Lydia grapes have won the love of winegrowers for their unique taste, ease of cultivation and care and versatility of use. The grapes of this variety are used to make a fine wine with an exquisite taste, consumed fresh, squeezed juice and cooked compotes and jam. And besides Lydia, wine can be obtained from excellent varieties - Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Description and characteristics of the Lydia grape variety
Let's start with a description of the species. This variety appeared thanks to the efforts of breeders who grafted the Vitis Vinifera variety, resistant to fungal diseases, on the wild Vitis labrusca grape. As a result, a new grape variety appeared, which immediately gained popularity in Europe, Transcaucasia.
Grapes are resistant to temperatures down to -20 degrees and have a strong immunity to fungal diseases. Refers to mid-season varieties. Fruit ripening period is 155-158 days. The bush is densely growing, the vine is light brown. The leaves are green, slightly dissected, on the reverse side covered with light felt down. The bush has 82% fruiting shoots, giving 2 brushes each. Small mature brushes, weight of each brush 100-110 grams.
The shape of the brush is cylindrical, the density is loose. The berries are pink-purple in color, have an oval-round shape. The weight of each berry is from 3 to 4 grams. The berries have a wonderful aroma characteristic of this variety. The berries taste sweet with a strawberry flavor. The skin is firm. Contains 18-19% sugar.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of this variety are:
- high yield - 120 centners per hectare;
- self-pollination;
- high immunity to diseases;
- frost resistance property;
- berries are resistant to high humidity;
- transportable
- benefit to the human body.
Among the disadvantages of the variety are:
- lack of immunity against damage by phylloxera;
- at a low iron content in the soil, chlorosis develops;
- requires chasing and pinching;
- in case of untimely harvesting, prone to shedding
- harm to the body due to improper preparation of wine.
In European countries, the production of wine from this variety is prohibited. If the fermentation process is not followed, the fruits emit harmful substances, under the influence of which multiple sclerosis develops!
Growing features
The place for growing this grape variety should be on the sunny side, evenly illuminated by rays from all directions. The vineyard must be protected from the wind, as the fastening of the berries on the brush is weak and strong gusts of wind can shake off ripe berries. The soil for growth should be good for air and moisture. However, the occurrence of groundwater must be at least 1.5 meters from the soil surface. Grows well on chernozem and loamy soils.
Planting can be done in spring and autumn. Autumn is preferable, since the choice of planting material in autumn is more extensive, however, seedlings are more vulnerable during wintering. Spring planting will allow the seedlings to grow stronger and gain strength for the winter.
Pits for planting grapes must be prepared in advance, since they must stand for several weeks. If the planting is spring, then the pits can be prepared in the fall. It is necessary to dig a hole with a diameter of 90 cm and a depth of 90 cm. Select soil from the hole and pour expanded clay on the bottom, creating a drainage layer. To improve the soil for grapes, you must add to it:
- sifted river sand (if necessary);
- humus;
- ash;
- potassium;
- phosphorus;
- iron.
Mix all components well with the ground, pour into the holes and leave until spring. By the time of planting, the soil will have time to settle well.
The seedling is buried in the soil up to the root collar. It should stay on the surface. The ground is carefully trampled down, well watered and mulched. Straw, sawdust, or pine needles work well for mulching.
Frequent watering is required during the first months. Lydia loves moisture, but it should not be stagnant. After watering, it is necessary to loosen the soil well.
Grape care
One of the activities for the care of grapes is chasing. This procedure consists in the removal of the upper part of the shoots up to 30 cm, with the presence of 6-8 still undeveloped leaves on them. Coinage is required for:
- ensuring good penetration of light and air to the bushes, thereby reducing the risk of diseases;
- redistribution of nutrients from shoots to fruits;
- accelerating the ripening of vines and berries;
- increasing the yield;
- suspension of growth of young shoots.
For the variety Lydia, the optimal period for minting is August.
It is important that at the time of minting in the bush there is a natural process of growth retardation in the shoots.
Errors in minting
The most common mistakes in minting:
- Chasing, carried out ahead of time, at the stage of shoot development leads to the fact that there is an incorrect distribution of nutrients. New shoots begin to appear that need to be broken off, as this will increase the load on the bush. In this case, the vine will not be sufficiently strengthened, which will negatively affect the wintering of the plant.
Another negative consequence of the early minting is the awakening of fruit buds preserved until the next harvest. Instead of preparing for wintering, they begin to bloom.
- Chasing carried out later than the required time will have no effect, since the bush will cope with the task of redistributing nutrients by this time on its own, stopping the process of ripening new shoots.
- Incomplete chasing when 30 cm of vines and leaves have not been removed will lead to the fact that the leaves continue to develop and take on nutrients.
Reproduction methods
The easiest and most common planting method is to plant seedlings. However, if there is a stock of an old bush, it is better to vaccinate. To vaccinate, you must initially prepare a cutting by cutting it out of the shoot of a bush of this variety, leaving 3 eyes on it.
Until spring, the stalk is kept in the sand. The temperature at the storage location should not exceed +12 degrees. Before grafting, it is necessary to cut off the lower part of the cutting. The upper part must be sealed with paraffin so that the stalk loses less moisture and can more easily withstand weather changes. The lower part must be soaked in a root growth stimulator.
The stock is prepared by removing the old bush, leaving only a short stump of 5-8 cm.
You can split the stock only after the cut site has been cleaned and all the debris has been removed. An incision is made in the middle, and the cutting is inserted into the slot with the cut part. The stalk is clamped by the stock. The vaccination site must be tightened with matter, which will decompose in a year. To keep the moisture longer, it is necessary to coat the graft site with clay and water it abundantly. Dig up and mulch the soil around.
Diseases and pests
Lydia grapes are prone to such diseases:
- anthracosis - a fungal disease manifested by the appearance of black spots on the leaves, vines, shoots. This disease destroys the vine. Infection occurs through soil and seeds. For prevention purposes, damaged areas are removed and burned. The vine is treated with Bordeaux liquid;
- gray rot - a fungal disease affecting the entire vine. Occurs due to poor air access when planting thickens, or with abundant humidity. When infected, it is recommended to treat the bush with Ronilan.
The pests of the Lydia variety include:
- spider mite - damages foliage and causes fall. It is recommended to spray the bushes and soil with the preparation "DNOC";
- leaf roll - a caterpillar that eats fruits and leaves, as a result of which the fruits rot in damp weather. If detected, the soil and bushes are treated with the drug "DNOC";
- phylloxera - an insect that infects the root of the plant, and sometimes the leaves. To combat this insect, treatment with Confidora is necessary. Cover the soil around the bushes with fine sand.
The Lydia grape variety is extremely popular in the south of Ukraine, Russia and Moldova. He was loved for its simplicity in care, excellent taste and beautiful decorative appearance. Try to grow this variety on your site, and you will be provided with excellent wine, delicious compotes, juice and jam. You can also treat your guests to a fragrant bunch of fresh grapes.