Zabava grapes: characteristics and description, planting and care

The "Zabava" grape has become a true treasure of Ukrainian breeding. It was developed by V.V. Zagorulko, a cross between the "Kodryanka" and "Lora" grapes. Some gardeners have taken to calling it "Black Laura."

The berry crop has gained popularity not only in Ukraine, but also in Belarus and Russia.

Characteristics of grapes

The grape ripens early, within 100-120 days. Its frost resistance is average. In winter, it can withstand temperatures down to -18-21°C, so shelter is required in very cold regions. The variety is resistant to gray mold and powdery mildew, but is often attacked by mildew. Wasps are the main pest that damages the harvest. To protect the fruit, they are covered with nets and traps filled with sweet syrup are installed. This berry crop is a hybrid, but can be propagated by cuttings.

Description of the plant

"Zabava" bushes are vigorous and spreading. In the first year of growth, the vine reaches 1-2 meters, and by the second year, it reaches 4 meters. It ripens well. Grapes begin to bear fruit in the second year after planting. During the first year of fruiting, up to 10-12 clusters form on a vine. During this period, it's best to pluck half of the clusters to allow the vines to fully ripen and produce large berries.

In the second and subsequent years, up to 30 clusters form on the grapevine. Under this pressure, they ripen by mid-August. Once ripe, the fruit can hang on the vine for another month without losing its appearance or flavor. The berries are not prone to cracking or rotting, even during periods of prolonged rainfall.

The leaves are five-lobed, with a dissected border along the edges. They are dark green. The flowers are small, light green, and self-pollinating. The clusters are loose, averaging 700-800 grams per cluster. With proper cultivation practices, the clusters can reach a weight of up to 1.5 kilograms.

The berries are oval-oblong, weighing up to 10 grams each. The skin is thin, dark blue with a purple tint. The surface of the grapes is covered with a waxy coating, allowing them to store well for a long time. The flesh is firm, virtually slimy, crisp when bitten, and has a dessert-like flavor. The yield per bush reaches 20-25 kilograms.

Advantages and disadvantages of grapes

The table grape variety "Zabava" has many qualities that make it popular. Among the most important are:

• excellent taste;
• abundant annual fruiting;
• excellent presentation;
• high transportability over long distances;
• good immunity to some diseases.

The disadvantages of berry crops include:

• average frost resistance;
• high level of mildew infestation.

Growing and caring for grapes

Berry grapes are propagated by cuttings. These can be rooted or grafted onto other grape varieties. Cuttings are taken in late autumn, when they have become woody. Strong branches are selected and cut off 15 centimeters. The resulting vine sections are called cuttings. They are placed in a plastic bag and stored over the winter in a cellar or refrigerator. Beginning in late February or early March, gardeners begin the rooting process. A small cut, no more than 5 millimeters, is made at one end of the cutting. Then, at the cut end, the cutting is placed in water for two days. The water is changed two to three times during this period.

While the cuttings are soaking in water, prepare the containers in which the root system of the future grape seedlings will develop. An empty water bottle can be used as a container. Cut off the top and fill them with the substrate. Prepare a medium of 10 kilograms of turf soil, 10 kilograms of humus, 5 kilograms of sawdust, and 5 kilograms of sand. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly. To make the substrate nutritious, add fertilizer. Liquid fertilizer is prepared by mixing 5 liters of water, 5 grams of saltpeter, and 10 grams of superphosphate. The resulting solution is then poured over the medium.

Fill the containers with substrate. Place the cuttings in them, leaving only two buds visible. Place the cuttings in a warm room (preferably a greenhouse) to develop. Place a glass jar or cut-off bottle on top of the cuttings. Water them as the soil dries. When shoots begin to appear on the cuttings, they can be transplanted into soil.

The blossoming cuttings are planted when the air temperature has warmed to at least 15-18°C, and the soil temperature at a depth of 20-25 centimeters has reached 10-12°C. The planting hole should be 80 centimeters high and wide. A "nutrient cushion" of humus and soil (3 kg of humus and 3 kg of soil) is placed at the bottom. It should be 30 centimeters thick. Then,

The seedling is placed in the hole and covered with soil, leaving a depth of 10 centimeters. Three buckets of water are then poured into the root zone. The next day, the soil is loosened to improve oxygen supply to the root system.

Caring for grapes involves:

1. Watering. For normal development, berry crops require ample moisture. During the entire growing season, from budding to ripening, the bushes are watered at least five times, every 14 days. 30-40 liters of water are poured under each plant. The final watering occurs in late autumn, with 50-60 liters of water poured under the bush.
2. Mulching the soil. To reduce moisture evaporation from the soil, mulch the soil under the plant with straw, sawdust, or hay. The layer of this material should be 5-10 centimeters thick.
3. Winter shelter. In the southern regions of the country, there's no need to cover grapevines. However, in the central and northern regions, winter sheltering is essential. The vines should be removed from the arch, carefully tied, and bent to the ground.

Then, the grapes are covered with straw or hay. To prevent the wind from blowing away the lightweight material, they are covered with plastic film.

1. Pruning the vines. To regulate the load on the bushes, they are pruned annually. Weak shoots are completely removed. Strong, woody branches are pruned at the level of the 6th-8th bud. This will leave 30-45 buds on the bush. It is recommended to prune in early spring, before the sap begins to flow.
2. Fertilizing. In the spring, apply a liquid fertilizer consisting of superphosphate (20 g), urea (10 g), potassium sulfate (10 g), and 10 liters of water to the grapes. A second fertilizer is applied before flowering, using the same fertilizer as in the spring. In the fall, add compost. Apply two buckets per bush. Apply the fertilizer throughout the entire root zone, not directly to the roots.
3. Disease protection. 'Zabava' grapes are susceptible to mildew. To prevent the disease, spray the plants in the spring with Bordeaux mixture (10 liters of water, 100 g of copper sulfate, and 120 g of slaked lime).

Gardeners' reviews

Gardeners from central and southern Russia speak highly of grapes. A major drawback for those in the central region is their low frost resistance, but other positive qualities completely outweigh this drawback. To prevent diseases, gardeners recommend spraying the grapes twice in the spring. Most use copper-containing products. The first spraying is done before the buds have opened, and the second time, when the leaves have already opened.