Julian grape

Grapes are a popular crop among domestic gardeners, since they not only yield a rich harvest of sweet berries, but also serve as a decoration for the site. Meanwhile, this culture can be grown without problems in far from all regions of our country. The middle zone of Russia and the more northern regions often do not have a sufficient summer period for the grapes to fully ripen. In addition, harsh winters often impede grape cultivation and can ruin planting. Therefore, of particular importance are those grape varieties that early end the ripening period of fruits, thereby, having time to complete the season during the warm season. The hybrid Julian grape is one of these early-maturing varieties. In addition, it has an unpretentious character, which makes it suitable for cultivation in the conditions of the domestic middle zone and to the north. In this article, we will talk about the characteristic features of this grape variety, as well as the rules for caring for it, allowing you to grow it without problems on your site and collect a rich harvest.

Julian grapes: variety description

Julian grapes: photo of the variety

A hybrid grape variety Julian was obtained by crossing another early variety "Kesha" with a medium early variety "Rizamat". The new variety received from the parents the ability to grow and ripen quickly.

Despite the rapid lengthening of the vines, the harvest has time to evenly ripen in a fairly short period of time, which is extremely important in a short northern summer. Thanks to this feature, Julian grapes have become a favorite of gardeners in the northern regions of the country.

The root system also has a high growth rate and branches strongly, going deeper into the ground. This allows her to receive more nutrients and moisture. And also to endure strong drops in temperature, without freezing at the same time.

This variety is also characterized by a high survival rate of cuttings, which quickly take root and adapt to a new place. Including being grafted onto other grape varieties. The rapid pace of development of the Julian grape variety is combined with a short ripening period of the berries, which lasts a little over 3 months.

Thus, you can harvest in August. This variety is classified as table, which means the suitability of the fruit for fresh consumption. Another advantage of the Julian variety is the ability to self-pollinate: bisexual inflorescences are formed on its shoots, which do not need additional pollination.

This is very important for those cases when grapes are grown in the northern regions with their frequent lingering rains in the summer. In wet and cold weather, bees rarely carry pollen, so they cannot act as pollinators.

The resistance of the Julian grape variety to severe frosts allows its bushes to successfully winter when the temperature drops to -23 degrees. In order to increase the chances of a successful wintering, grape plantings are recommended to be insulated and covered, especially if the forecasts promise a small amount of snow.

In the southern regions, Julian grapes do not need protection from frost and can overwinter on supports. Drought is also not terrible for plants of this variety thanks to the already mentioned powerful and branched root system.

Like other hybrid varieties, "Julian" is resistant to various diseases, so there is usually no need to carry out prophylactic spraying of vines. If the summer is dry and warm, the risk of developing fungal infections is reduced to a minimum.

However, if the weather is damp and cool, or symptoms of infection appear, it will not be superfluous to treat the grapes with protective agents.

The Julian grape also resists the attack of sweet lovers such as wasps. Thanks to its dense skin, its fruits are reliably protected from these harmful insects.

Fruits of the Julian variety have an elongated shape and are collected in large loose clusters resembling the brush shape of the parent Rizamat variety. The color of the berries changes during their ripening from yellowish to pale pink with a lilac hue.

The weight of the fruit ranges from 15 to 20 g, which makes it possible to classify "Julian" as a large-fruited variety. The slightly crunchy flesh of the fruit has a nutmeg taste with hints of strawberry. It is covered with a delicate, but at the same time rather dense skin, which is almost not felt when eating berries.

Scarce soft bones are also almost imperceptible. The sugar content of Julian fruits is about 28% and gives them a very sweet taste. Even fully matured brushes retain an attractive appearance, which makes this variety resistant to transportation and storage.

The surface of the berries does not crack or deform during transportation. With proper care, cuttings of Julian grapes successfully take root, quickly form a powerful root system and fruiting shoots. Three years after transplanting into the ground, the young grape bush begins to bear fruit.

How to protect the Julian grape variety from pests and diseases

As mentioned above, due to the high density of the fruit skin, the Julian variety is resistant to attacks by insect pests such as wasps. If the surface of the berry is not damaged and has no cracks, then insects cannot pierce it.

In contrast, birds pose a tangible threat to the planting of grapes, since they can peck bunches, causing damage to the crop. The way out of this situation will be the shelter of the grape bushes at the stage of ripening of the bunches. A barrier mesh is suitable for this purpose.

Despite its hybrid origin, which is the key to strong immunity, the Julian grape is still susceptible to some types of diseases. A factor that increases the risk of developing fungal infections is unfavorable weather conditions.

On dry and warm summer days, there is no danger of infection. If the summer is rainy, and the air temperature is around +25 degrees, the likelihood of a fungal infection of the grape bushes increases significantly.

That is why it is important to periodically inspect the plantings in order to timely detect alarming symptoms and take measures to prevent the epidemic. Gray rot, downy mildew (mildew), real powdery mildew (powdery mildew) are practically not afraid of Julian grapes.

However, many experienced gardeners prefer to spray the bushes with protective solutions for prevention. If symptoms of one of these infections appear, it is recommended that the affected plant be treated immediately with a copper sulfate solution or fungicide.

Despite the strong immunity of the Julian variety, there are several diseases that pose a danger to it.

Fungal infection alternaria dangerous, first of all, by the similarity of symptoms with signs of a disease with powdery mildew or powdery mildew - the leaves of the grape bush are covered with a silvery-white bloom.

It is important to diagnose the disease as early as possible in order to take appropriate measures to treat the affected plant. If this is not done, the disease will spread to all parts of the plant, including inflorescences and clusters.

The fruit of an infected grape bush should not be eaten. Therefore, this infection poses a direct threat to the crop. When the first symptoms of the disease appear, the diseased plant should be treated with a Bordeaux mixture (2%).

Alternaria can develop not only in the vineyard, but also on already removed bunches stored in the basement or cellar. Therefore, compliance with the rules for storing grapes plays an important role in preventing epidemics of fungal infections.

Another fungal disease dangerous for the Julian variety is called spotted anthracnose or "bird's eye". Its symptoms are dark areas on the surface of the leaf plates, gradually the leaves die and fall off.

To prevent this, at the first sign of anthracnose, it is necessary to process the vines with a Bordeaux mixture. Spraying can be carried out after the length of young shoots of grapes reaches 10 cm. Unfortunately, in cases of extensive damage to the plant, it is impossible to save it.

therefore preventive treatment is a prerequisite for the cultivation of any grape varieties, even those resistant to diseases such as "Julian". It is much easier to prevent infection with a fungal infection than to deal with an epidemic and its consequences.

Instructions for transplanting seedlings into the ground

Photo of the Julian grape variety

Planting material intended for the vineyard needs the most careful inspection. Only healthy and sufficiently strong seedlings of Julian grapes, whose root system has managed to form and develop, are suitable for transplanting into the ground.

Strong roots are the key to quick adaptation and good survival of the Julian grape seedling in a new place. The best time to transplant young vines outdoors is Spring, because in this case they will have enough time to get used to and get stronger by the arrival of winter.

In general, the instructions for transplanting Yulian seedlings into the ground comply with the rules common to hybrid varieties of grapes.

• The site for planting seedlings should be prepared in advance. To do this, even in the fall, planting depressions should be dug on its territory - holes or grooves with a depth and width of about 40 cm. A drainage layer should be placed at the bottom of the depressions, which will prevent the stagnation of moisture in the soil. Then a nutritious soil mixture is poured into the pits, including fertile soil, humus and fertilizers.
• In the spring, at the very beginning of the season, the root system of the seedlings should be refined by shortening the root processes by 15 cm. Then they must be immersed in a container with a solution that stimulates root growth. It is also recommended to clean the ground part of the seedlings from weak and damaged shoots - they cannot bear fruit, but they will consume the nutrients necessary for the development of healthy shoots.
• Supports are driven into the landing holes or trenches - pegs, sticks, metal rods. Julian's seedlings placed in the recesses must be tied to these supports, after which they should be covered with earth, tamped down and thoroughly spilled with water. Each seedling has about one and a half buckets of water.
• After the soil settles in the planting hole, you need to pour some soil on top.
• You can improve the composition of the soil in the area with a vineyard by introducing humus. It is recommended to mulch the ground around young plants with wood shavings - this will allow you to keep water and oxygen in it for as long as possible, and will also protect still weak roots from overheating or freezing.In addition, a layer of mulch prevents the germination of weeds, which not only make the site look unkempt, but also rob the seedlings of food. Weeds also contribute to the stagnation of moisture in the root zone and create a moist environment favorable for the development of fungal infections.

Julian grapes. Care rules

Due to its unpretentious nature, the Julian variety does not need special care efforts. Taking care of it comes down to timely watering, fertilizing and forming bushes. Since the variety is resistant to diseases, it is enough to carry out preventive treatment twice during the season.

In abundant watering Julian grapes are needed before the start of the growing season and at the end of the season, in preparation for winter. This is due to the need to nourish the plants and leave them with a supply of moisture, which should be enough for a long time.

Seedlings of this variety are especially sensitive to watering. In a highly moist soil, a greater number of young plants take root and successfully develop than in drier soils (up to 95% of the total). In dry periods, the irrigation regime is regulated depending on the state of the soil.

Organic fertilizers able to compensate for the insufficient level of soil nutrition. It is enough to add them once during the season. This is enough to replenish the supply of nutrients.

Sometimes, due to the abundance of inflorescences and bunches, the grape bush is under excessive stress. In such cases, it is recommended to normalize their number, removing extra flowers and bunches. It is enough to leave 40-45 eyes on each vine.

The vines should be shortened to a length of 8 to 10 grape eyes.

Conclusion

The Julian grape variety is a hybrid that has inherited the best qualities of the parent varieties: resistance to frost and drought, high yield, strong immunity. All these qualities make it suitable for growing in unfavorable conditions without harming the crop.

Resistance to fungal infections and pest attacks allows you to do with a minimum of preventive protective procedures, thereby significantly facilitating the work of gardeners.

The presence of bisexual inflorescences and the resulting self-pollination ability also make it possible to do without additional artificial pollination procedures.

In view of this peculiarity, Julian grapes are not exposed to peas. The early ripening of the berries allows harvesting already in August, thereby allowing the cultivation of this variety in northern regions with a short summer period.