Strashensky grapes: characteristics and description of the variety

The Strashensky grape variety boasts impressive yields and berry size, and the clusters are also quite attractive. However, reviews from gardeners who have grown it have been mixed. The yield stated in the variety description is quite accurate, but the grape has been found to have numerous other shortcomings. Some of them remain to be dealt with, but most of the problems associated with cultivating the variety can be solved with proper agricultural technology.

Description of the variety

The hybrid grape variety Strasensky, also known as "Consul," originates from Moldova, where it was developed in the 1980s by M.S. Zhuravlev, G.M. Borzikova, I.P. Gavrilov, and other specialists at the local Research Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking. The hybrid's parent varieties include Muscat de Saint-Vallée, Druzhba, 20-473, Dodrelabi, Seive Villar, and Katta-Kurgan.

In Russia, this variety is only available for cultivation in the southern regions due to its insufficient frost resistance and mid-late ripening period. The berries are ready for harvesting 130-145 days after the start of the growing season, due to their long flowering period.

Structural features

Strashensky grapevines are vigorous, with a strong trunk and branches. The vines grow up to 2 meters tall. Three to four inflorescences appear on each shoot, including both male and female flowers, so pollinators are not required.

The average cluster weight ranges from 800 to 1.5 kg, but can reach 2.5 kg. The clusters are medium-dense, elongated, cylindrical or cylindroconical in shape, with the largest specimens reaching 50 cm in length. Typical cluster sizes, weighing approximately 1-1.5 kg, are 28-30 cm long and 14-16 cm wide.

Characteristics of berries

The fruits are round and very large – about 3 cm long and 2.8 cm wide. Unripe berries are dark purple in color, which becomes almost black when ripe.

The skin is very delicate, which is why the fruits are not suitable for long-distance transportation and do not have a long shelf life.

The berries are covered with a waxy coating. The pulp is both plump and juicy. The sugar concentration in the fruit is 18-19%, and the acid content is 7-8 g/l. A table variety, the berries can be eaten fresh or used to make jams and preserves. The taste received a rating of 8 points on the tasting scale.

Strashensky grapevines begin bearing fruit at two years of age. Mature grapes produce record-breaking yields—approximately 2.5 kg of fruit per square meter of vineyard.

Bush indicators:

• one plant produces 30 kg of berries;
• the fruit weight is 8-14 g;
• On average, two bunches of grapes can ripen well on one vine.

Sustainability indicators

The Strashensky grape variety's resistance to adverse conditions is not the best, which is often the reason why it is not grown.

1. Grapevines have poor winter hardiness—they can withstand temperatures as low as -17°C. They can survive temperatures as low as -24°C, but only if the cold snap is brief.
2. Straseni cannot be called a drought-resistant grape.
3. The variety is susceptible to oidium (4 points), tolerant to mildew (3 points), but quite resistant to rot diseases (2 points).
4. Ripening berries attract numerous wasps. However, the insects don't begin swarming over the grape vines until the second half of August, as the process of sugar accumulation in the fruit is slow.
5. There are almost no spider mites or grape aphids on Strashensky bushes.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Gardeners disagree on the taste of Strashensky grapes: some consider it simple and bland, while others find it quite pleasant. Regarding other advantages and disadvantages, opinions are unanimous.

Among the positive aspects they note:

• high productivity;
• large size of berries;
• magnificent appearance of bunches and fruits;
• resistance to attacks by the most common grape pests;
• good survival rate of cuttings.

Disadvantages of the variety:

• poor resistance to climatic factors;
• long ripening period, which makes cultivation impossible in most regions;
• short shelf life of fruits;
• poor transportability;
• generally low resistance to diseases;
• uneven ripening of bunches.

Features of agricultural technology of the variety

When growing Straseni grapes, special attention should be paid to the following aspects of care:

• disease prevention;
• pruning a bush;
• normalization;
• shelter for the winter.

Otherwise, the variety requires standard agricultural practices, but for a good harvest, the bushes need careful care. The grapes must receive all the planned top dressing, since a large volume of fruit takes up a lot of resources, and during dry periods, irrigation is very important, as the plant reacts poorly to a lack of moisture.

Disease prevention and shelter

Disease prevention Powdery mildew or mildew requires at least 3-4 fungicide treatments per season, the first of which should be carried out immediately after removing the shelter, and the last one - 4 weeks before harvesting harvestIt is also important to remove weeds around the bushes, remove fallen leaves, and dig the soil in the fall.

Strasensky grapes are not among the varieties that require no cover, even when grown in the south. The level of protection depends on the average winter temperatures typical for the region, the amount of snow, and the likelihood of thaws. When providing cover, it's important to minimize the risk of fungal growth under the cover, which is highly likely in mild winters. Film is the worst option; spruce or pine branches are the least susceptible to fungal growth.

Pruning and regulating the bush

Pruning the vines Pruning should be done at 4-6 buds. Generally, 40-60 buds should be left on a grapevine. The exact number depends on the growing region—the further north, the fewer buds should be left.

To produce a substantial amount of fruit, the plant's photosynthesis processes must be intense, which is impossible without a dense canopy of foliage. Therefore, it is recommended to leave more side shoots when pruning. To stimulate the emergence of secondary shoots, the fruit vine should be pinched at the initial stage of development. Since the Strashensky variety does not produce fruit on side shoots, this is the optimal measure to increase the bush's foliage.

Tips for improving the quality of grape bunches and berries:

1. It's worth removing the first flowering cluster on the bush. This technique shortens the flowering period, which means the fruits ripen earlier than usual.
2. During fruit set, grape clusters should be pinched back, removing a third of their length. This will ensure all the berries ripen evenly, even though the cluster will be smaller.
3. When the fruit begins to ripen, the bunches should be thinned to reduce the load on the vines and speed up the ripening of the remaining berries. Up to 1.2 kg of bunches should be left on each vine.

Gardeners' reviews

Maria, 43 years old

"This variety isn't a 'dacha' variety; it's only suitable for growing near a permanent residence, as neglect will immediately affect the quality of the berries—either they'll ripen unevenly, or the color will be uneven, or the flavor will be sour. When I first started growing this variety, many of the berries would crack. I later learned this happens during wet summers when the bunches are close to the ground. Now I just raise them higher. However, grapes are easy to propagate, and cuttings root well. However, I still recommend using seedlings; they have a better survival rate."

Boris, 47 years old

"I have four Strashensky bushes growing, but I haven't found a use for them, so I don't plan to increase their number. Yes, the yield is impressive, but the flavor is a bit dull for me. Selling? The bunches are very beautiful, but the berries spoil quickly. The only thing left to do is make jam, compotes, and juice from them; I have more berries than I need for these purposes."

Elizabeth, 54 years old

"Strashensky is extremely susceptible to fungus. A bitter experience now forces me to spray even the seedlings almost immediately after planting. But the clusters are truly substantial, the berries are large; when I first bought the bush, I couldn't even believe such a thing was possible. And the bush itself is robust, so when planting, you need to leave at least 2.5 meters between the bushes and 3 meters between rows, otherwise the roots will start to 'compete' for moisture and nutrients. Grapes are noticeably sensitive to drought; I imagine they'd be a real pain in the ass in sandy soil."

Alexander, 50 years old

"We grow Strashensky in the Volga region, and the harvest ripens well if we don't overload the vines. Personally, I only got it to ripen when I started leaving about 20 buds on the entire vine."

Straseni grapes aren't exactly easy to grow, but in small plantings, the yield-to-labor ratio favors cultivating the variety. Two or three vines isn't too much. burdensome to care for, but will provide a larger volume of berries. For larger vineyards, the profitability of this variety is questionable. Despite the decorative qualities of the bunches, commercial cultivation is pointless due to the impossibility of transporting the berries.