Description and characteristics of the Taifi grape variety with photos, calorie content

This ancient variety is the first to be planted in Samarkand and Bukhara as early as the 7th century AD. The grape is weak in frost resistance, so this Asian variety is grown only in regions with mild, warm winters.

Due to the versatility of its fruits and their original taste, this table grape variety is popular among professional winegrowers.

General description

Pink Taifi is a member of the Eastern (Asian) grape variety group. It has a long growing season—over 160 days. The more warm days there are in summer, the more active the sugar accumulation process. The weak winter hardiness of the vines makes it difficult to grow in low-temperature conditions.

Bush characteristics

Taifi grapes are vigorous plants. Young shoots have at least 80% maturity, and they:

• crowns are slightly colored;
• raspberry-colored border;
• arachnoid pubescence;
• the axis is burgundy in color;
• weakly dissected leaves, lobes curved upwards.

The leaves on fruiting shoots are large, five-lobed, and deeply dissected. The upper surface of the leaf blades is uneven (wavy), with slightly curled edges. The underside is smooth or slightly pubescent along the veins.

The conical or conical-cylindrical clusters of Pink Taifi are large (600 g) to very large. They can reach up to 27 cm in length and 19 cm in width. They are loose in structure, with well-developed lateral lobes and a stalk ranging from 3 to 7 cm in length.

The berries are large, oval to oval-cylindrical in shape, approximately 27 mm long and 19 mm in diameter. The skin of a ripe berry is dark pink with a distinct purple tint. A waxy coating and visible spots appear on the surface.

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The berry skin is thick and bright red on the inside. The crisp flesh has a pleasant flavor and a firm texture. The seeds are medium-sized, with 2 to 3 in number. The berry's juice is colorless and contains:

• sugars in 100 ml – 17.2 g;
• acids 6.5 g/l.

The taste and its tasting score depend on the growing region. Pink Taifi, grown in Central Asia, scores 9 points, while in other regions it scores lower – 7.4. The berries are not bruised during transportation and can be stored in the refrigerator until spring (March). During storage, fruit drop and ridge wilting are observed.

The Pink Taifi variety is classified as a table grape. The berries are eaten fresh, used in winemaking, juiced, and dried into raisins. The wine has a tart flavor. When grown commercially, Taifi yields up to 20 tons per hectare.

Pros and cons

U varieties There are many advantages, but there are also disadvantages. You need to evaluate them before purchasing seedlings.

Landing

Taifi is being bred cuttingsThey take root well. Seedlings should be planted on the south side of the house. The bushes grow vigorously, so keep this in mind when planting, maintaining a 3-meter spacing.

This variety isn't picky about soil composition. In addition to garden soil, add the following to the planting hole:

• ash 1 liter jar;
• humus 1 bucket;
• sand 0.5 bucket.

The hole is small: 0.5 m deep and 0.6 m in diameter. Bottom drainage and support are needed. The main requirements for the planting site are 100% daylight, protection from north winds, and a deep water table.

Care Features

Grapes tolerate drought, but yields are higher with regular watering. Organic mulch is used to maintain soil moisture; as it rots, it not only protects the soil but also acts as an organic fertilizer.

Features of agricultural technology:

• formed as a standard culture;
• leave a large number of perennial shoots;
• cut to 7-9 eyes;
• The harvest is standardized, leaving 5 to 6 buds on the shoot.

Taifi bears fruit on side shoots, so this should be taken into account. For better sugar accumulation, the clusters are left on the vines.

Diseases and pests

Poor resistance to fungal infections complicates Taifi's care. The vine is susceptible to mildew and powdery mildew. The latter can cause the loss of the entire harvest. To prevent powdery mildew, the following agronomic practices are used:

• pinching out stepsons;
• garter of young shoots;
• weed removal.

These measures improve ventilation of the bushes. In addition, the bushes are treated with Topaz, Horus, and Strobi. These products are also effective against mildew, a disease triggered by damp weather.

In addition to the three fungicide treatments: during shoot growth periods, before flowering, and during fruit formation, the bushes are fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, and the soil is mulched to normalize moisture.

Spider mites are a pest to watch out for. To prevent them, dig up the soil under the bushes in the fall and remove all plant debris. Chemicals can be used to combat the pest:

• Karbofos;
• Fitoverm;
• Actellic.

Reviews

Andrey, Rostov region

Pink Taifi is my favorite grape variety. It produces excellent harvests year after year. It has excellent flavor, and the clusters are large and beautiful. The color intensity varies from year to year. The berries gain more sugar if I pick them later. They don't bruise or rot, their shape is oval, and the clusters are loose.

Sergey, Kazakhstan

Pink Taifi is very popular here. Many winegrowers grow it. Mine produces round berries, with conical clusters that widen at the top. Lateral branches are well developed. The flavor depends on the growing location and can be tart. The flesh is crisp.

Alexey, Rostov Oblast

The bush is three years old, planted from cuttings. I picked the first uncolored berries last summer. This year, the first berries began to be eaten after August 20th, and by early September, the sugar content had reached a good level. The flesh is crisp and firm.

Victor, Kazakhstan

My grape bushes are over 40 years old. There are two of them, growing on a pergola in the yard. I always cover them for the winter. The bunches hang until frost, and the berries don't crack. I store the harvest in the basement; it can last until spring, but we eat it all before then. I tried making wine with it, and the result was good.

This variety requires extensive experience from the winegrower, and not everyone can grow it. Taifi is a heat-loving variety, so achieving high yields in temperate climates is difficult.