Zaporizhzhya Kishmish grapes: characteristics and description of the variety

A variety of the famous Kishmish labeled "Zaporozhsky" appeared in the last century. The variety has a second The name "Kishmish Klochikova" honors its creator. The Ukrainian breeder combined two famous varieties, Rusbol and Victoria, to create this grape. The resulting cross resulted in a seedless variety with exceptional flavor.

Characteristics and description of the variety

Zaporizhzhya Kishmish has a sweet taste, with no noticeable acidity. This variety is sure to please those with a sweet tooth. The grapes are grown both for home use and on an industrial scale. The variety is suitable for winemaking and canning. The berries are small, weighing 2-3 g. Ripening begins in late summer. The growing season lasts 115 to 120 days. The berries are gathered in large, weighty clusters weighing over 1 kg. Clusters often weigh up to 1.5 kg. The skin color ranges from dark purple, almost black, to burgundy.

This grape variety is considered a medium-sized one. The vine can grow up to 5 meters. It produces very vigorous shoots, especially in the first few years after planting. Winegrowers recommend annual pruning to 6-8 buds. The vine should be under no more than 25-30 buds to ensure consistent fruiting. At least 80% of the shoots are fruiting, and the maturity rate is considered high.

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Frost resistance down to -25 degrees Celsius allows Zaporizhzhya Kishmish to be grown throughout the country, including the Urals and Siberia. The variety grows and reproduces beautifully in central Russia and is suitable for planting in the south.

This variety has good immunity to many diseases common to grapes. The shoots and berries are almost never affected by powdery mildew, anthracnose, or downy mildew. However, Kishmish is treated once or twice per season to completely eliminate the risk of infection.

The strong qualities of Kishmish Zaporizhzhya are:

• absence of seeds in the pulp;
• sweet taste of berries;
• beautiful appearance;
• high yield;
• full maturity of shoots;
• frost resistance;
• strong immune capabilities.

Kishmish does have its drawbacks. These are:

• abundant formation of stepsons;
• poor separation of bunches from the stalk.

In the summer, during flowering and fruiting, grapes are often attacked by wasps. To repel the insects, traps are set up in the area, and the vineyards are treated with insecticides before flowering.

Landing

Zaporizhzhya Kishmish vine seedlings are sold at exhibitions and fairs. They are purchased in spring or fall; planting can be done at any time except winter. The planting site should be on a flat or hillside, with the groundwater level at least 1.5 meters below the ground surface. Kishmish vines thrive in neutral to slightly acidic soil. The soil should be porous.

Grapevines are planted when the weather warms up and frosts are certain. Dig a hole at least 70-80 mm deep, and add at least 20 cm of drainage material to the bottom.

Then, fertilize the soil mixture with peat and humus in a 1:1 ratio. Approximately 10-15 kg of fertilizer is sufficient for one hole. When planting the soil, be sure to sprinkle superphosphate and potassium sulfate into the peat at a rate of 30-50 g per hole. Place the seedling in the soil, straighten the roots, and cover with soil. Place a support next to the seedling. Compact the soil around the trunk by hand and water the plant with cool water. After watering, you can mulch the soil with sawdust.

Care

After planting, the seedling needs 1-2 weeks to adapt. Once the plant has adapted, it will stretch upward, and green, healthy leaves will emerge from the trunk. The Zaporizhzhya Kishmish quickly adapts to its new location and adapts well. Pruning is not necessary during the first year. Shoots are pruned only in late fall to remove diseased branches and prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms.

Watering is important for grapes, but it shouldn't be frequent. From bud break until the end of fruiting, grapes need only 3-4 waterings. Watering is avoided when the plant is in bloom or fruiting. Watering during this time is very risky: it can degrade the flavor of the berries and cause them to shrink. Winegrowers often use drip irrigation, especially if they have many vines. This system is convenient and practical, uses minimal water, and delivers water directly to the roots.

It's best to avoid fertilizing at the beginning of cultivation. If the soil was fertilized at planting, the roots will have sufficient nutrients for 2-3 years, and an excess will only harm the plant. Subsequently, mineral fertilizers, balanced grape-growing complexes, and organic supplements should be used. Fertilizers are usually applied before bud break, during flowering, and until fruiting.

Shelter for the winter

Young grapes are particularly sensitive to temperature fluctuations, so they are the first to be covered. At the end of October, the vines are pruned, treated with copper sulfate to prevent diseases over the winter, and the soil is well watered. Once the soil has dried out, the crop is covered. This can be done in two ways:

• Dry method. Vineyards are covered with agrofibre, wooden boxes, bags, film, and other heat-retaining materials. The vines are laid on the ground and a tunnel of rods or metal boxes is constructed underneath them. The material is stretched over the metal. This creates a greenhouse in which the grapes will successfully overwinter.
• By burying the vines in the ground. The vines are placed on the ground and covered with soil taken from between the rows to a depth of 10-20 cm. Plastic wrap is placed on top to prevent the soil from getting wet.

Both methods are perfectly acceptable, so the choice should be based on the region's climate. The first method is more suitable for covering Kishmish in northern regions, while burying the vines for the winter is suitable in central Russia.

Reviews

Oleg from Krasnodar Krai

Zaporizhzhia sultanas are renowned not only for their resistance to diseases and frost, but also to drought. The summer was hot, but the berries retained their sugar content and their appearance remained unchanged. Wasps didn't attack the grapes, and I didn't treat them with anything. The berries appeared by mid-summer, and they were very good in taste and quality. I dried some of the fruit. After picking, I always dip the berries for a few seconds in a baking soda solution (1 tablespoon per liter of water) to remove the bloom. Washed grapes have a beautiful glossy sheen and look more appetizing.

Sergey from Dnepropetrovsk

The berries are sweet but prone to cracking. In the third year of harvesting, the berries began to burst right on the branches. We weren't able to preserve the harvest; most of them were eaten to prevent them from spoiling. This may have been due to overwatering (I watered 2-3 times a month) or rainy weather.