The best grape varieties for the Moscow region: characteristics and descriptions, tips for choosing
With proper care, grapes grown near Moscow grow large and juicy, and the taste is not inferior to those from the south. Technical varieties are used for making wine, champagne, juice, while table varieties are used for fresh consumption and storage for the winter. To get a rich harvest, it is important to choose the right variety, prepare the planting site and properly care for the plant.
We will consider further what is the best way to plant grapes in the Moscow region and what recommendations to follow.
Requirements for grape varieties in the Moscow region
The Moscow region is characterized by spring frosts and sudden weather changes, so the grapes must be frost-resistant. The recommended threshold is up to -30°C. Grapes love light and warmth, so in the Moscow region there is a risk that the shoots will freeze. Plants with low frost resistance bear fruit poorly, the clusters grow small and insipid.
Due to sudden changes in weather, the risk of developing fungal and viral diseases increases, so it is recommended to plant grapes with strong immunity. Such varieties are rarely affected by powdery mildew, anthracnose, and gray mold, which has a positive effect on yield.
Attention! Before buying a seedling, it is advisable to study reviews on the Internet, watch photos of adult plants or videos about a particular variety.
The grapes must quickly adapt to growing conditions. Otherwise, the plant will not take root well in the soil and will not receive nutrients from the ground.All this leads to reduced yields and poor fruit set.
Top best
When choosing grapes, pay attention to the height and spreading of the bushes, the length of the vines, the weight of the berries and clusters, and color. Let's compile the top best grape varieties for the Moscow region, find out the advantages and disadvantages of each plant.
Buffalo
The ripening period is mid-early, the harvest is harvested in early September. The vines are long, with green middle leaves, and there is strong pubescence on the blades. The flowers are small and bisexual. The clusters are conical and loose, the weight of one varies from 200 to 500 g. The berries are oval-round, blue-black, with a waxy coating. The weight of the fruit is about 4 g, the pulp is dense and juicy, the taste is sweet, with a berry aroma. The fruits are suitable for fresh consumption and processing.
Buffalo is winter-hardy, can withstand temperatures down to -30°C, and is rarely affected by mildew and gray mold. It is planted not only for berries, but also for beauty: vigorous bushes with branching vines decorate gazebos, terraces, and country houses.
Aleshenkin's gift
Early table variety Aleshenkin popular in all regions of the country. A medium-sized shrub with glossy emerald-colored leaves. The flowers are bisexual; the crop does not require pollinating insects. The clusters are large, wide-conical, the weight of one reaches 600 g. The berries are oval, light green, weigh about 3–5 g. The skin is thin, but durable, with a waxy coating. The pulp is tender and juicy, pleasant to the taste. Frost resistance - down to -26°C; some gardeners plant bushes in unheated greenhouses to protect them from frost. The purpose of the variety is universal: the fruits are suitable for transportation, processing, and storage.
Victoria
The Victoria variety can withstand temperatures down to -27°C and is successfully grown by breeders in the south, north and central zone of the country. The bushes are medium or low growing and do not take up much space on the site. The leaves are medium dark green, straight shoots grow quickly. The clusters are conical, medium density, ripening time - about 4 months. The berries are oval and dense, weight - 5 g. The color is red-raspberry, translucent in the sun. The flesh is crispy, the taste is sweet and harmonious. The skin is thin, the aroma is nutmeg. To prevent the berries from cracking, it is not recommended to over-moisten the soil.
Attention! Among the disadvantages of the variety, weak immunity to insect pests, especially wasps, is noted. To protect plants, the preparations “Aktara” or “Fastak” are used. Before use, it is important to familiarize yourself with the dosage and protective measures.
Jupiter
Jupiter ripens very early, harvested in early or mid-August. Seedless fruits can remain on the bushes for 3-4 weeks without losing their taste and marketability. The clusters are cylindrical-conical, winged and loose, weigh 200–300 g. The berries are oval-round, blue-violet in color. The skin is strong, with a waxy coating, the pulp has a high sugar content, harmonious and aromatic. Jupiter bears fruit consistently in cool, humid weather. To increase yield, short pruning is carried out once a year. The harvest is suitable for drying, fresh consumption, and making wine.
The variety is resistant to mildew, powdery mildew and gray mold, and is rarely damaged by wasps, aphids and spider mites. A strong skin and a waxy coating protect the fruit from cracking.
Alpha
Technical frost-resistant Alpha grapes are used to make dry and sweet wine. The ripening period is average, the harvest is harvested at the end of August.The bushes are medium-sized, the vines are long and strong, the leaves are dark green. The clusters are cylindrical, with a small wing, medium density, weigh 300 g. The color of the fruit is black-violet, with a blue tint. Alpha's taste is sweet, with a slight sourness and a nutmeg aftertaste. The skin is medium thick, the aroma is pronounced. The crop is grown for processing berries and decorating the garden plot. Immunity to diseases and insect pests is above average.
Phenomenon
The ripening period of the table variety is about 120 days. The plant is unpretentious in cultivation, seedlings quickly adapt to climatic conditions. The bushes are tall, the leaves are large, matte dark green. The flowers are bisexual. The shape of the bunches is cylindrical-conical, the density is average. The berries are oval yellow-green, with a golden tint. The average weight of a bunch is 450 g, the weight of a berry is 5–7 g. The skin is dense, but you can’t feel the grapes when you eat them. The taste is pleasant, harmonious, with a refreshing taste and aroma. The grapes are suitable for all types of processing; after ripening they do not crumble or crack.
Attention! The phenomenon is not affected by mildew and rarely suffers from gray rot. To increase productivity and strengthen immunity, it is recommended to plant the plant in spacious and well-warmed areas. In shade or partial shade, the crop bears fruit poorly.
Valiant
Juicy Valiant grapes came to Russia from the USA. The ripening period is mid-early, fruiting begins in the second ten days of August and continues until the end of September. The bushes are medium-sized, the foliage is dense. The clusters are small, the average weight is 150 g. The berries are small, black and blue in color, the flesh is dense, with a large seed. The taste is interesting strawberry, with a taste of the famous Isabella wine.The berries are suitable for transportation and processing - desserts and drinks are prepared from Valiant. The vines are beautiful and long, suitable for decorating a gazebo. The variety is easy to grow and does not require shelter for the winter. Immunity is high.
Helios
The Helios variety is early ripening and universal in use. The bushes are medium-sized, the leaves are large and light green. There is slight pubescence on the plates. The clusters are large, conical, with an average weight of 500 g. The berries are fleshy, oval, with a dense peel and juicy pulp. The taste is pleasant sweet, the juice is colorless. The fruits are used for fresh consumption and processing. Used for transportation, storage and sale. The variety is winter-hardy and drought-resistant; it does not require special skills to grow.
Lyubava
Very early table variety. It is distinguished by strong immunity to diseases and pests, unpretentiousness, and frost resistance down to -28°C. The bushes are medium-sized, the leaves are large and wrinkled, the flowers are bisexual. The clusters are conical or conical-cylindrical depending on growing conditions.
The berries are oval, white, transparent. The pulp is very tasty and juicy, with a nutmeg aroma. The juice is colorless, the seeds are small, the skin is medium thick. Juices and cocktails, marshmallows and marmalades, jams and compotes are prepared from table grapes.
The best early-ripening, mid-ripening, late-ripening varieties
Early grape varieties ripen by mid or late August, middle ones by mid-September, late ones by early October. From early cultures, the Dream of Skuinya is popular. The variety is universal in use, easy to grow, and is frost-resistant. The berries are red and black, the yield is up to 4 kg per bush.
- The early grape Muscat Moscow is distinguished. It is ultra-early, the berries are yellow-green, with a pleasant nutmeg aroma.The clusters are large, up to 500 g.
- Of the mid-season varieties, gardeners note the varieties Pamyati Strelyaeva and Podarok TSKHA. The first one belongs to the table variety, the weight of the bunch is 240 g, the shape is conical. The plant does not suffer from fungal diseases, the berries are dense and juicy, and the taste is sweet. Gift TSHA is distinguished by medium-sized bushes with beautiful curved vines and light green fruits with a pleasant pineapple aroma. The harvest is eaten fresh or processed; the juicy pulp is good in any form.
- Late variety Ruby Azos It is drought-resistant, the berries grow dark blue, the average weight is 2 g. The skin is dense, the pulp is juicy. The clusters are branched and loose, with an average weight of 240 g. The crop has strong immunity, and the fruits are universal in use. The late-ripening Andreevsky grape stands out: the weight of the bunch is 180 g, the berries are round and blue. The taste is pleasant, the juice is wine-red. The flesh is tender, slightly gristly.
Technical and canteens
- The technical variety Ermak is grown in the Moscow region - early ripening, with large leaves and cylindrical clusters. The berries are round, blue-black. The juice is colorless, the seeds are small. Grapes are used to make dry wine. The technical grade Zelenolugsky ruby is popular. The bushes are vigorous, with large leaves, the weight of a loose bunch is 200–300 g. The berries are round and black, resistant to viral and fungal diseases, and do not crack. The pulp is dense, juicy, and the juice is reddish in color. The variety is early ripening, harvested in the second ten days of August. Mainly used for processing.
- The table varieties include Cocktail and Nizina grapes. The cocktail is super early ripening, the berries are small and ovoid, yellow-green in color. The taste is berry-fruity, the juice is colorless.Nizina table grapes are distinguished by large clusters weighing up to 700 g, dark purple berries and juicy pulp. The variety is transportable and rarely damaged by insect pests.
White, dark, pink
- A popular white grape variety for the Moscow region is Stremennoy. The bushes are medium-sized, the leaves have bristly pubescence. The berries are small, oval, white. The purpose is universal, the crop does not crack during transportation. The clusters are medium conical. The taste of the berries is harmonious, the flesh is gristly. Another common white grape variety is Chrysolite. The weight of the bunch is 600 g, the berries are medium white-yellow.
- Podarok Nesvetaya grapes are distinguished from dark varieties. The bushes are vigorous, the flowers are bisexual. The berries are round-oval and dark purple. The pulp is fleshy, the taste is nutmeg. The juice is pink, the skin is strong. The weight of the bunch is 700 g, the weight of the fruit is about 5 g. The Pamyat Dombkovskaya variety is popular - the berries are round, weigh about 4 g, and are black in color. The clusters are cylindrical-conical and weigh about 370 g.
- The pink variety Transfiguration is valued for its immunity and rapid growth of shoots. The berries are large, cylindrical, weigh 10-11 g. The color is pink, the flesh is juicy, with a nutmeg aftertaste. The juice is colorless. The crop is used for processing and fresh consumption. Another famous variety is Jubilee of Novocherkassk. The clusters are large, weighing 1000–1500 g. The pulp is fleshy, there is no aftertaste, the juice is colorless.
Read also:
Hybrid grape Kesha - description and characteristics
How to choose a grape variety for the Moscow region
When choosing a variety, it is important to pay attention to frost resistance, immunity to diseases and pests, and growing requirements.For transportation, choose plants with large berries and a strong peel with a waxy coating; for fresh consumption - fruits with thin skin and small seeds.
Attention! Winegrowers grow frost-resistant crops in open ground and greenhouses. Some shade-tolerant varieties are planted in partial shade. This method is suitable for warm areas with a temperate climate.
Technical varieties are used to make wine; table berries are used for drying or eaten fresh.
Conclusion
How to properly plant and grow grapes in the Moscow region? To begin, choose the most suitable variety for the region. Popular among summer residents are Phenomenon, Alpha, Jupiter, Victoria, and Aleshenkin's Gift. They are not covered and frost-resistant, and rarely get sick. Before planting, it is recommended to study the description of the plants, pay attention to the ripening time, taste and color of the fruit. Some crops are suitable for winemaking, others for fresh consumption or transportation.