Rumba grapes: characteristics and description of the variety, planting and care

If you've never grown grapes in your garden but plan to, consider the Rumba variety. It's considered easy to grow and propagates well, and its flavor will amaze you with its sweetness and juiciness.

This variety is widely known among experienced grape growers and has received numerous rave reviews. Learn more about Rumba from the description, photos, and growing instructions.

Characteristics and description of the variety

The variety was developed last century in the Rostov region by the Russian breeder V.U. Kapelyushny, crossing two varieties: Cherry and Red Delight. During the breeding process, favorable conditions were not created, and no special technology was used, which is why Rumba earned its unpretentiousness. It is considered a hobby variety.

The grapes are large, weighing between 8 and 10 grams each. They have a beautiful, slightly elongated shape. The skin color is a combination of several shades: pink fading to red with a coral tint. The berries have a matte waxy coating. The fruit's flavor is sweet with a faint muscat aroma, and there's no noticeable acidity. Rumba received a 4.6 out of 5 flavor rating. The berries may be watery if the plant has been overwatered or if there has been constant rain in the area.

Rumba is most often grown for fresh consumption. The berries are quickly eaten due to their sweet flavor. The fruit is suitable for making homemade wines and spirits, and ferments well. The grape harvest is sufficient for both canning and fresh consumption. Ripening begins in August. A single bunch produces nearly 1 kg of berries, sometimes reaching 1.5 kg. Some gardeners grow Rumba for sale. The berries transport well over long distances, are not easily crushed, and retain their marketable appearance.

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A mature grapevine reaches a height of 6 meters, with vigorous shoots. Grapes require considerable space in a plot, as the distance between adjacent vines should be at least 3 meters. The root system develops quickly, and the plant reaches maturity within a year. The clusters hang well and do not fall off even after ripening. Ripening occurs uniformly along the entire length. Fruiting occurs annually, without resting periods. The flowers of this variety are hermaphroditic, requiring no additional pollinator. Pollination occurs independently. If any other self-pollinating grape variety is grown in the plot, the yield will increase.

Rumba is grown throughout Russia. It is ideal for the central and western regions of the country. The plant is highly frost-resistant, reaching temperatures down to -25°C. It is advisable to cover the shoots for the winter. This variety is resistant to fungal spores, mildew, and powdery mildew, and is not susceptible to rot. Spring and fall treatment with fungicides is recommended, as it helps maintain the plant's immune system for years to come.

The advantages of Rumba include:

• high taste characteristics;
• stable annual yield;
• early maturity (berries take no more than 3.5 months to ripen);
• resistance to diseases and pests;
• frost resistance and unpretentiousness to climatic conditions;
• good drought resistance;
• transportability and long shelf life.

This variety has no serious drawbacks. With proper care and planting, there are no problems growing.

Features of cultivation and care

Rumba is planted in the spring, when the soil temperature reaches above zero. The seedlings should have a root system at least 15 centimeters deep. A 1x1 meter hole is dug for planting. About one bucket of crushed stone is added to the bottom of the hole, followed by ½ a bucket of humus and compost, a cup of ash, and 2 tablespoons of superphosphate. The seedling is inserted and covered with soil, and a support is immediately attached to the plant.

The first watering is done 1.5-2 weeks after planting. Use warm water (about 2 buckets per seedling). After watering, loosen the soil around the plant. Grapes are sensitive to overwatering, so water as the soil dries out. Typically, this is done once a week. During flowering and early fruiting, reduce watering to once every 2-3 weeks.

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For abundant fruiting, it's enough to leave 6-8 buds on a young bush; the number of buds per shoot should be around 40. As shoots age, they expand rapidly and need to be pruned once in the fall and spring. Shoots can be rooted if the goal is propagation. Select the strongest and longest shoots and root them.

Harvesting and preparing for winter

Grapes are picked as they ripen—when the color approaches pink. Whole bunches can be picked; they separate easily from the branches. Bunches can be stored at home in a cool place for up to 3-4 weeks. Ripe grapes will keep for up to a week at room temperature without refrigeration. Wash the berries just before eating; if you plan to store the grapes, do not wash them.

When the collection is over, the extra shoots and dry branches are cut offThe cut areas are treated with hydrogen peroxide to protect against bacteria. If winters in the region are not cold, with temperatures not falling below -5-10 degrees Celsius, the plant can be left uncovered. When growing Rumba in central Russia or Siberia, the shoots are covered with plastic film for the winter, and the soil is mulched with sawdust.

Reviews

Most gardeners are happy with the variety, so they only speak positively about it.

Galina from the Ivanovo region shares his impressions:

"I've been growing Rumba for five years now. I love that the berries have a protective shell, so wasps and hornets can't bite through them. The clusters look delicious, and the berries melt in your mouth. I only used fertilizer last year. I fed them with potassium sulfate (1 tablespoon per bucket of water) twice during flowering."

Alla from Anapa says:

"Rumba started bearing fruit two years after I started growing it. The first harvest was abundant, with numerous bunches, each weighing about 1.2-1.4 kg. I grow Rumba alongside the Talisman variety, so pollination was intense. I advise beginning gardeners to prune the plant as much as possible to encourage fruiting."