Grapes “Valentina”: growing features and care

Description of Valentina grapes

The Valentina hybrid was developed by crossing three varieties: Arkady, Vostorg and Summer Muscat. Thanks to the work of breeders, a variety has appeared on sale that combines the best parental characteristics.

The roots are quite developed and go deep into the ground. The leaves are cylindrical, rather large, and have an average density structure. The clusters can reach a length of 40 cm and a weight of up to 2 kg.

Ripe fruits are oval in shape, the lower part is slightly curved. The weight of one berry is 15–20 g, length – 3.5÷4.5 cm, width – 2÷2.5 cm. The color varies from yellow to gold, in some cases, inclusions of brown are visible - this is a varietal characteristic. The skin is quite dense, but not tough, the flesh is juicy, with a pleasant taste.

Thanks to the presence of notes of nutmeg and sage, the berries acquire a certain piquancy. The sugar content is high and ranges from 15–19%. The few seeds that are present in the fruits do not spoil the taste.

Attention! The peculiarity of the variety is vigorous bushes and developed vines, so before planting, this fact is taken into account and a spacious place is allocated for the further growth and development of the seedling.

Features of agricultural technology

The seedlings take root well, so the variety can be grown not only by a professional, but also by an amateur. Planting occurs according to the following rules:

• planting scheme 4x6 m. Strong bushes need a lot of space. Avoid dense locations;
• Chernozem soils with organic fertilizers are best suited. This way the clusters will be larger;
• Before the procedure, the roots are soaked in water for several days. This increases the plant’s resilience to unfavorable factors;
• planting is carried out in autumn and spring. October weather will ensure a rich harvest;
• a hole is dug 80 cm deep, the bottom is covered with small stones. Fill the hole with a mixture of humus, black soil and sand;
• A mound is formed from fertile soil and a seedling is placed on it. Then sprinkle the roots with soil. The planting is watered with two buckets of water.

The moisture will be absorbed after watering, so you will have to add soil or mulch the grapes with sawdust. A stake is driven in next to the seedling for fixation, and the trunk is tied to it.

Decide on the location. It should be located on the south side. Do not rely on results if you planted seedlings in the shade. Special designs will provide reliable protection from cold winds.

Pros and cons of the Valentina grape variety

Hybrid Valentina is a new product for most gardeners, but despite this, some have already managed to appreciate its qualities. In addition to studying the descriptions of the Valentina grape variety and photos, it is worth paying attention to the advantages and disadvantages.

Among the advantages it is worth noting:

• excellent taste is the most important indicator of this variety;
• ease of care;
• since the hybrid has flowers of both sexes, this significantly increases the percentage of pollination;
• versatility. Ripe fruits are used for making wines, juices, and also consumed fresh;
• good transportability. Transportation over long distances takes place without loss of presentation;
• long-term storage under optimal conditions;
• average frost resistance. Shoots can withstand temperatures down to –25 °C, buds up to –22 °C;
• clusters are large;
• Valentina grapes are resistant to most diseases;
• The yield is stable with proper care.

The disadvantages include:

• the need for covering work. The buds are not able to withstand harsh winters, so the vines must be covered;
• ripe fruits have spots that spoil the presentation, while few people know that inclusions are a feature of the variety;
• if watering is carried out frequently or rarely, the berries may burst;
• presence of seeds in grapes.

It is recommended to purchase planting material after all the pros and cons of a particular grape variety have been taken into account.

Important! The harvest is harvested two years after the grapes are planted in open ground.

Care instructions

This grape variety certainly requires some investment in terms of care. This process is not too complicated, however, you need to know about some rules of agricultural technology.

Throughout the growing season, Valentina grapes need fertilizers based on organic matter and mineral elements. It is imperative to water the plants. You cannot overdo it with moisture when the berries are ripe, otherwise they will begin to crack. After watering the plant, it is necessary to loosen the soil near the grapes. It would be a good idea to lay a mulch layer around the plantings. Peat or sawdust are often used for these purposes. Don't forget to weed the area to remove weeds. The shoots of this grape must be periodically pruned. In the autumn, after pruning has been done, your grapes need to be covered. As for regions with warm climates, this measure is optional. From the onset of spring until late autumn, it is necessary to carry out preventive work against harmful insects and major diseases of grapes.

Planting and caring for Valentina grapes

It is important not only to plant Valentina grapes correctly, but also to ensure proper care in the future. A standard set of requirements for caring for grapevines includes:

• application of organic and mineral fertilizers;
• timely watering;
• loosening the soil;
• mulching;
• weed removal;
• pruning vines;
• shelter for the winter.

They also carry out preventive measures to prevent the occurrence of pests and diseases.

Selection and preparation of a landing site

High yields can only be achieved if you choose the right place for planting Valentina grapes in open ground. The site must be sunny and have a perimeter fence that protects the vines from strong gusts of wind and drafts.

The ideal option is nutritious chernozem soil, but it is also possible to plant grapes on loam and sandstone. It is important to understand that planting material will not grow on acidified soils and in lowlands. If there is a close occurrence of groundwater in the selected area, then it is necessary to install a drainage system.

Advice! If the soil is acidic, it is recommended to first apply lime and only then begin planting Valentina grapes.

Landing rules

Planting material is planted according to the following algorithm:

1. Valentina's grapes are placed on the site according to a certain pattern - 4 * 6 m, due to the fact that the vines require a lot of space to grow.
2. In order for the clusters to be large, it is necessary to pre-apply fertilizers and fertilizing.
3. The planting process is postponed until spring or autumn.
4. The depth of the hole should be 80 cm, diameter - 40–60 cm. A layer of small stones, humus and sand must be poured onto the bottom of the hole, after which the depth of the hole should be 50 cm.
5. A seedling is placed in the hole, the root system is carefully straightened and covered with earth.
6. After planting, Valentina grapes are watered (20 liters per bush).

Since the hole will settle after watering, it is additionally sprinkled with earth and the soil is mulched.

Important! Experienced gardeners advise planting Valentina grapes in early October, explaining this by the better survival rate of the bushes.

Watering and fertilizing

Young grape seedlings planted in spring are watered with warm water. Until July, it is recommended to water every 14 days. Each gardener regulates the watering regime independently, depending on the weather conditions in a particular region.

Both young and mature bushes need feeding. As a rule, fertilizers are applied simultaneously with watering the bushes. Organic matter and mineral fertilizers are used as fertilizing.

Attention! Mature grape vines are watered 3-4 times throughout the season.

Trimming and shaping

Since this hybrid needs to be formed, it is necessary to prune the bushes in a timely manner. Pruning is done in the fall, making it much easier to cover the vines for the winter. Work is carried out 2–2.5 weeks after leaf fall.

In spring, remove old, dry and diseased branches. Medium and short pruning is suitable for the variety, that is, when 5–8 or 2–4 eyes are left on the shoots.

If pruning is carried out in the fall, then the number of eyes left should be greater, since there is a possibility that some of them will die in the winter. At the end of summer, the Valentina grapes are pinched about 20 cm, which allows the nutrients to be redirected for the formation of the bush.

Advice! If you plan to prune grapes in the spring, do this before the buds swell.

Preparing for winter

Valentina grapes must be covered for the winter, as the plant may die from frost. The process of preparing for wintering includes the following steps:

1. Pruning grape vines.
2. Treatment using copper sulfate – 3%.
3. Digging the earth around the grapes.
4. Water and fertilize as needed.
5. A bunch of vines, after which they are carefully bent to the ground.

To cover Valentina grapes, several options are used:

• earthen – the grapes are covered with a layer of 30–40 cm of earth;
• slate - the vines are covered with sawdust, hay, covered with burlap and the slate is laid out on top in the shape of a house;
• wooden - sawdust and hay are poured on top of the grapes, after which wooden panels are laid;
• film - this option involves installing arcs that are covered with film.

The gardener independently chooses the most suitable option for covering Valentina grapes for the winter.

Propagation by cuttings

The "Valentina" grapes are perfectly propagated by cuttings, which is a simple process and consists of the following steps:

1. Cuttings are prepared during pruning of the vine in the fall from the strongest shoots without signs of woodiness.
2. The cuttings should have at least 2 well-developed buds.
3. The cuttings are wrapped in a cloth moistened with water and stored in the refrigerator or basement for storage.
4. Wet the fabric periodically.
5. At the beginning of January, healthy cuttings are selected, dried and treated in diluted potassium permanganate for 10–12 hours, after which they are placed in clean warm water for 1–2 days.
6. Afterwards, the cuttings are checked: they are cut at the bottom by 0.5 cm, if the cut is light green, then the cutting is healthy.
7. Selected cuttings are soaked for 20–24 hours in a fertilizer that stimulates the growth of the root system (Heteroauxin, Gumate, bee honey).
8. The bottom of the cuttings is wrapped with a damp cloth and plastic film to retain moisture.
9. Place it on the windowsill with the bottom facing the radiators and the top facing the light, periodically checking to see if they are dry.
10. After the leaves appear, check the condition of the roots and plant them in the prepared place.

Video: propagation of grapes by cuttings

Since “Valentina” grapes are a very tasty variety, unpretentious to the conditions of care for them, and produce a high yield, they can be grown at home even by non-professional gardeners, adhering to all the tips outlined in the article.

Diseases and pests

Preventive measures allow you to prevent the emergence of diseases and pests in a timely manner. The most dangerous disease is considered to be powdery mildew, which quickly affects fruits and bushes, after which it spreads throughout the vineyard.

To prevent the disease it is necessary:

• thin out grapes;
• adhere to the disembarkation scheme;
• prevent thickening of planting;
• spray the grapes with a solution of colloidal sulfur 3 times per season.

The drug “Fufanon” helps against spider mites. During fruit ripening, attacks by wasps and birds may occur. In such cases, it is recommended to use ratchets, traps and special nets.

Reviews about Valentina grapes

Stanislav Kostin, 40 years old, Ulyanovsk

I have been growing grapes for a long time. There are 6 different varieties on the site, but the most favorite and best is the Valentina grape. On average, the weight of each bunch is 1 kg, the fruits are quite large and tasty. Used the berries to make wine. The finished product turned out much tastier than purchased grapes. The variety needs quality care and proper attention, but the harvest is worth all the effort.

Tatyana Semenova, 36 years old, Moscow

In the process of growing grapes, Valentina discovered one drawback - if they are poorly covered for the winter, the vines can freeze. In all other respects, I like this variety. In order to get a good and large harvest, I thoroughly monitor my vineyard: I apply fertilizers on time, water, prune, spray for pests, and tie them up when necessary. I noticed that if you don’t add organic matter as a top dressing, the clusters will be small.

Characteristics

The variety produces high and stable yields every year. It begins to bear fruit in the second year of life. The berries ripen approximately 140 days from the start of bud break or a little earlier. The first fruiting is not so abundant, but next year you can expect an increase in the harvest by 1.5, or even 2 times. The grape fruiting rate is good - from 60 to 75%. Three quarters of the shoots ripen. When pruning, 8 to 12 buds are left on the vine.

The flowers of “Valentina” are bisexual, so this wonderful grape does not need pollinating varieties.

Amethyst Novocherkassk, Angelica and Aladdin also have bisexual flowers.

The variety is able to withstand air temperatures not lower than -22 °C. In severe frosts, some of the buds may freeze, which threatens a significant reduction in the future harvest. Therefore, it is recommended to insulate grapes for the winter.

To do this, diseased and weak branches are pruned in the fall, and then the bush is watered and mulched abundantly. Before the onset of frost, the bush is wrapped in covering material, bent down and sprinkled with earth.

Varieties such as Isabella, Crystal and Marcelo also require shelter.

It needs to be watered only in the spring and at a time when the berries are just beginning to fill with juice. The skin of the Valentina fruit is very thin, so it tends to burst when watered or during heavy rains. As a result, the quality, transportability and shelf life of the crop are reduced.

Since the Valentina grape bushes have strong growth, they need a lot of space for normal development. The optimal planting pattern for bushes is 4 by 6 meters. The depth of groundwater in the area must be at least 3 meters from the surface of the earth, since the roots of the grapes go deep.

It is recommended to plant the “Valentina” variety in the spring. Caring for grapes is the same as for other varieties: watering, pruning, fertilizing and tying. Among fertilizers, grapes prefer mineral (superphosphate, potassium salt) and organic (wood ash, manure).