Victoria grape

Far from every experienced gardener undertakes the cultivation of grapes in the middle lane, suspecting that this thermophilic culture in a short, unpredictable summer will not give the expected harvest. However, this is not the case, some types of grapes, even with minimal care, will delight you with a sufficient amount of berries. For example, the Victoria grape is frost-hardy, has good immunity, it belongs to just such unpretentious varieties that even a novice gardener can cope with growing. And if you study agricultural technology and approach this issue competently, then you can get an excellent harvest of sweet fragrant berries with a hint of nutmeg.

Geographic features of the Victoria variety

Victoria grapes: photo of the variety

In the south, where summers are warm and long, there will be no problems with growing this grape variety; in the winter months, you can do without shelter. But in the Middle Volga region, in the Urals, in Siberia, in the Moscow region - in all other regions in winter, grapes will need to be provided with good shelter. Such a remarkable quality as frost resistance does not at all negate the mulching of the soil and the shelter of the shoots.

The Victoria grape variety is very much loved by summer residents because of its unpretentiousness, but for a number of reasons it is not suitable for growing on an industrial scale.

Victoria grapes: variety description

To highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the variety, you need to tell a little more about it. The Victoria grape variety is early maturing and belongs to table varieties, which means that its fruits are not only tasty, aromatic, but also large and beautiful. The taste has a hint of nutmeg, raspberry-colored berries, unevenly colored. According to statistics, the beauty and taste of berries is most often noted in positive reviews.

The vigor of the Victoria grape is medium and does not require particularly complex formation. Sap flow begins in this particular variety early enough, so pruning can be skipped in the spring, focusing on carrying out this procedure in the autumn. You can graft a seedling of this variety on a rootstock, characterized by rapid growth, then the plant will develop much faster.

Another feature can be called a large number of female flowers, this is what gives such a good yield. If pollination does not go well enough, the berries will be very small, so take care of this in advance and plant another grape next to it, which will act as a pollinator. For this role, "Bianca", "Augustine"Or" Radiant kishmish. "

If you interview experienced winegrowers, then most likely half will tell you that the Victoria grape is outdated. But at the same time, it remains just as popular, its seedlings are acquired, planted and grown with pleasure. Of course, it is very important to study the opinion of experienced specialists, but this does not prevent you from getting to know the variety in practice and form your own opinion.

So to the undoubted merits varieties include:

• very good yield.
• simultaneous ripening of berries on a bunch.
• excellent presentation.
• assessment of resistance to the main "grape" diseases 2.5-3 on a five-point scale.
• good frost resistance (up to _27 degrees).
• one hundred percent ripening of shoots.
• almost one hundred percent rooting of cuttings during reproduction.

And so that you have complete information, it should be noted and vulnerable parties Victoria grape varieties:

• the skin of overripe fruits often cracks.
• as a result, the variety becomes very attractive to wasps.
• grapes are prone to "pea" (small, undeveloped berries), if the load is not promptly reduced and some bunches are not removed.

Victoria grapes: characteristics of berries

Victoria grapes: photo of the variety

The appearance and taste of Victoria grape berries can be called one of its most important advantages, so we will talk about berries in more detail.

The berries ripen for about four months; in the middle lane, the harvest begins in the second half of August. The weight of the brush is usually from 0.5 to 0.7 kg, the lower clusters are smaller, but experienced gardeners advise to remove them. The color of the berries is heterogeneous, raspberry-colored, with a slight bloom. Berries are in the form of an oval, up to 3 cm long, the average weight is about 7 grams. The skin is thin, the sugar content is 19%, which is a very good indicator.

The Victoria grape variety has several twins with similar names, but it is easy to distinguish them, since all twins have white berries. These are "Victoria Genge" - wine grapes, "Victoria" Romanian for table purposes and another "Victoria" - Ukrainian, hybrid variety.

The nuances of caring for grapes

Victoria grapes: photo of the variety

As a rule, Victoria grapes begin to bear fruit in the third year from the moment of planting, the Victoria variety can give the first harvest in the second year. The most optimal time for planting is considered the first half of October, in this case the seedling manages to root well before frost. Frost resistance is inherent in an adult plant, but the seedlings must be wrapped very carefully, especially in the first winter, geotextile and mulching with various materials will be used, and with the onset of winter and snow.

Planting rules are all exactly the same as for other varieties, we will not focus on this. But further care is somewhat different, and this information needs to be paid attention.

It is very important to water the plant correctly, as ripe berries tend to crack. If there is enough precipitation in the summer, then there is no question of watering at all, but if the summer is dry and you water the grapes, then with the onset of August, watering should be significantly reduced. The moisture of the earth must be maintained, not allowing it to dry out, otherwise, with heavy rain, a drop in moisture can just cause the berries to crack. If the summer is too rainy, then you may have to install a canopy over the grapes to avoid waterlogging of the soil.

In the spring, it is necessary to fertilize the grapes using organic matter and ash, then repeat it again before flowering. In addition, the Victoria variety responds well to foliar feeding, for this use chelated fertilizers, they will significantly increase the immunity of the plant and improve the taste of the berries.

Due to the predominance of female flowers, the Victoria grape is often overloaded with berries. To avoid this, it is necessary to control the yield, leaving no more than thirty eyes on all shoots of one plant. The lower brushes must be removed, because when the berries crack in conditions of high humidity in the lower part of the plant, mold and rot can develop, which not only spread to other parts of the plant, but also attract harmful insects. It is enough to leave two large brushes on one shoot. And when the berries are just beginning to grow, you can carry out "combing" using a paint brush. This will help remove weak ovaries and help the good fruit ripen as soon as possible. Do not be alarmed if after such "combing out" the brush looks a little shabby, as the remaining berries grow and fill, it will take on a beautiful appearance.

If you constantly inspect the bunches and remove damaged berries, you may be able to avoid the appearance of wasps. Strong-smelling herbs planted nearby can also protect them from them. Many gardeners also cover their bunches with homemade gauze or mosquito net covers.

Victoria grapes: reviews about the variety

Victoria grapes: photo of the variety

If you study the statistics of reviews about Victoria grapes, then it can be noted that they love this variety for its frost resistance, unpretentiousness, productivity and of course the taste of berries. Berry cracking and related issues are one of the most frequently voiced disadvantages. In any case, opinions are divided. Innovators will be against Victoria, and conservatives will praise the brand. As a result, the choice is always yours. And if you still decide to try and plant the Victoria grape variety on your site, believe me, you will not be disappointed.

And now a few reviews from those who have been growing the Victoria grape variety for several years.

Irina, Volgograd.
Victoria grapes were bought by accident - they saw seedlings for sale and thought "why not?" And I can say that I have never regretted it. The plant has never hurt anything and regularly yields a crop even in rainy and not quite summer weather.

Semyon, Maloyaroslavets.
When I planted Victoria grapes, a more experienced neighbor frightened me by cracking the berries, but after two years of fruiting the vine, I have not yet encountered this. In terms of care or wintering, this variety, in my opinion, does not differ from any other.

Victor, Voronezh.
My only complaint about Victoria grapes is the wasps that appear after the berries crack. You have to wrap the bunches in gauze, then unfold, inspect and wrap them up again. But the berries are very tasty, the bunches are beautiful in full ripeness, so all the trouble is worth it. The Victoria grape variety is unpretentious, so it is perfect for those who are just planning to master the cultivation of grapes.

Victoria grapes: video about the variety