The Rochefort grape variety is one of the most beloved species of gardeners. It is not easy to grow it on your site, but the result and appearance of the bush will please you for many years.
Grape variety "Rochefort"
due to its performance, the Rochefort variety is considered the benchmark in winemaking
Rochefort grapes are distinguished by their harmonious taste and aroma of muscat
Growing history
Pavlovsky E.G. - founder of the species. The representative of the Vostorgovskaya Gruppa type, Cardinal, was used as a parent. The founder is resistant to frost, the presence of a large fruit and commercial qualities. In addition to the type of "Vostorgovsky group" varieties of European-amorous origin were used.
Rochefort - grapes with excellent indicators, especially for hybrid diseases.
Rochefort characteristics
This species is a worthy ancestor of the Cardinal variety. He inherited from the parent a large juicy berry with unsurpassed taste and productivity. Rochefort does not reach the taste indicators of the Cardinal, however, it boasts a fast maturity, general stability. Such indicators make the species an excellent “market” variety.
Bushes
Culture is growing too fast. Excellent harvest - an average of 1-2 inflorescences per 1 shoot. Grapes can withstand the load of the fetus, however, to improve the quality of berries experienced gardeners recommend a standard normalization. Normalization is the cutting of some inflorescences so that the plant can withstand the future crop.
Berries
Fruits of a round shape, when fully ripened, become a dark purple hue, sometimes reaching black. The mass of one berry is approximately 10 grams. The pulp is tender, the skin is elastic. In fruits, several seeds of the same size are inherent. Berries can hang on grapes until the end of October; they do not lose their commercial qualities. They can be transported, which is very good for selling grapes.
Frost resistance
Frost bush withstands only up to -23 degrees. In the southern regions, the plant can be grown in non-covering places, and in the northern territories grapes are sheltered for the winter. The colder the winter time, the more powerful the shelter should be. Use agrofibre, spruce branches, wooden shield. If the soil is used for protection, then it should be taken away from the plant so that the root system does not become bare.
Variety Productivity
The main advantage is rapid ripening. About 5 kg of crop is harvested from the bush. You can get indicators of about 10 kg. But average productivity is redeemed by excellent taste characteristics, cluster density, high-quality transportability.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Most gardeners believe that the Rochefort variety is one of the best grapes. It has fast ripening, high yield and unpretentious care.
The main advantages of Rochefort grapes:
- The presence of a flower of both sexes. They provide quick pollination and regular crop yields.
- Suitability for transportation and excellent presentation.
- High resistance of berries to fungal diseases.
- Elementary breeding. Cuttings root and develop.
- The bush is not afraid of winter frosts. The main thing is that the temperature does not fall below -23 degrees.
- The variety does not need special care, therefore, without top dressing, loosening will not disappear and will bring a good harvest.
The main disadvantages of Rochefort grapes:
- Berries are poorly stored after cutting.
- Susceptible to phylloxera. The variety should be protected from this pest. Phyloxera affects the roots of the bush, getting rid of the disease is almost impossible. If it hits a bush, then after a while it will have to be completely thrown away.
- It is sick from drafts and strong winds. They are especially scary to the plant during flowering. A huge harm - the deprivation of crops, enclosing inflorescences and flowers. Place grapes in windless areas, away from places with open terrain.
Landing and care
Rochefort is a thermophilic species, you need to plant a bush on the southern or western slopes. The basis for the full development of the plant is a sufficient amount of sunlight. The bush planting area must be selected near the fence, so that there are no drafts and strong winds.
The root system is well developed, in depth it reaches two or more meters, so the earth is selected, based on this fact.
The plant does not like excess moisture. Planting grapes in low-lying areas is also not necessary. The best option is that groundwater does not rise more than 2.5 m from the ground. If you cannot find a suitable site, then create a drainage system so that there is water drainage.
Selection and preparation of cuttings
Cuttings are selected from vapors. It is divided into sections with three kidneys. If there are few twigs, then they are wrapped in a moist newspaper, leaving spaces for the passage of air. Experienced gardeners soak the twigs in water before packing the planting material, dry it and then put it into the newspaper.
To reduce the evaporation of moisture, the tips of the twigs are dipped with melted wax, plasticine can be used. This is not a mandatory procedure, but without it the stalk will not last long. Twigs are stored in the refrigerator, closer to the freezer. If there are a lot of cuttings, then they will not fit in the refrigerator, it is better to use the cellar for storage. Sprigs are packed in a bag and sprinkled with sand.
It is important that the temperature in the cellar is below zero.
Cuttings cut in the autumn season do not need to be kept in the open air for a long time, they wake up and water evaporates. For successful propagation of grapes, the branches are cut in the autumn season, and stored until spring. If the branches are cut directly in the spring, then the cuttings will be without water and take root in the ground for a very long time.
When to plant: in spring or autumn?
Grapes of any grade are planted in the spring season, often in April. Autumn is also a good option, but the stalk will have to be well covered for the winter. Because of the danger of infection with phylloxera, planting a plant with seedlings is not safe. Even experienced and proven agricultural farms cannot guarantee 100% results and safety. Reproduction is possible by layering, seedlings, cuttings or seeds.
Soil preparation
The survival of the bush directly depends on the development of the roots. They provide high-quality development of the aerial parts of the bushes. So that the grapes develop quickly and efficiently, the soil must meet all the requirements of the bush.
Before planting the cuttings in the soil, clean it from stumps, shrubs, excess roots and moss. Level the surface, remove the pit, smooth the hillocks. Pay particular attention to the acidity of the soil and the presence of clay in it. Fertilize the soil with humus, add manure and chernozem.
The distance between the bushes
The distance between plants depends on the type of trellis. A single-plane trellis - an area from one plant to another - 4 m. A trellis with one plane - a distance of 3 m. In addition, grape ripening dates should be taken into account.
Landing rules
In the autumn season, grapes are planted in October before the onset of the first frost. The most convenient method is to plant the plant in the pits. Follow these steps:
- Dig a recess in the form of a square to a depth of 80 cm.
- Divide the earth from the pit into two parts: the first is the top layer of soil, the second is the bottom layer. Mix the top layer with humus and fertilizers, pour the soil mixture into the pit about 30 cm.
- Pour the soil with water.
- Leave the recess for two weeks, the ground should settle. If you do not, then the grape stalk will go deeper than necessary.
- Soak the cuttings before planting in water for a day.
- Drive a peg into the pit, tie a grape seedling to it.
- Mix the soil from the second pile with sand and fill the stalk with 30 cm.
- Cover the seedling with a cut-off plastic bottle and pour plenty of water on the ground.
Watering and mulching
Rochefort grapes need a huge amount of water. During planting, crop formation, the bush is watered abundantly. Water is especially important during prolonged droughts.
After each watering, mulch the soil with 3 cm sawdust. The bush needs to be fertilized with organics, potash and phosphorus fertilizing. Grapes are planted in spring or autumn after rain.
One Rochefort plant needs 5 liters of water.
After planting a bush, grapes are watered weekly. After 30 days, watering is reduced to 1 time in 14 days. Drought is an exception. At the end of summer, grapes are hardly watered - such a manipulation will help the crop ripen faster.
The greatest need for water occurs during budding, completion of flowering. The flowering process itself does not need watering - otherwise the inflorescences will fall.
Mulching is the surest way to keep moisture in the ground. An excellent material for mulch is straw or sawdust. This procedure will bring significant benefits in the southern regions; root cooling may occur in a different climate.
Grape pruning
Rochefort is pruned in spring and autumn. The largest load on the plant is 35 buds. The shoot should contain about 7 eyes. In the autumn period of time, the bush is cut to the first frost, after which it is covered for the winter period. In spring, work is carried out during warming up to +5 degrees. The main thing is to catch up to sap flow. Eliminate shoots on grapes that have frozen during the cold weather.
We recommend reading our article on spring pruning of grapes.
Winter preparations
Good frost-resistant qualities help the bush to winter without special shelters in the warm southern regions. But the northern climate needs special care. First of all, clean the trunk circle from weeds, excess foliage and other plant debris. Loosen and renew the soil with a layer of mulch. The layer thickness is at least 10 cm, at the trunk - up to 25 cm. An excellent option is humus or peat crumb.
Carefully remove the shoots from the trellis, combine several pieces and place them in prepared holes or lay them out on the soil. Sprinkle them on top with fall foliage or shavings. If the winter is not snowy or too harsh, then wrap the basal circle with three layers of burlap or other material that allows air to pass through.
Shelter can not be removed too early, the temperature should reach 11 degrees above zero. If frost is expected, then burlap is not removed.
Diseases and Pests
This grape variety has excellent resistance to various diseases. But the main enemy of the bush is phylloxera, the immunity of grapes is weak to it. Therefore, you constantly need to monitor the behavior of the plant, any signs of the presence of the disease - and you must implement a number of preventive measures.
Phyloxera is a small insect approximately 1 mm long in green. The pest eats grape juice, produces components that harm the plant.
This pest was introduced with a variety of seedlings from the USA to Europe, it was from this continent that the spread of the insect began in our area. The main preventive measures are the treatment with fungicides.
Gardeners reviews on Rochefort grapes
Alexander, 32 years old, gardener, Arkhangelsk.A friend got a Rochefort grape variety. Resistance to our climate is decent, the presentation is not bad. The berries began to stain on July 20. Planted a bush in my garden - I see rapid growth and frost resistance. I hope that next year I will receive a large number of crops.
Pavel, 46 years old, farmer, Krasnodar.What about the Rochefort grape? This is real power! The growth rate is unsurpassed, resistance to ailments at the highest level. The berries are dense and crispy. To date, planted already 20 bushes. And this is not the limit!
Kristina, 64 years old, pensioner, Sochi.The ripening period is really early, the first crop was received in early August. But if there is a desire, then you can pinch earlier. The taste is grassy and elastic flesh. It is painted much earlier than spetset.
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Rochefort grapes are an excellent variety for growing in the garden. The plant is unpretentious in care, needs only regular watering and mulching.