Gourmet is a great hybrid grape variety.with a rich muscatel taste and well suited for growing on its own garden plot.
In various descriptions often another name is found: Gourmet Flashlight.
Due to the many varieties of this variety, beginner gardeners often have questions: which Gourmet is better to choose, and how do they differ from each other?
Let's try to figure it out.
Description of the Gourmet variety
Gourmet, like all its varieties, is a table variety.
This is a pink grape, early ripening. It has a very beautiful appearance and excellent taste.
Pink varieties also include Angelica, Gurzufsky pink and Flamingo.
Appearance of grapes
The Gourmet grape variety is early ripe: about 110-125 days pass from the appearance of buds to the final maturity. White Delight, Kishmish Nakhodka and Malbek are also distinguished by early terms of ripening.
This is a very tall grape. Rooting cuttings good.
Vine matures more than 2/3 of the length. Flowering in the southern regions begins in early June, and in mid-August - it is already possible to harvest. All Gourmets have a feminine flower shape and need pollination. However, they are pollinated well, if there are a number of varieties with bisexual or male types of flowers.
A cluster of elongated, very large, loose, can reach a mass of 1-1.8 kg. The berries are oblong, oval, rather large, about 8-10 grams. Original clusters also have large clusters, Delight and Bazhena.
The color of the ripe berries is bright pink, almost lilac, they are one-dimensional, and no pea is observed. The flesh of the berries is dense, crunchy, with a pleasant nutmeg flavor, sweet, seedless and very tasty. The skin is not thick, eaten.
Breeding history
All Gourmets are hybrid varieties of amateur breeding., bred by V. N. Krainov in the process of crossing Talisman and Radiant Kishmish varieties. In 2006, the Gourmet was recognized as promising and identified for cultivation in the southern regions of Russia, in Ukraine and Moldova.
The hand of the same breeder belongs Blagovest, Victor and Anthony the Great.
Variety can withstand temperatures as low as -22-23С. Therefore, in areas with a cold climate it is better to grow in a greenhouse. In moderate climatic conditions, for example, in the southern regions of Belarus, the Gourmet can be grown in the open field, provided there is a good shelter for the winter.
Specifications
Gourmet has a high yield and medium frost resistance.
Reviews of gardeners for this variety are extremely positive. With respect to the maximum load on the bush about 20-23 shoots, the variety will consistently bring at least 6-8 kg of berries from one plant. Pruning fruit-bearing vines is recommended in the fall, an average of 6-8 buds.
Rkatsiteli, Podarok Magaracha and the Anniversary of Kherson Summer Resident demonstrate excellent yields.
When grown in temperate climates, the variety is not very frost resistant. Maintains a maximum reduction of t to -24C. Needs a good wrap and competent care. Gourmet resistant to most diseases and pests of grapes.
A photo
Diseases and pests
Gourmet is highly resistant to mildew and gray rot, can occasionally be damaged by oidium and anthracnose.
Oidium is more common in young, fragile plants, and may appear when grown in areas with a hot climate. This disease manifests itself in the form of a grayish bloom on the leaves and berries. Over time, the leaves begin to dry out, and the berries crack and rot.
All Gourmets are moderately resistant to this disease and if preventive measures are observed, infection can be avoided.
As such measures, prior to flowering, root dressings with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers can be used outside, and after flowering, add iron, manganese and zinc to them. To protect the vineyard well helps the use of biological products.
Anthracnose is a fungal disease characteristic of southern latitudes. Appears when illiterate pruning or in places of mechanical damage to the shoots. It affects leaves, berries and branches. If time does not begin treatment - the plant may die.
To avoid infection, it is necessary to properly conduct the autumn pruning and process the grapes with a solution of Bordeaux mixture before flowering. Do not forget about the use of fertilizers and timely watering the plant.
In addition to diseases all gourmet varieties can be attacked by pests. Most often these varieties are affected by birds, wasps, grapes and spider mites.
To protect the grapes from being damaged by birds, you can try to cover the vineyard with a polymer net or use a fishing line stretched in several rows between the tiers of a trellis.
To combat the wasps, special traps installed near the grape bushes help well. As such traps, small flat containers with jam or syrup are suitable, and in early summer it is better to use a piece of fresh meat or fish. It also helps the destruction of the wasp nests around the vineyard.
The grape mite often affects all types of Gourmets. It manifests itself in the form of bumps on the outer side of the sheet. The underside of the leaves is covered with white felt patina. Before blooming buds, grape nitrophen treatment helps. Later, when the shoots have reached a length of 4-6 cm, you can use spraying with sulfur or any insecticides and acaricides.
A spider mite appears on the underside of the leaves in the form of small dark dots. After some time, a sticky white cobweb forms on the leaves. In the fight against this tick helps spraying with special preparations and removal of the affected foliage.
Varieties
In the Krainova breeding there are 5 varieties of the Gourmet variety.
What are they and what are their distinctive features?
Early: Differences and Features
Grapes varieties Gourmet early has several names. When breeding, he received the name Novocherkassk red. Later, it became known as Gourmet 1-12. But in the descriptions often referred to as early gourmet grapes. Unlike the Gourmet itself, the early Gourmet is medium-sized and ripens later. Berries are rounded, pale pink. The variety is well resistant to gray rot, oidium and mildew, is not damaged by wasps. Otherwise, all the characteristics of both species are the same.
Lakomka: what is unique?
Grape Gourmet Gourmand is also an early variety. The name Gourmet 3-6 is often mentioned. The maturation process takes 108-115 days from the appearance of the kidneys. The variety is medium tall, with large clusters not subject to pea.
The berries are round, rather large, light red, with a strongly pronounced nutmeg taste. The variety is high-yielding. Maintains a drop in t to -26C. Moderately resistant to fungal diseases. Suitable for cultivation in the south of Belarus and Russia.
Rainbow
This type of gourmet is mid-season ripens in 125-135 days. In the southern regions of Ukraine it ripens only at the end of summer and beginning of autumn, therefore it is not suitable for growing in areas with a cold climate. Rainbow gourmet - medium-sized variety, well-growing both on rootstocks and on its roots. The clusters are large, conical, weighing about 1 kg. The berries are oval, very large, even red color, one-dimensional. The variety is resistant to fungal diseases, is not damaged by wasps.
Elegant
The youngest kind of gourmet. Bred in 2009 and has not yet become widespread. This is a tall, early ripe variety, fully matures in 110-115 days.
The cluster is rather large and medium dense. The berries are rounded elongated, light pink in color, have a high sugar content. The variety has good resistance to fungal diseases and high yields. Frost-resistance in the range -22-23С.
All types of Gourmet possess unsurpassed taste and beautiful appearance.. With proper care always give a consistently high yield. Experienced gardeners grow this variety even in areas with a temperate and cold climate, provided it is carefully sheltered for the winter.
All Gourmets reproduce well by cuttings and are slightly susceptible to major grape diseases. Gourmet and its varieties, as well as Angelica, Ataman Pavlyuk and Augusta, are great for growing on their own plot.
