Isabella grape variety: planting and care

Isabella is the grape variety that novice gardeners like to grow on their site. They choose it for its unpretentiousness, always high yields of tasty and aromatic berries, which delight on warm sunny summer days. Growing grapes bearing fruit is not an easy task and without knowledge and skills it is extremely difficult to achieve a good result, and Isabella is picky and ready to forgive mistakes.

How and when the Isabella grape variety appeared:

The Isabella grape variety did not appear as a result of the work of scientific breeders, but thanks to nature itself. Scientists have hypothesized that there was a crossing of Vitis Vinifera (European variety) and Vitis Lambrusca at the time of cross-pollination.

The official name of the variety Isabella- Isabella Banskaya and has been popular for 2 centuries, both among professionals and amateur gardeners.

This variety was first encountered on the path of the American breeder William Prince on Long Island Island. He described this variety and brought out a new one on its basis - Isabella Pink, which in our country was named Lydia.

As for the Isabella variety, in our country it began to be grown since the middle of the 20th century. He showed himself perfectly as a variety that always brings large yields, as a plant resistant to many different diseases and unpretentious care. Thanks to all these qualities, winemakers from all over the country began to cultivate Isabella on their plantations, for the production of juices or rakia. Wine from the berries of Isabella White is not made, due to the fact that it turns out to be of poor quality.

At the moment, Isabella began to be grown in almost every corner of our vast country. It is also very popular in countries such as Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan. On the territory of these countries, the variety is grown both for private use in small areas, and for industrial use in large areas, in order to use the fruits for the production of wines.

Isabella prefers to grow in a temperate subtropical climate. Unlike other varieties, Isabella is a frost-resistant plant, which allows it to be grown throughout Russia.

Interesting fact: Towards the end of the 20th century, the European Union decided to ban the production of wines from Isabella grapes, due to the high content of methanol in it. After some time, it was proved that the previously drawn conclusions were erroneous, but this did not change the attitude of the Europeans towards this variety.

Characteristics of the Isabella variety:

Today the Isabella variety is the most popular grape in all parts of the world. It is versatile and can be used in completely different ways. It can be used to make wines in large quantities, to make juices, to make preserves, jams, to be consumed fresh and much more.

Isabella is a late ripening variety. The period of its active growth and development lasts about six months, which means that the harvest takes place in the last days of September or at the beginning of October.

Interesting fact: In addition to its many advantages, Isabella is valuable among gardeners also because during the ripening period, bees and wasps do not attack the plant.

A vine that has not reached the age of five grows rather slowly, but each subsequent year it is able to grow more than 4 meters in length.Due to the fact that this variety of second-order shoots (stepchildren) appears few, then caring for it becomes much easier. Greenish shoots with a delicate raspberry tinge, have a dense edge. In the process of growth, the shoots change their color to gray, and the delicate raspberry shade changes to brown.

Leaves on shoots whole or dissected are of medium size. The outer side is painted in dark shades of green and the inner side is light gray. The brushes weigh about 250 grams and do not differ in their density.

The peculiarity of the Isabella variety, which distinguishes it from others, is that the yield level depends on the number of brushes, the more there are on the shoots, the higher the yield will be. This variety can form 5 brushes on only one shoot. Their shape is similar to a cylinder or a cone and has one wing.

Up to 60 kilograms of harvest can be harvested from one vine.

Rounded fruits are colored black and purple. The diameter of one berry is about 2 centimeters. The rind is shrouded in a dense bloom of dark gray with a bluish-whitish tint, which also distinguishes Isabella from other varieties. Thanks to the strong and sufficiently dense skin, the berries can be easily transported over long distances.

Fruit:

With knowledge in cultivation, observing the rules of care and under suitable climatic conditions, one brush grown by you can reach 2 kilograms.

The weight of one berry can reach 3 grams, its sugar content is at a level not exceeding 18%. The taste of light green or yellow-green pulp is sweet with sourness. It also differs from the taste of other varieties in its tenderness and aroma of strawberries. The presence of a small number of seeds inside, also pleases grape lovers.

In Europe, it was the unusual taste of Isabella that led to the belief that wines based on it cannot be of high quality. As for such countries as South and North America, Australia and Russia, here you can meet quite a few of those who really appreciate wines made from grapes of this variety.

As a rule, full ripening of fruits occurs in October. At this moment, the plantations or gardens seem to be enveloped in a strong aroma of nutmeg, which signals that the time has come to harvest.
The appearance of the first brushes on the vine should be expected no earlier than three years after the young seedlings have been planted.

Isabella is a frost-resistant plant that can withstand frosts down to -35 degrees, but always with shelter. If you live in regions where frosts do not exceed -25, then shelter is not required, the plant will cope on its own. This endurance makes it possible to grow it not only in the south, but also in many other regions. This is also a feature of the variety that distinguishes it from others with a plus sign.

It's important to know! Isabella is a wine with a very pleasant taste, which is loved by many, but their shelf life is limited to three years.

An interesting fact is that, unlike other varieties, if the shoots freeze at the time of the return of frost, then new ones will appear rather quickly in their place, which will form during the same season.

Isabella is a very resistant plant to many different diseases. It does not start to hurt even if there is a sick plant nearby, for example, Phyloxera. If the plant is struck by a fungal disease, then it will not cause serious damage to it.

The simplest and therefore the most popular breeding method is cuttings. With this method, the plant quickly and easily takes root, does not get sick when it is transplanted and develops quite quickly without spending a lot of time on adaptation.
At the moment, many scientists continue to work on improving other varieties using the Isabella variety. It is thanks to crossing with it that the new varieties obtained receive good resistance to diseases.

Isabella Belaya is no different and also brings high yields, is resistant to disease and cold. Its difference is that the variety belongs to early ripening varieties.

Isabella large-fruited is another variety bred by breeders using Isabella. It belongs to the varieties with an average ripening period. Unlike the usual Isabella, the collection of its fruits begins a month and a half earlier. As for other characteristics, there are no differences.

It's important to know! Isabella grapes do not cause allergic reactions, except in rare cases, despite the rich shades of its fruit.

Of course, Isabella is a grape that is valued for its taste among many, but this is not the only reason. The fact is that the plant can not only bear fruit, but also be used as an ornamental one. It can be used to decorate gardens, verandas, walls, etc. For this reason, it is also a favorite among landscape designers. When autumn comes, the foliage of the vine turns into a bright golden yellow hue, making the garden rich and incredibly spectacular.

Isabella is a plant that is very picky about the soil and does not require special care, which allows even a novice gardener to cope with its cultivation.

Pros and cons:

Isabella has been cultivated for about two hundred years and during this time she has demonstrated many of her virtues. She is not demanding to the place, to the care and to the cultivation in general. She has consistently high yields. Even with long-term transportation of fully ripe berries, it does not lose either its appearance or its taste. It has a taste that is not inherent in other varieties. Resistant to severe frosts and many diseases, it simply multiplies and can be used almost everywhere. It is also an ornamental plant that can beautify any garden and produce berries with a relatively low calorie content.

As for the shortcomings, they include the demand for moisture. The plant requires regular watering, but excess water will contribute to the development of rot. If there is too little watering, then yields will decrease and the berries will become sour and tart. Despite the fact that Isabella is not demanding on the soil, it is important for her that the acidity level is always normal.

The disadvantages include the fact that the plant has a tendency to a disease such as anthracosis. But if you carry out prevention in the autumn and spring, then this disease can be completely avoided. Another disadvantage is the fact that the wine cannot be stored for more than three years and has an unusual taste and smell. It resembles strawberries, which is not typical for grapes. However, many people value this variety very much for him.

Interesting to know! Fully ripe Isabella berries provide great benefits to the body due to the content of many beneficial elements.

When to plant:

Planting can be carried out in the spring or in the first autumn month.

If you have decided to plant Isabella saplings in the fall, then this should be done in the first half of September. It is very important that the interval between planting and the onset of frost is not shorter than two months. This is necessary for good rooting of the plant.

If you decide to plant Isabella in the spring, then do it in the first two weeks of May, when the threat of frost has already passed. In case of return of frost or severe cold snap, cover the seedlings.

Seat selection:

As mentioned above, Isabella is not picky about the soil. It prefers to grow in fertile soils with low acidity levels, but can also grow well in any other area.

Isabella grapes prefer open, well-ventilated areas of sunlight or partial shade. A suitable place would be south or west. Do not plant your vine next to fences, walls, where groundwater runs close to the surface of the earth, in lowlands where water can stagnate after rains or melting snow.Also, areas with a high level of acidity and those that are blown by strong winds are not suitable.

You should not plant the plant in places where water will drip on top of them, next to fruit trees. A distance of 5 to 6 meters must be maintained between the vine and other horticultural crops. The fact is that leaving a smaller distance, the vine can harm other plants, since it has very strong roots that can strangle them.

Interesting fact! The stems and leaves of the vine have medicinal properties known throughout the world.

Selection of seedlings:

The choice of planting material is an important process, so you need to know some rules. The choice will depend on what kind of harvest you will receive and what quality.

The best choice is a one-year-old seedling, as it will tolerate transplanting much better and will take less time to adapt. When choosing, pay attention to the length of the shanks, it should be at least 20 centimeters and not more than 35 centimeters. Root system not less than 10 centimeters and should not have any damage. The bark should be clean and solid. No stains, damage, or any disease symptoms. The seedling should contain from 3 to 5 full-fledged buds. Pay attention to the color on the cut at the root and at the shoot. In the first case, it should be white, in the second light green.

Do not buy seedlings from strangers, do it in a nursery or a specialty store, or prepare the planting material yourself.

Before planting a plant, prepare a place in advance.

About two weeks before planting the plant, thoroughly dig up the area by adding there mineral fertilizers, if necessary.

When making holes, keep a distance between them along the row of at least one and a half meters, and leave a distance of 2 to 2.5 meters between the rows. The depth and diameter of the hole should be 80 centimeters. After the hole is ready, add expanded clay or crushed stone there. The layer should be about 12 centimeters, it will provide the necessary drainage, which will protect the roots from rotting.

Next, compost is introduced into the hole, mixed with soil in proportions of 1 to 2, 20 centimeters thick. After that, everything is covered with garden soil and a hillock is made from it in the middle of the hole. When everything is ready, gently straighten the roots and place the seedling on the prepared tubercle. Tamp the soil in such a way that there are no voids in the hole and make small trenches for water around the plant, then water abundantly. Water only with warm water, which has time to settle. You will need 3 buckets to water one seedling.

If you plan to create a large vineyard, you can make trenches instead of holes, leaving a distance of 3 meters between the rows.

Do not plant plants too close so that the actively growing root system does not become cramped and they do not begin to take useful substances from each other. Such a struggle will certainly affect the volume of the harvest not for the better.

That's all you need to know when planting Isabella grapes. Further, new plants will need care, which also will not create problems, and after three years it will be possible to collect incredibly tasty and fragrant fruits of their labors.

Care:

In order for the harvests to be large, it is necessary to perform actions that are quite usual for gardeners.

Installing trellises, watering in a timely manner, regularly fertilizing, cutting and covering in winter in regions with severe winters, that's actually all that will need to be done.

The main thing to remember is that the trellises must be installed. You can simply pull a wire on the installed supports and tie a vine to it and thus form a bush.

Watering:

Watering is necessary for grapes, especially at the initial stage of growth. Once you have planted your seedlings, they need abundant and frequent watering.This will help the young plant adapt to new conditions, start developing its root system faster and start growing. Watering should be done at least twice every 7 days, using a bucket or two of water for this. At the same time, make sure that there is no stagnation, as this can be more dangerous than a lack of water.

The irrigation pattern varies for mature shrubs. They are watered only when needed. Typically, one bucket once a week is sufficient.

During the period when fruits are actively forming and growing, the soil should never be dry.

It is recommended to water in the evening.

Watering should be stopped two weeks before the expected harvest to allow the grape clusters to ripen and not burst.

The next watering is carried out already before the onset of cold weather, when the entire crop is harvested. To do this, 70 liters of water is poured under each bush, this helps the plant to recover and gain strength before the beginning of winter.

Interesting to know! In the east, grape leaves are used to make dolma, which is also loved in our country.

Top dressing:

Fertilization is an important part of the care of Isabella grapes, as it grows very vigorously and produces many shoots. In order for these processes not to stop, she needs strength. Feed the plants three times a year and she will always bring you big yields of delicious berries.

Also, once every 2 years, apply organic fertilizers under each bush about one and a half kilograms.

The first time the vine needs to be fed in the spring. During this period, nitrogen-based fertilizers are well suited, it stimulates the growth and development of the plant.

The next time fertilizers are applied when the fruits are actively beginning to form. At this point, the top dressing should contain potassium and phosphorus.

The last dressing is applied in the fall, after the entire crop has been harvested. Complex mineral fertilizers, which can be purchased at a nursery or a specialized store, are suitable here.

In the intervals between fertilizing, gardeners often feed their plants with a folk remedy in the form of an infusion of dandelions.

Interesting to know! From the cut stems from the vine, infusions are prepared that have medicinal properties, so you should not throw them away.

Cropping:

The first pruning is done in the second year of the plant's life. At this point, the formation of the vine begins.
In addition to the fact that the bushes need pruning in the spring and autumn, it is also necessary to thin out the grapes before the brushes begin to ripen. Otherwise, sunlight will not be able to reach the plant, which will have a bad effect on the quality of the fruit. The fact is that the brushes hidden under the leaves begin to ripen longer, which causes the sugar contained in the berries to fall.

Mulching:

Mulching is a great way to retain moisture in the soil, especially in hot, dry climates.

Preparing for winter:

If in your region the frosts do not exceed -25 degrees, then shelters will not be needed. If you have harsher winters, cover your plants with nonwoven fabrics.

Isabella grape is the most unpretentious plant among all other varieties.

Diseases and pests:

Isabella grapes are disease resistant. He can get sick with such a disease as phylloxera, but this rarely happens, since the plant has good immunity to it. The only disease that this variety can get sick with and which can be dangerous is anthracosis. To prevent this from happening, take preventive action by processing the bushes.

Insect pests, wasps and bees also do not like to settle on this plant; they prefer to bypass it because of the nutmeg aroma that the fruits emit.

As for the chalice, they are not deterred by the aroma of berries, on the contrary, they tend to feast on them faster.A good way to protect your crop is with bags made of mesh and worn over ripening brushes.

Interesting to know! Berries, when fully ripe, contain a large amount of potassium, which makes them very useful for people suffering from diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

Conclusion:

As you can see, growing Isabella grapes is not at all a difficult task, since this plant is unpretentious and forgiving of mistakes. If you are just planning to start growing grapes in your garden, then this variety is definitely for you. It does not require much effort and time from you, but at the same time you can always get large yields of incredibly tasty, juicy, healthy and aromatic berries.