It is always interesting to get acquainted with new grape varieties; immediately there is a desire to grow this plant on its own plot.
Many amateur winegrowers even begin to incorporate their creativity and enterprise by creating hybrids of old varieties on their own.
Of course, not many people succeed in this, but there are those lovers who have forever inscribed their names in the encyclopedia about viticulture.
It is about one of these lovers, whose name is Zagorulko, as well as about his creation called “Sophia”, and tell you below.
Features of the growth and fruiting of Sofia grapes: main advantages and disadvantages
Grapes "Sofia" refers to table grape varieties: its main purpose is to eat berries directly fresh. At the same time, the taste of the grapes is simply excellent. This variety inherited its qualities from such grape forms as the well-known “Arcadia” and “Kishmish Radiant”. The efforts of V.V. Zagorulko allowed to obtain not only tasty, but also sustainable grapes, with a rather extensive area of its cultivation.
How does the bunch of Sofia grapes look and how does it differ from other varieties?
A big plus of this grape variety is that its clusters are large in size and have a very attractive appearance. The mass of one medium cluster is 1 kilogram, although champions reach weight of 2.5-3 kilograms. The berries on the clusters are placed tightly, loose clusters on the bush are not found. Due to this, even with small sizes of the bunch itself, its weight can reach high performance.
Also, this variety is characterized by fairly large berries, which are egg-shaped. Accordingly, the size of the average berry is 3,3 x2 centimeters, which clearly indicates their elongated shape. The maximum indicators of the weight of the grape berries "Sofia" is 15 grams. But they are not distinguished by the size and shape, but a very delicate pink color of the skin color.
In addition, due to the fleshyness and high juiciness of the fruit, the taste of this variety is very delicate and pleasant, with the characteristic aroma of nutmeg. Also, despite the sufficient density of the skin of this variety, it is absolutely not felt when eating. The only trouble can be the presence of 1-2 seeds in very large berries. However, parthenocarpy, that is, seedless berries, develops on the Sophia grape bush quite often.
The yield of grapes "Sofia": features of ripening and fruit removal
In general, the yield of grapes of this variety can be called good. Due to the vigorous shrub and uniform ripening of the shoots, the fruits receive a sufficient amount of nutrients and are well provided with sunlight. Despite the fact that the bush has only a female flower, it is very susceptible to pollen by other varieties, so yields are also formed steadily.
Not observed and pea berries, which usually occurs on the bushes with same-sex flowers. Best of all, the bush is pollinated by the pollen of its own parent, the Arcadia variety.
The grape variety "Sofia" refers to one of the earliest. The vegetation of the bush successfully passes in just 110-115 daysthat allows you to start harvesting grape harvest in the first half of August.
Briefly about the advantages and benefits of grapes "Sofia"
• Early grape variety with good yields of high marketability and taste.
• Frost resistance for the southern regions of Ukraine and Russia is quite high - the bush tolerates a decrease in temperature to -21ºС. However, it still needs shelter, especially when landing in more northern climatic regions.
• It tolerates heat and drought well, but with a prolonged heat, grape bunches need to be covered with leaves.
• Sophia grapes are practically not affected by such fungal diseases. As oidium and mealy dew.
• Many are attracted by the good suitability of the crop of this variety for transportation, which allows it to be grown for sale.
• Distribution of the variety is promoted by excellent rooting of cuttings and the presence of seedlings of a well-developed root system.
What are the imperfections of grapes "Sofia": the disadvantages of the variety
Many consider it a great disadvantage of the grape variety of this flower to have only female functions in its flower. However, V.Zagorulko himself asserts that this fact is in no way reflected on the yield. The fact is that the grape inflorescences of "Sophia" have a lot of flowers, which makes them unusually susceptible to pollen from other grapes.
Moreover, the period of flowering of this grape is quite long, and together with the ability of the pistil to retain moisture well, the bush can be pollinated directly from several varieties that bloom in parallel with it.
More weighty lack of "Sophia" is the tendency of overripe berries to fall off.
In no case it is impossible to leave a ripened crop on a bush, because not only will it lose its qualities, but it can simply crumble.
Learning to plant grapes: detailed instructions and recommendations
Not many of us are strong in agronomy, and even more so in planting grapes. On the one hand, this business is not tricky, but it has its own characteristics and rules, without which you can not only grow a frail and non-fruiting bush, but also completely destroy the seedling. It is especially important to know that young grape saplings are very susceptible to low temperatures and diseases.
Therefore, any damage or landing is not in the right time can reduce all your efforts down the drain. For this reason, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the detailed description of the process of planting Sofia grapes.
A little about the methods of breeding varieties "Sofia"
Grapes have very adaptive and quickly rooted cuttings, therefore, it can be propagated not only by planting seedlings grown from seeds. Despite the fact that this method is also quite effective, you should pay attention to the following:
• Inoculation varietal cuttings to the stock with a large number of matured wood. In this way, it makes it possible to grow a grape bush very quickly and effectively, since already at the time of grafting it will have a well-developed root system. Thus, such grapes will develop very quickly, and can start fruiting a year earlier.
However, the quality of the stock can be displayed on the bush: despite the fact that the bush of the variety "Sophia" is vigorous, when grafting a cutting of this variety to the short stock, the new bush will most likely also be formed undersized.
• Reproduction of grapes "Sofia" with the help of taps. This method consists in the fact that a good, long and strong shoot is taken away from a large fruiting bush. It lies on the ground and covered with a large amount of soil. If the soil is dry, it is helpful to wet it. After some time, the shoot will take root and if you cut it from the main bush, then the resulting removal can be transplanted just like any seedling.
Naturally, planting grapes with seedlings, both grafted and grown from seed or varietal cuttings, also gives very good results. Moreover, due to the good ability to form roots in seedlings of this variety, their root system is very well developed. This fact has a very positive effect on the process of adaptation of the seedling to the new growth environment and accelerates growth.
How to choose the timing of planting grapes "Sofia"
Grapes can be planted almost all year round, from spring to late autumn. Everything will depend on which landing method you choose. Otherwise, there is no difference or any advantage in one or another landing.
In the spring, seedlings are usually planted, which were stored until spring in autumn or those that were grown from cuttings. In this case, the first can be planted starting from the end of March, as soon as a more or less stable temperature is established. To protect this seedling from unexpected frosts, it is covered with a simple cardboard box with a hole for the top.
In early May, it can be removed. But seedlings grown from cuttings can be planted even in the first half of June. After all, it is better to wait until such a sapling grows well in a cup with soil, so as not to damage it when transplanting into open soil.
Pluses of spring planting:
• The young grapevine has time to adapt well and take root in a new place. The root system is developing, which is already capable of independently feeding the bush with nutrients and such necessary moisture.
• Spring seedlings start fruitfulness much faster.
Autumn planting of grapes is usually carried out after this plant goes into the period of winter dormancy. It is at this time that the seedlings can be transplanted to a permanent place of growth, and cuttings can be harvested and grafted (although the grafting of cuttings can be done in the spring, if the cuttings harvested during the autumn can be preserved).
But it is still important that severe frosts have not yet begun, which can damage only the grapes planted. In general, the coming frosts are the only disadvantage of planting grapes in the fall, although otherwise there are many advantages:
• In autumn it is much easier to find the right and high-quality seedling of varietal grapes.
• When planting in the autumn, the grape seedling is, in fact, simply stored in the soil, and allows you to start growing in the spring much faster.
• At that time of year, the soil is more hydrated than in spring, which removes such a problem as a seedling need for regular and frequent watering.
Choosing a good place for planting grapes "Sofia"
Sophia grapes are very thermophilic. Even with a large amount of sunlight and high temperature, it is not damaged, except that berries can burn slightly if they are not covered with leaves. In this way, for planting this variety, you must select a well-lit placewhich will not be shaded by buildings and other garden plants.
Moreover, during flowering, grapes are simply contraindicated through cold winds, which can completely enclose the whole color. For this reason, it is recommended that grapes bushes be planted on the south or south-west side of a house or other building that will serve as a shield for it.
It is also important to choose a good soil for planting. Although the grape is not a particularly fastidious crop, it is precisely this that will determine both the growth power of the bush and the results of its fruiting. In this way, even if the soil is not particularly fertile, it can be “reclaimed”:
• Add large amounts of fertilizer.
• Clay soil can be diluted with sand, and sand vice versa, with clay.
• Create drainage systems on soils where water is too close to the surface.
Do not forget that the strong-growing bush will require a lot of space, which he fully takes his shoots. Therefore, when planting several bushes you need to retreat at least 3-4 meters, but the best is 6.
What you need to know about the process of planting grapes with the help of seedlings: step-by-step instructions
Before planting it is very important to choose the right seedling and prepare a hole. A healthy grape seedling should have a well-developed white root system and a green cut. Before planting it is immersed in water so that it collects a sufficient amount of moisture.
Preparation of the pit is a very responsible robot. It should be carried out at least two weeks before the landing. The fact is that when a seedling is buried, its root neck must necessarily remain above the soil surface. If you plant it in a fresh pit, the soil in it will eventually settle, and the root collar may be underground. For this, you need to give the soil time to settle.
• We make the depth of the pit at least 0.8 meters and lay on its bottom a mixture of good fertile soil and 2-3 buckets of humus. From above such fertilizer is filled up with simple soil to the level, while there is enough space for planting the seedling. The pit is left for a while before landing.
• The seedling is placed in a prepared pit and carefully gradually filled up. At half the process, a bucket of water is poured into the pit, which will compact the soil. Further, the pit is buried completely.
• Sapling after planting plentifully watered. The soil around it is covered with mulch.
Features grafting grape "Sofia" to the stock
In order for the vaccination to be successful, it is very important to properly prepare the cuttings and the stock itself. In particular, cuttings need to prepare in the fall. Before grafting, their lower part is cut off from two sides, making a wedge. After that, the cutting is placed in water. The upper part of the cutting is waxed, which will prolong the life of the cutting until it is successfully rooted. Preparation of stock includes the following:
• Remove strictly scrub. You need to leave only a stump height of 10 centimeters.
• The cut surface is smoothed. Removes all the dirt.
• Exactly in the middle a split is made in which the cutting will be clamped.
We place our cutting in a split, deepening only the trimmed part into it. This vaccination needs to be firmly clamped, pulling the stock with a cord or strong fabric. It is recommended to smear the site of vaccination with wet clay, which will retain moisture. The stock is then watered and the soil is covered with mulch.
It is also interesting to read about the reproduction of girlish grapes cuttings
What you need to know about the care of grapes "Sofia": briefly about the main aspects
• Grapes need a lot of moisture. For the reason, before flowering and after the completion of this process, the bush must be watered. Do not forget about the grapes during droughts.
• After watering, the soil around the bush is covered with a 3 cm layer of mulch. It is best to use already blackened sawdust, moss or humus.
• Feed the grapes regularly. He especially needs fertilizers during fruiting. Phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, as well as the introduction of humus for digging, have a good effect on this culture. You can also make nitrogen, but you can not overdo it with its quantity.
• Grapes also require regular pruning. Every autumn, or with the onset of spring, you need to shorten each shoot by at least 4-6 eyes. The shape of the bush is better to leave a fan.
• For the winter, the grapes must be covered. Young bushes can simply fall asleep with sand, pre-installed above them a baklazhka without a bottom. Over big do film corridors.
• Prophylactic spraying of a bush before flowering and after helps to fight diseases. The preparations "Antracol" or "Bordeaux liquid" are used.
