An ideal choice for young gardeners - Memory Negrul grapes

Advantages and disadvantages

Before planting grapes, it is necessary to find out all the advantages and disadvantages of the selected variety.

Pros:

• High yield.
• High rates of transportability and storage.
• Versatility of use.
• Frost resistance down to -25ºС.
• High immunity to mildew, oidium, gray rot, phylloxera, and grape mite.

Minuses:

• The need for crop rationing.

Origin

In 1975, in the Moldavian SSR, a group of NIIVIV employees (M. S. Zhuravel, G. M. Borzikova, I. P. Gavrilov, I. N. Naydenova and G. A. Savin) developed a new grape variety “in memory of the Negrul.” It was obtained by crossing the “Moldavian” variety (“Corna Negra”) with the interspecific hybrid “Pierrell” (“Save Villar 20-366”). Subsequently, the new species was assigned the selection number VI-39-89, under which it was registered only in 2015. But this variety is still not listed in the Russian State Register.

Reference ! The variety owes its name to the Soviet scientist and breeder A.M. Negrulu, who was considered the real “King of the Grapes.”

History of variety development

A group of Moldovan scientists worked on developing the variety. They wanted to get a plant that was resistant to a number of major fungal diseases, had good frost resistance and at the same time had excellent taste, as well as good shelf life during transportation. To get what they wanted, scientists crossed the Corna Negra and Datier de Saint-Vallier varieties.

Did you know? Negrul Alexander Mikhailovich was considered

“
king of grapes
”
(according to the famous botanist N.I. Vavilov).
He devoted his whole life to the study and selection of this crop, so Moldavian scientists decided to name the grape variety in his honor -
In Memory of Negrul.

Main characteristics

Sweet and sour grapes “in memory of a negroul” are quite unpretentious in cultivation and differ from other hybrid forms in their high yield. It is worth noting other good varieties, such as “early gourmet”, “kodryanka” and “lora”.

Ripening period

The hybrid form of grapes “in memory of Negrul” is considered to be medium-late in terms of berry ripening: from the moment the sap flows in the plant and the formation of buds begins, about 145–155 days pass before the harvest begins. Typically, the clusters are fully ripened by mid-September, although winegrowers living in southern latitudes note earlier ripening of the clusters.

Bush

The “memory of a Negrule” grape is a powerful and tall bush, reaching a height of 3 meters, while the number of fruiting shoots is ¾ of the total. The preferred formation is a double-armed cordon with a trunk height of up to 80 cm , provided there is no need for shelter for the winter. In regions with a temperate or harsh climate, it is better to choose a design with obliquely directed sleeves without a standard.

The leaves are light green, five-lobed, with slight pubescence on the underside of the leaf blade.

The bush of the variety has male and female flowers, so flowering and ovary formation are always abundant and stable.

Bunches and berries

The brushes of this variety are cylindrical in shape, in most cases they have “wings”. The average size of the bunches is 20 by 12 cm, and the weight is 300–700 g, but especially large specimens can weigh up to a kilogram.

The dark purple, almost black berries of the “Memory Negrule” variety appear blue from afar due to the thick coating of pruin on them.

Their shape is ovoid, the tips slightly pointed towards the bottom. The average size is 3 by 2 cm, weight is 9 g. The crispy skin does not cause discomfort when eating the fruit. The pulp is juicy, fleshy, sweet (16 – 18 g of sugar per 100 g) with a light and pleasant sourness (6 – 8 g/l). Each berry contains 2–3 seeds.

Taste

The variety has a pleasant, harmonious sweet and sour taste without any special frills. However, the taste qualities of the “negrul memory” are highly rated by professionals - 8.5 points out of 10.

Productivity

If you comply with the requirements of varietal agricultural technology, you can get a decent harvest from one bush - 45 - 50 kg of fruits of excellent quality. On an industrial scale, average yields are also impressive: 180 - 200 centners per hectare.

Caring for grapes In Memory of Negrul

There will be no problems in caring for the plant if you follow all the rules.

Watering

The Memory Negrul variety can tolerate short-term droughts, but it is better not to experiment with this, since you may lose part of the harvest or it will be of worse quality. This is why watering must be monitored carefully. It should be plentiful before buds open, after flowering and during the ripening of the bunch.

Important! You need to completely stop watering the plant a month before harvest.

Top dressing

In order for more fruit buds to form on the vine in the spring, you need to fertilize the plant with superphosphates in the fall. They will also help increase the sweetness of the berries, speed up their ripening, and also make it easier for the plant to winter. To strengthen the bush's immunity, potash fertilizers need to be applied. It is advisable to apply any fertilizing along with watering.

Shaping and trimming

If grapes are grown in areas with warm winters, then it is better to form them into a double-armed cordon (the vertical part is no more than 80 cm, and two vines diverge in different directions and produce young shoots). Where the plant requires shelter for the winter, the vertical part is not formed so that the vines can be easily bent to the ground without causing damage. The bush is not pruned very much.

The entire procedure can be divided into two stages:

1. Autumn pruning (preliminary) - after dropping the foliage.
2. Spring pruning (final) - removing dead buds.

During these two prunings, the vine needs to be shortened by 4–5 buds, but so that no more than 45–50 buds remain on the entire bush, otherwise this will put a lot of stress on the plant. Pruning is done from top to bottom.

Important! It is advisable to leave more woody shoots, since the best brushes are formed on them.

Features of protection against cold in winter

One of the unusual features of the variety is that although it is frost-resistant, it needs shelter. It helps the plant survive severe frosts with less loss. If you need to prepare a young seedling for winter, you can cover it with a plastic bottle, making holes in it for ventilation. Adult bushes are tied with burlap or covering material, and then mulched (peat, pine needles). Before frost, be sure to carry out abundant irrigation and loosening of the soil.

Comparison with analogues

The “Memory Negrul” variety is one of the best varieties of black table grapes of medium-late ripening , which is confirmed by the table below with the comparative characteristics of the varieties of this group.

Description

The berries are large and beautiful. Weight 7-10 grams, elongated, elongated shape, with a constriction in the middle and a pointed end. The juicy pulp has a simple, harmonious, rich taste. The skin is a rich dark purple color, covered with a dense waxy coating. The berries contain 2-3 seeds.

Sugar content is 14-16%, and acidity is 6-7 g/l. The bunches are loose. Their mass varies greatly and depends on many factors - the age of the bush, load, the totality of weather conditions, and so on. With minimal care, the brushes weigh 350-700 grams, and for an experienced and diligent winegrower they reach two kilograms.

Ripening occurs in 145-160 days, approximately the same time as the Odessa Souvenir. The harvest can hang on the bush for a long time. Memory Negrul is a mid-late variety, which is not surprising - it was bred in the south, where frosts come late and the vine has time to ripen. The clusters are elegant and look good on the counter. Productivity is high, up to 45 kg per bush. The harvest can be stored in a cool room - a refrigerator or cellar - for several months. Transportability is high.

a brief description of

Features of cultivation

“In Memory of a Negro” is one of the most spectacular varieties in its appearance, which are often planted near gazebos in order to decorate the area.

Landing

Seedlings of the “Memory of a Negrul” variety can be planted in open ground in spring and autumn. The best time is April - May and October, but everything will depend on the geographical latitude of the region and the prevailing weather conditions. The main thing is that young plants in the first days of their “life” in the ground are not exposed to low temperatures.

Place and soil

Grapes are picky about the soil in which they will grow. The best option is chernozem, loam, salt marshes and heavy soil with a high percentage of clay are unacceptable.

Another condition for successful cultivation of the variety is the absence of groundwater close to the surface.

“In Memory of a Negro” looks impressive as a living decoration of a personal plot: its lashes are often entwined with gazebos, special arches, and walls of buildings. It is important that the location of such a “decorative element” is on the south side of the objects, which will allow the sun to heat the heat-loving plant throughout the day.

The technology for planting seedlings of this grape is simple and no different from the classic scheme:

• Digging a hole 80 cm deep and 100 cm in diameter.
• Filling the bottom of the hole with drainage.
• Part of the soil removed from the pit is mixed with superphosphate and potassium chloride - it is subsequently poured on top of the drainage; the other part is with humus or compost. This soil will lie on top of mineral fertilizers, which can burn the tender roots of a young plant.
• Installing a seedling in the middle of the hole, straightening its root system.

• Covering it with soil, compacting the soil surface and watering it abundantly.
• Mulching the soil with sawdust, mown grass, hay, peat or humus.

Important! It is advisable to immediately tie the fragile shoots of the “negrul memory” to a wooden peg, which will help support the plant and give the future bush the desired direction.

Watering and fertilizing

The variety “Memory Negrule” is considered drought-resistant, but you should still not forget to water it. The irrigation scheme includes moistening:

• early spring and after shelter;
• when the eyes open;
• as the top layer of soil dries out.

It is important to remember that, despite the weather conditions, all watering must be stopped 30 days before the expected harvest date.

Watering is often combined with the application of liquid fertilizers. Mineral fertilizers are applied according to instructions and at certain times: in the spring - nitrogen-containing fertilizers for the development of foliage and shoots, during the formation of the ovary and in the summer - potassium and phosphorus, which have a direct impact on the quality of the taste of future fruits and their size.

In the fall, it will not be superfluous to fertilize with fresh manure, which will enrich the soil with beneficial bacteria.

Trimming

After the leaves fall, dry and diseased branches are removed, and damaged ones are removed in the spring. Also, during the spring “haircut,” it is advisable to shorten the vine to 7–8 eyes. The recommended load per bush is 45 eyes and 20 shoots. It would also be advisable to remove stepsons and immature shoots.

Diseases and pests

The Moldavian variety has strong immunity to most fungal diseases (mildew, oidium, gray rot, etc.). But you shouldn’t forget about prevention. Regular treatment with industrial fungicides can prevent the risk of developing any disease.

The variety also needs protection from birds that are not averse to eating juicy berries. There are a lot of tricks and scarecrows for them, but the birds quickly figure out that neither the scarecrow, nor the foil strips, nor the bells pose any danger to them. One of the rational solutions is a reinforced inflexible mesh fencing the grape bushes.

Wasps can be controlled by destroying their nests, as well as using sweet and sticky traps soaked in insecticides. The most humane way to deal with insects is to pack each bunch in a mesh bag: flying sweet tooths simply will not be able to get close to the berries and, therefore, harm the fruits.

Wintering

The variety has increased frost resistance - minus 25ºС. In a cold climate zone, where such temperatures are constant, it is still advisable to insulate the grape bushes.

The insulation scheme involves a standard set of measures: after trimming the bush, the lashes are removed from the supports, tied, bent to the ground and covered with it. Another option is to use agrofibre, hay, spruce branches or dry leaves.

Harvest storage

The “memory negrul” variety can retain all its taste characteristics and excellent presentation for 4 months, subject to proper storage conditions: temperature 0ºС – +5ºС, humidity – 90%.

Cultivation regions

Grapes “in memory of a Negro” are cultivated in the southern territories, as well as in the regions of the Middle Zone. Experienced winegrowers who grow the variety responsibly can enjoy its fruits even in the Ural Mountains and Siberia.

Landing rules

Proper planting of the vine and caring for the grapes are the conditions for a good harvest. Grapes grow in one place for many years, which is why you should carefully choose a place for planting. Proper care allows you to get the first harvest in the second year of cultivation.

Selection of seedlings

Choose strong seedlings with developed roots. A healthy root cut should be white. Be sure to apply light pressure on the eyes - in a high-quality seedling they should not be dry or fall off. If the grapes are planned to be planted in the spring, then the planting material is stored in a cool basement. The roots of the seedlings are placed in damp sand.

Important: the sand should not be too wet, this will lead to rotting of the roots.

Bushes are planted when the air warms up to +15 °C.

Hole depth and width

The hole for grapes is prepared in advance; in the fall, a hole 80-100 centimeters deep is dug. Its size is 80x80 centimeters. For planting, choose sunny, draft-free, high areas.

Planting grapes in lowlands will lead to rotting of the roots and death of the vine. A drainage layer is required in the pit; in addition, manure or humus is added.

Seating chart

Grape bushes are planted at a distance of 1.5-2 meters from each other, and with a distance between rows of plantings of 3 meters. If grapes are planted in the garden in one strip, the distance between seedlings is 1.5 meters.

Soil requirements

When choosing soil, you should pay attention to the location of groundwater - grapes do not tolerate waterlogging. Clay soils are not suitable for this variety; it is not planted on saline soils.

It would be preferable to plant on chernozem or loamy soils, loose, with good air permeability.

Useful properties and applications

“Memory Negrule,” like many black grape varieties, has a number of beneficial properties that have a positive effect on the human body and its life support systems.

The variety is recommended for fresh consumption, as well as for use in jams, compotes, liqueurs, juices, and in a blend of semi-sweet red wines.

Photo

Below, check out the photos and reviews about the “Memory of a Negro” variety.

Reviews

The berry of Memory Negrul is beautiful, nipple-shaped and elongated; in wetter summers the berries are longer than in hot summers. To prevent diseases, two preventive treatments are sufficient. The harvest is stable every year. As a disadvantage, if there is heavy rain during the ripening period, some berries may crack. Gregory, Poltava region.

The variety is very vigorous, frost-resistant, and has a late ripening period. I cover it just in case. The taste is not expressive, simple, but not bad. Oleg, Kharkov

Unlike last year, PN’s taste is not so flat, and even with a pretense of harmony, the flesh is crispy, very dense, the skin is not noticeable. The wasps loved him! Anatoly, Volgograd region.