oval and a delicate pink color. The flesh is very juicy with a rich, muscat flavor.

Features of cultivation

The Gourmand Early grape variety requires little care, but its yield depends largely on the planting site. This involves considering not only the soil composition and light levels, but also the site's location relative to buildings and other plants.

Preparing the site and seedlings

To ensure the Gourmand grape lives up to its promise, it needs a good location. The plant thrives in bright light, so it's best to place it on the western or southern side of the plot. Shade will prevent the fruit from becoming sweet and juicy, and the vine itself will develop poorly.

Drafts should be avoided, but stagnant air is also not recommended. Ideally, choose a slightly elevated or flat area; low-lying areas can accumulate moisture and cool air.

The soil for the Gourmet plant needs to be not only fertile but also sufficiently loose. You can adjust the density of the soil with sand, ash, or compost.

Green manures are excellent soil looseners. When used correctly, these plants can eliminate the need for fertilizers, top dressing, or even deep digging. Mustard, rapeseed, and oats have proven particularly effective. These plants have powerful root systems that loosen the soil, suppress weeds, and prevent them from developing, while simultaneously enriching the soil with nitrogen and other beneficial nutrients.

Seedlings should be grown in the same conditions they will be grown in. These can be nurseries, but seedlings from neighboring plots will also work.

In any case, only the two strongest shoots should be left on the shoot, trimmed back to two buds, and the roots shortened to a length of 15 cm. After this, soak the seedlings in a solution of potassium permanganate for 4-6 hours, immersing them up to the root point.

Work order

Planting grapes Gourmand is best planted in early spring, before the buds begin to swell. This work can also be done in the fall, but only in regions where there is no risk of severe frost. In this case, planting should take place in late September or early October.

The order is as follows:

1. Dig a hole at least 90-100 cm deep.
2. Pour a drainage layer into it (you can use stones, pebbles and even broken bricks) approximately 7 cm thick.
3. Place a mixture of one bucket of sand, two buckets of humus, 150 g of superphosphate and 180 g of potassium sulfate on top.
4. Leave for 2-3 weeks to allow the soil to settle.
5. After this time, dig out the fertile soil from the hole.
6. Place a seedling in it.
7. Carefully straighten the roots and sprinkle them with soil.
8. Water generously.

If planting in the spring, further care consists of watering every 7-10 days with warm water. If planting in the fall, watering depends on the weather, and a secure shelter should be provided for the winter.

Care

Gourmet grapes are not too demanding to leave, but there are still some peculiarities. These primarily include watering, pruning, and fertilizing.

Watering

Plants under three years old need to be watered more frequently than mature plants. This is because the roots haven't yet penetrated deeply enough to obtain moisture from underground sources.

In early spring, when there is still a threat of frost, this should be done once a week at lunchtime, 5 liters per bush.

When the weather becomes consistently warm, this should be done with the same frequency, but now with 10 liters per plant.

In hot weather, watering is carried out twice a week, and in autumn – with the same regularity as in spring.

Regardless of weather conditions, there are three mandatory stages of watering:

1. Before the leaves appear.
2. During the budding period.
3. After flowering has finished.

Dissolve a handful of ash in 10 liters of warm water and mix thoroughly. Add 2 buckets of ash to a young bush and 4 buckets to a mature plant. Do this slowly to ensure the moisture is thoroughly and evenly absorbed into the soil.

Watering continues until frost sets in. Well-moistened soil will protect the roots from freezing in winter.

Top dressing

If the Gourmand Early grapes were planted according to all recommendations, you won't need to worry about fertilizing for a few years, but then this procedure becomes regular.

Top dressing should be carried out:

• In the spring, before the leaves appear. During this period, the plant needs nitrogen. It's best to water the bushes with mullein (dissolve 1:15 with water and let it sit until it begins to ferment).
• Two weeks after flowering ends. For 10 liters of warm water, add 130 grams of superphosphate and 200 grams of potassium salt;
• When the berries are ripening, water them with a urea solution (one spoon per 10 liters of water);
• After harvesting. Before wintering, it's advisable to provide the grapes with adequate nutrition. This can be achieved using complex fertilizers.

Trimming

It's crucial to evenly distribute the load on the branches to ensure a good harvest. To achieve this, no more than 22-24 shoots are left on a mature bush, and each of them should be pruned back by 7-8 buds annually in the spring. This should be done before the sap begins to flow, when daytime temperatures reach 5°C (41°F). Otherwise, there's a risk of being left without berries at all.

In summer it is necessary remove shoots and leaves that create excess shade for the developing grape clusters.

Protection

The Gourmet Early variety is resistant to gray mold and mildew. However, it is often susceptible to fungal diseases, especially if the location is improperly chosen. cultivation and high humidity in the area.

The onset of the disease can be identified by the leaves. Only in advanced stages does the fungus spread to the berries and stems.

The affected leaves and those located near them must be removed and burned, and the diseased plant and all other bushes must be treated.

For this purpose, drugs such as Ridomil, Topaz, Ordan, etc. are used. They are also suitable for treatment and for preventionIn the second option, treatment is carried out 3-5 times during the growing season.

Early Gourmand also needs to be protected from pests. The plant most often suffers from aphids, weevils, spider mites, and leaf rollers, but insects from other nearby plants can also migrate to it.

For protection and treatment, you can use store-bought insecticides (such as Actellic and Karbofos) and folk remedies. A solution of laundry soap works well. Simply dissolve a bar in a bucket of water and spray the grapes to protect them for 2-3 weeks. This treatment is especially important in early spring, when aphids are swarming over young, succulent leaves.

If the infusion is allowed to ferment, it will not only protect against surface pests, but also serve as an excellent fertilizer and a proven repellent for insects that can harm the roots.

Onion peels repel pests. You can use them as decoctions (pour a liter of water over a cup of peels, simmer for 15 minutes, cool, strain, and dilute in 5 liters of water) or tinctures (pour three liters of water over a cup of peels, leave in a warm place for 3-7 days until signs of fermentation appear, then strain and dissolve in 5 liters of water). You can also simply scatter the peels around the bush.

Wormwood is very helpful. It can be scattered or even planted near the vineyard, or you can prepare an infusion for spraying. To do this, chop the plant, fill a bucket a third of the way with it, cover with water, and leave it in the sun for a week. Then strain and use for treatment.

A proven pest control method is dusting with tobacco dust. The grapes should be watered with a rain shower, then sprinkled with tobacco dust. However, if the berries get contaminated, they will need to be washed for a longer period to remove any odor or taste. Therefore, such a method is recommended. processing It is advisable to carry out this before they begin to ripen.

Shelter

This is a crucial aspect of care, crucial for plant development and harvest volume. The Gourmand Early variety is frost-resistant, able to withstand temperatures as low as -23 degrees Celsius. However, it wouldn't hurt to take additional protective measures, especially if there's a risk of a snowless winter.

In the fall, the shoots should be placed on the ground, lightly pressed down, and covered with a layer of soil. Top with leaves and compost.

It's impossible to pin mature plants to the ground. You need to provide protection at the roots, as described above, and also create a frame on top, covered with burlap or special agrofibre.

Remove the "blanket" gradually when the daytime temperature reaches a stable 5 degrees Celsius. First, make ventilation holes to prevent sudden temperature changes.

Reviews

Natalia, 28 years old

I love grapes! As soon as my husband and I bought our house, we planted several varieties in our plot. A 'Gourmand' vine grows near my house. The seedling has taken root well and produces a steady harvest. The bunches weigh up to a kilogram. But don't overload the branches. Not only will there be fewer berries, but most importantly, the flavor will become more sour. For the winter, we cover the vines with soil and sprinkle them with leaves. If we plant green manure, we also place it around them to rot.

Oksana, 42 years old

I really like this variety, but I've ruined a couple of bushes. They were cross-pollinated with other seedlings. The berries have become small, and the muscat flavor has almost disappeared. I'll have to replant them.

Nikolay, 39 years old

This is the first variety I've grown. I installed supports right away, which was a good idea, because they're needed not only for tying up during fruiting but also during wintering. I treat the plants exclusively with laundry soap and feed them with wood ash. I simply make a hole around the bush, fill it with ash, cover it with soil, and then water it. All the nutrients are absorbed gradually.

Early Gourmand is a grape variety whose flavor and appearance can truly satisfy even the most discerning palate. We recommend planting this grape for anyone with even a small plot of land. With a little effort, you can reap an excellent annual harvest of healthy berries with a unique muscat flavor and aroma.