Taiga grapes: description of the variety and characteristics, planting and care rules

The Taezhny variety is a variety of Amur grapes, discovered and introduced into cultivation by the breeder of the Suifuno-Ussuriyskaya fruit and berry station Nikolai Nikolaevich Tikhonov, a follower and student of I.V. Michurin. The researcher made this discovery back in 1933 in the south of Primorskaya taiga. Since then, the form has become widespread in many regions of northern viticulture, where it has demonstrated its early maturity, unpretentiousness, good fruit quality for the still recently wild grapes and the versatility of harvest use. Plants bear fruit very abundantly, and from each bush you can get up to a centner of ripe bunches. In addition to productive cultivation, it is also well suited for landscaping in regions with very harsh climates.

Official information about the variety

Simple taste and sticky aftertaste.

Frost-resistant early ripening variety.

Strong bush with strong shoot growth.

The variety has no data on its "birth".

There is evidence that the south of the Primorsky Territory is the "promised land" for the variety, and then, thanks to its merits, he walked across the country. Perhaps once, it was valuable, but it did not pass variety trials and was not entered into the register of breeding achievements of the Russian Federation.

Despite this, there are still enthusiasts who continue to grow these grapes and share their experience.

Features of the

The Taiga grapes are characterized by functionally female flowers, which, in the absence of another variety, leads to a deterioration in fruit set.
Early ripening variety... At 54 degrees latitude, maturation takes place over 90 days. This fact captivates novice winegrowers, and they plant cuttings.

This variety is universal. Its berries are suitable both for dessert and for making wine, liqueur, compote, jam. What is the taste of this product is completely different. The high content of pectin substances allows the berries of this grape to be used as an additive for the preparation of pastes, marmalade, marshmallows for other vegetables and fruits. The color of this grape is also used to add rich tones to the products.

Taiga grapes

One can only sympathize with gardeners and summer residents from the northern regions of Russia: they have to invest much more time and energy in the future harvest. But the most difficult thing is to find a suitable variety that can survive in the difficult climate of the North. To a greater extent, this applies to fruits and berries, especially such heat-loving ones as grapes. A find for summer residents and winegrowers from cold regions is the Taezhny variety. This grape ripens very quickly, practically does not get sick and, most importantly, it perfectly tolerates low temperatures.

This article provides a full description of the Taezhny grape variety, with photos and reviews of real gardeners. Novice growers will be able to learn how to plant cuttings and how to subsequently care for an adult vine.

Form description

Sharing their observations, winegrowers say that "Taezhny" has great growth force and drives out rather powerful bushes during the season.

The length of the vine at Taezhnoye is limited only by pruning; in four seasons, the branches of this variety easily outgrow the five-meter mark.

The ripening of shoots is greatly influenced by climatic features, but timely chasing significantly accelerates the process of ripening of shoots.
The grapes take root very well. Almost all cuttings become seedlings.
The planted seedlings grow quickly and give not a thick, but very long vine.

Bunches and berries

The difference between the bunches of this variety is that they are extremely uniform in shape and size.

A medium-sized bunch of Taezhny grapes.

Conical, not dense clusters have an average weight of 250 to 350 g. Since the yield load is not great, up to three bunches are left per shoot, and therefore, it carries up to a kilogram of berries.
The berry has a uniform, round shape weighing up to 4 g... The color is dark blue at full ripeness, almost black.
The berries are simple to taste and not aromatic, however, given the place of cultivation, they are a valuable vitamin product.... If the grower is lucky, and there is no abundance of precipitation, then you can catch a light nutmeg aroma. Many winegrowers argue that the word "Muscat" and "Taiga" are incompatible, and in their region it has never had such a flavor.
Abundance of pectin substances adds an astringent flavor to the variety especially when chewing the skin. Some tasters believe that such grapes cannot be classified as universal, since the berries are completely tasteless and cannot be used as a dessert.
How the berries are preserved on the bushes, the opinions of the growers are divided.
Some argue that the berries hang on the vines for a long time and do not lose their marketability. Those who are unlucky, and nature has bestowed an abundance of rains, argue that this variety is the leader in cracking.
Among winegrowers, there are also such statements that the bunches weigh perfectly for 2 months. At the same time, they are washed by autumn rains and freeze, but remain edible and retain their overall integrity.
There is also an opinion that this grape weighs on the bushes for a long time and is often covered with snow only because such a berry is not good for anything.

Agrobiological properties

Bushes with high vigor, abundant vegetative mass and deep root systems. The shoots are powerful and very long. Leaves are medium and large, rounded, consist of three, less often of five lobes, the dissection between which is low. The upper side of the leaf blade is finely bubbly, dark green with slightly lighter veins. The pubescence on the dorsum is not noticeable. The leaf profile is funnel-shaped, but the edges of the lobes are often hanging down. The upper lateral notches are of medium depth, open, most often V-shaped, sometimes lyre-shaped with a rounded bottom. The lower notches are either barely outlined or absent. Many leaves can grow without dissection at all. The petiolate notch is vaulted or lancet. The petioles are long and thin, green in color, rarely with a weak anthocyanin tint. The denticles along the perimeter of the leaf blade are small, triangular, with sharp tops and straight sides. The flowers are functionally feminine, which suggests an insufficient level of pollination. However, Taezhny refutes this common stereotype, showing excellent fruit set, provided that there are bisexual varieties in the neighborhood that bloom at the same time. Annual shoots ripen well, acquiring a brownish-brown color in the process.

The bunch of Taezhnoye grapes is medium in size, loose in structure and cylindro-conical in shape. The usual weight of a standard brush is about 150 grams. The largest ones can reach 250 g. Due to the free arrangement, the berries do not damage each other and do not deform. The comb is rather long, green, not woody.The berries are small, rounded, about 16 mm in diameter, black or dark blue, covered on the outside with a layer of bluish prune bloom. The weight of one hundred grapes is 250 - 350 grams. The pulp of the fruit is quite tender and juicy, the taste is balanced - sweet and sour, in the aroma, according to some testimonies, you can catch light nutmeg tones. The sugar content in the squeezed juice is high - up to 20g / 100 ml, but the sweetness in the taste is emphasized by a noticeable acidity. The berries also contain a significant content of pectins. Grape skins are eaten. The bones are present, up to three pieces. The taste is average, which is quite forgivable for an unpretentious northern variety.

The harvested crop can be used both directly for food and processed into delicious compotes, preserves, and jams, wonderful in gastronomic terms and very rich in color. Rich in vitamins and minerals, these blanks will come in handy in winter. In addition, many owners make dry red homemade wine from Taezhnoye. It turns out to be quite good in quality, which is facilitated by the good balance of sugar and acid in the wort. Due to the sufficient level of alcohol, the finished drink shows stability in storage. The aroma of this wine is very fragrant and unique in its own way. Some gourmets, however, notice in the bouquet the so-called "Labrus" tones, which they consider unpleasant for their perception. However, most winegrowers do not pay attention to this.

Ripening of grapes occurs very early. A seaside hero needs only 90 - 92 days after budding in the spring to reach technical ripeness. The sum of active temperatures during this time does not exceed 2000 ° C, which allows Taezhnoye to mature in the north of the European part of our country, in many regions of the Urals and Siberia. An additional advantage here is the tremendous frost resistance of the vine, reaching -35 ... -40 ° С. It allows you to cultivate plants without shelter, even in the harshest conditions, where the southern varieties would hardly survive the winter, even warmed.

The yield of the variety is very high, due to the gigantic dimensions of adult bushes, as well as a significant number of inflorescences forming on the shoots. Thus, the fruiting factor can reach 2.5 - 3.5 bunches per vine, and limiting their number is not required due to the fantastic vital energy of the plants. As a result, by the seventh to eighth year after planting, up to 100 kg of grapes can be obtained from each bush without signs of overload. Once ripe, the bunches can continue to hang freely on the vine until frost. The berries are not prone to cracking or decay, so that even heavy rains and a sharp drop in soil moisture cannot harm them.

Yield

The growers' reviews speak of a very high yield of the variety. There is evidence that the record for a grape bush is 112 kg.

An eight-year-old bush of grapes can yield about a centner of ripe berries in the conditions of central Russia.

Growers share information that fruiting begins in the fourth year and is about 3 Kg.
Already in the fifth year, the yield -15 Kg, sixth - 20 Kg, seventh - 60 Kg, eighth - 100 Kg.
Describing the harvest, the grower shared information that this bush has a large growth vigor and is formed on a gazebo.

What the yield is also influenced by climatic features, of course, has a determining factor... That is why, even the northern regions can have a yield significantly different from that described in the article.

Forming a bush

The power of the bush will impress any grower. He strives with all his might to conquer territories and give back his harvest.

This grape variety is often used for decorative purposes, covering the walls of buildings with it.

Describing their bushes, growers say that sleeve 8 m absolutely not the limit. Spreading two in each direction, the vineyard itself can close a fairly extensive area. Often, amateurs form this variety so that it covers entire walls of the house and reaches balconies and attics. This task is completely feasible. Many experienced growers believe that this variety is intended for just such a decorative purpose.

The tremendous strength of growth captivates those gardeners who choose a variety for the sake of landscape design of the estate... By planting bushes from this grape, it is easy to form green rooms on the site and carry out work to limit and delimit space.

When planting this variety, it is necessary to take into account that it will be very problematic to limit its growth later. Therefore, if there is something behind it that needs sunlight and ventilation, then it is better to refuse planting.

Cultivation of culture

To achieve success in growing crops and phenomenal yields, you need to pay attention to planting.

Landing dates

It is recommended to plant a crop in the ground in the spring. Planting in the autumn is permissible only in areas with warm winters.

Seat selection

It is worth planting a bush on the south side of the site, which warms up well. It is important that the plant is not affected by drafts. During planting work, a trellis or pillars should be placed near the bush. This will ensure normal development and good ramification of the culture.

Seedling preparation

When buying a seedling, you should carefully study its condition. It is important that the plant meets the following criteria:

It had a powerful root system with many threadlike fragments.
It had a light brown shade of roots on the sections.
It had a balanced top to bottom ratio. This means that the root system must match the size of the aboveground part of the plant.
It was distinguished by smooth sheet plates. They should not be misshapen or have yellow tips.

Before planting a bush in open ground, it is recommended to soak it in water or use a growth stimulator.

Site preparation and planting

To plant this plant, you will need a 100x100 centimeter recess. It is worth adding 20 centimeters of sand or crushed stone to the pit, 12 centimeters of a composition based on sawdust and crushed brick. Then it is worth using the heated soil from the recess. It is recommended to mix it with humus and wood ash. You can add a glass of oats to the composition.

For a day, it is recommended to cover the depression with a black film. This helps to warm up the soil. 2 hours before planting, the seedling should be taken out into the street so that it adapts to the climate.

Variety resistance to diseases and low temperatures

The resistance of the variety to fungal diseases and frost is legendary. However, not all reviews are so optimistic.

Some growers give examples when grapes were affected by powdery mildew along with other varieties. Others say that this is the most resistant variety in relation to fungal diseases.

What all gardeners have come to agree on is its resistance to low temperatures.

Shelter for the winter

One of the options for sheltering grapes for the winter.

Some growers lower the whips to the ground and try to somehow cover... Others do not take measures for shelter at all and from year to year the grapes winter well.

According to those who have been growing this variety for decades, grapes tolerate temperatures well. at minus 30 ᵒС.

Wintering of grapes Taiga in the Saratov region.

Taiga in Chelyabinsk after wintering under the snow.

Care

What care procedures need to be performed to obtain enviable berry yields.

Watering

After rooting, the seedling is watered every two days until the plant takes root completely.
In the future, watering is carried out less often, but does not allow the soil to completely dry out.
It is recommended to skip humidification procedures in rains for obvious reasons.
Starting from the second year of life, watering is carried out with a frequency of once a week, or even less often.
For this variety, waterlogging is more dangerous than short-term drought. Keep this fact in mind.

Pruning

The shrub is pruned both in spring and after fruiting.
It is imperative to remove all dried and broken parts of the plant in time, as they can become sources of infection.
If the region is cold, then in the fall, carry out only light pruning so as not to injure the plant once again before the cold weather. In this case, leave the main work for the spring, well, or cover it well after pruning.
The formation of the bush is standard, the rationing of the ovaries is also necessary.

Prophylaxis

In principle, the variety is very rarely sick. The most dangerous time for a plant is the first year after planting. During this period, you need to especially carefully look after the shrub, monitor its well-being. The most common pathology of the first year of life of grapes is mildew. In order to prevent fungus, it is recommended to spray the vine with Bordeaux mixture in the spring.

Thanks to its thick skin, the Taiga grape is resistant to pest infestation: insects simply cannot bite through the dense skin. But prevention from pests still does not hurt.

Top dressing

The Taiga grapes do not need frequent feeding. During the growing season, it is enough to apply fertilizers twice:

spring minerals for a better green mass gain
and organic matter in the fall after fruiting to improve the structure of the soil and strengthen the roots;

Of organic fertilizers, the following fertilizers are best suited for the crop:

cow dung;
poultry droppings;
compost;
humus;
ash.

As for mineral complexes, then buy those with a high content of potassium and phosphorus.

Wintering

Since these grapes are grown, for the most part, in regions with harsh climates, it is supposed to be sheltered for the winter.

The procedure is as follows:

Plywood is laid on the ground next to the bushes or boardwalk is made.
The vine is removed from the trellises, tied and laid neatly on the flooring.
From above, the plant is covered with spruce branches, a tarp, sprinkled with dry earth.

When enough snow has fallen, you need to throw more of it over the laid bush. Under a snow coat, the plant overwinters safely, and its roots will not freeze.

Is re-grading possible?

There is one more variety with the first word taiga - "Taiga emerald". Often, winegrowers have confusion about whether these are the same variety or different.

"Taiga emerald" is a variety bred by Nikolai Tikhonov and it differs from "Taiga" and has a light green berry... However, many publications, not understanding the characteristics, do not bother looking for differences and mislead the people.

In addition, there are many grapes like this variety. Sooner or later, clarifications about "that" or not "that" begin to arise. This situation is difficult to understand. But, in any case, the answer is one - like it, grow and use, no - twist and plant promising, good varieties.

Agrotechnical features

The cultivation of the Taiga area does not require much effort and a high level of skill from the grower.

A variety of soil types are quite suitable for placement of the variety, both in terms of fertility and mechanical composition. The only thing you need to pay attention to when choosing a place for planting is the absence of waterlogging of the soil, and even more so of its swampiness, including those associated with shallow groundwater.

The variety propagates easily by rooting cuttings. During planting, its ability for unlimited growth is taken into account, and therefore a significant area of land is allocated for each bush in order to exclude competition between plants for light, moisture and nutrients in the future.

Growing bushes are formed according to non-covering high-standard patterns with long lateral cordons. Excellent results are also shown by arched and arbor formations, in which the vegetative mass of plants also performs a decorative function.

Fruiting bushes are cut off medium (6 - 8 buds) or short (3 - 5 eyes). After the start of growth, it is advisable to remove weak and sterile shoots, but it is not necessary to thin out the brushes on fertile vines. The fight against diseases and pests is practically not required, due to the increased resistance of Taezhnoye to pathogens, and only in the first years of life, young plants will need preventive treatments against mildew.

Advantages of the variety

Even with minimal care, Taezhny will grow well and bear fruit tolerably.

Those who have been growing this variety for a decade cannot refuse it, because it has a whole list of advantages:

Excellent frost resistance (any region is suitable for cultivation).
Great power of growth (be prepared to perform circumcision).
High yield (on a large mass of vines, of course, there will be a commodity shaft).
Excellent ripeness of shoots (that is why he is not afraid of frosts).
Can be used as a green screen (it will cover everything that needs to be hidden from the human eye).

Despite all the advantages, there are daredevils who plant cuttings and grow this variety, however, each of their own considerations.

disadvantages

Gardeners noticed the defeat of Taiga grapes with powdery mildew in the first year after planting.

Compared to the listed list of advantages, one point of disadvantages, it would seem, is not so important. But, this drawback is taste.

We plant grapes to enjoy their unforgettable taste and savor the aftertaste trail, as well as prepare wine that would bring pleasure and fill our life with joy. But "Taezhny" just does not have all this.

Of course, the one who makes compotes and jams from it also enjoys them, they are quite suitable as vitamin products. But. If we consider the issue of planting such grapes, it is necessary to weigh the pros and cons.

Landing conditions

In cold climates, grapes must be grown using a special technology, adhering to special planting and care rules. Firstly, it is necessary to engage in planting cuttings only in the spring, since the autumn seedlings will not have time to get strong enough and take root before the onset of winter frosts.

Secondly, for the Taezhny grapes, you need to choose the warmest place on the site. This should be the southern slope or the southern wall of a house, a building that can protect the vine from the icy north wind.

Important! During the warmer months, the vine must be constantly exposed to the sun. Therefore, shade should be avoided when choosing a place for the cutting.

The technology for planting cuttings of Taezhnoye should be as follows:

First, you need to dig holes for the seedlings. Since the Taiga grapes are distinguished by strong vine growth and deep roots, the pit for it must be large. You will have to dig a lot, because the optimal size of the planting pit is 100x100x100 cm.
At the bottom of the pit, 20 centimeters of river sand, crushed stone or broken brick should be poured. It is recommended to add another 10 cm of wood shavings on top.Then it is advisable to cover the drainage layer with black plastic wrap - this way the substrate will warm up well.
Fertilizer must be added to the soil that was removed from the pit during the digging process. For grapes, the Taiga fertilizer complex should be as follows: a bucket of humus, a liter can of wood ash and a glass of oats or wheat. The soil mixed with fertilizers is folded with a mound and covered with polyethylene so that the earth warms up.
The heated soil is poured into the pit on the eve of planting the cuttings. A small depression (about 30 cm) is made in the middle and grapes are planted there.
The roots are sprinkled with earth, the Taiga is watered abundantly and a support or trellis is installed near it.

Advice! If it is planned to plant several bushes of the Taezhny variety, an interval of 1.5-2 meters must be left between them. During mass plantings, 3 meters are left between the rows.

Breeding history

Homeland of the Black Emerald - United States, California Agricultural Laboratory. It was bred by crossing FRESNO A69-190 and FRESNO C84-116 by breeders David Ramming and Don Tarailo. Their goal was to create early and frost-resistant raisins.

Indeed, the Black Emerald is one of the earliest ripening Sidlis. From the USA it got to Ukraine, then spread to the southern territories of the former Soviet Union.

Also native to America are Buffalo, Witch's Fingers, and Alpha.

He feels best in the Luhansk region and the Black Sea coast. He is afraid of more northern territories because of his heat-loving nature.

The taiga emerald was bred in the Far East region by amateur selection, but by a very famous scientist - professional and candidate of sciences, Nikolai Tikhonov. Nikolai devoted his whole life to grapes, creating more than 20 new varieties, he was one of the students of the world-famous Ivan Michurin. When the taiga emerald became one of the results of his work in 1958, this form quickly gained popularity and became one of the most famous in the Primorye and all of Russia.

The basis for its creation was the self-pollinated seedling of the American species Minnesota, therefore it is also often called the Minnesota seedling or Tikhonov No. 9. It has spread to all regions with a cold climate.

Pruning

Spring pruning is recommended for "Taiga". Autumn pruning in severe frosts can provoke freezing of the pruned vines. Pruning in the spring should be done before sap flow begins. You need to leave only those vines that will form the fruit link.

Pruning of the Taezhny variety occurs 2 times a year: in autumn and spring.

In autumn, you need to think about how you want to see the grapes in the spring. The method of trimming will depend on your decision. If you have not had a plant for the first year, you have been regularly pruning grapes, then there should be no problems with the formation. However, if for some reason you got an abandoned plant or the pruning was carried out poorly, then you will have to sweat over such grapes. From spring until autumn, you must remove young green shoots that form on old branches. This procedure should be carried out every year, without missing a single bush. If your bush has several perennial branches, then you need to choose a couple of the healthiest ones, and remove the rest in the fall, after the foliage has fallen off. For the formation of a fruit link, good shoots are selected, on which a vine and a branch are left for the next year. It should be noted about 4 eyes on the fruit arrow. The branches with which you will carry out all these manipulations, on the main sleeve, choose no more than 3.
Spring pruning is much easier than autumn pruning. It should be carried out in the first month after the frost has ended. All diseased branches and excess sleeves must be removed.You need to form a bush and leave only branches suitable for fruit bearing. If your grape variety does not need to be covered, then it is worth pruning it in the spring. After pruning in the fall, a weakened plant can become severely frozen and damaged.

Characteristics of bunches and berries

Northern Sweet is a technical red grape variety. These berries make good wine easily. It can be eaten fresh, but outwardly it is not as effective as table varieties. Appetite will be awakened by a drink rather than the aesthetics of a bunch - there are large and small berries at the same time in one brush. Their shape is classic, round. On average, each weighs 1.5-2 g. Bunches are small, weighing from 80 to 120 g, moderately dense, conical in shape.

The taste of Northern Sweet is very pleasant: sugar content can reach high levels - 19% -25%. The acidity in this case varies from 6 to 11 g / mol. These indicators depend on when the bunches were cut from the branches - the longer the crop is not harvested, the more sugars and acids it accumulates. These are grapes of medium or late ripening. It ripens by the end of August, but if the weather permits, the cold has not come yet, you can cut it off a little later and get a wine with slightly different taste characteristics, or enjoy such a peculiarity of it for a change in taste, eating it fresh.

Its peel is dense. Thanks to this, Northern Sweet does not wrinkle during transportation, it can lie for some time, waiting for it to be processed. But wasps, bees, birds can damage such a skin, so it is worth using methods of protection against them. The use of special bags for protecting grapes from wasps, bees, birds is actual - this is the newest method, effective, inexpensive. Better so far no one, perhaps, has come up with anything. The skin is easily separated from the pulp. His berries are delicious.

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