Grapes are a very tasty berry, almost all gardeners grow it. A variety of varieties sometimes makes it difficult to choose.
If you want to feast on early sweet berries, then pay attention to the raisin. In our article we will talk about what constitutes Grape Zest, give a description of the variety.
Breeding history
The variety was obtained thanks to the work of the staff of the Ukrainian Grape Institute "Magarach". He was the result of crossing varieties Chaush and Cardinal. Its scientific name is XVII-241.
Important! In the first year after planting pruning is not recommended - the plant must take root and adapt.The name of the variety was not accidental. The fact is that with a long stay of the berries on the bush, they do not over-ripen and rot: they shrink a little and resemble raisins in appearance.
Large volumes of grapes are grown in Moldova, Ukraine and in the southern regions of Russia. The warm climate is favorable for the variety, and for the winter you should definitely spend its shelter. 
Variety description
Each grape variety has its own characteristics, different appearance. Consider a detailed description of the highlight.
Bushes
The variety is characterized by vigorous shrubs that have well-ripening shoots. The foliage is large, green. In terms of functionality, shrubs have female flowers.
Bunches
The variety has medium clusters, the weight of one can reach 800 g, but more often it is 400-600 g. The berries are rather large, elongated, have a maroon-red color, the weight of one fruit is 10-12 g. When biting, you can hear the crunch of the pulp. It contains a large amount of juice. The variety has a pleasant grape flavor. The proportion of sugar in the juice is 16-18%.
Wanting to enrich your diet with delicious grapes, you should pay attention to the characteristics of table varieties - Bazhen, Transfiguration, Lily of the Valley, Augustine, Ruslan, Sphinx, Monarch, In Memory of Negrulya, Talisman, Gala, Bagrovy, Harold, Arcadia.
Characteristics of grapes
We offer to get acquainted with the main characteristics of the variety.
Yield
If you decide to plant this type of grape on the plot, be prepared for the fact that you can harvest the first crop only in 3-4 years.
Did you know? Grapes contain almost the same nutrient composition as milk.Every year the amount of the harvest will increase. At first, one bush will produce 2-3 kg of berries, but after a couple of years, following the rules of plant care, you will be able to collect 7-8 kg from a bush.
Gestation period
The ripening of the grapes begins 100-115 days after the buds bloom. Approximately this period falls on the beginning of August.
Winter hardiness
The grade the Raisin does not differ in high frost resistance. It withstands temperatures not lower than -15 ° C. A prerequisite for the bushes to survive the winter normally is their shelter.
Planting rules seedlings
It is necessary to plant the seedlings when stable warm weather is established and the soil warms up to 10-15 ° С. Choose a land in which there are a lot of nutrients and minerals, poor soil is not suitable for Raisin.
By planting a variety in such a soil, the foliage will be small in size, the berries will not ripen. Before planting the cuttings, they are moistened in a root-forming solution.
Important! Do not plant grapes near the buildings - the variety needs sunlight, and any buildings will block the flow of light.The distance between seedlings should be 3.5-4 m, as the variety is vigorous. At this distance, shoots and roots can grow normally. If grapes are planted in rows, the distance between them should be 5-6 m.
After the planting is completed, a support is placed that will allow the shoots to grow in the right direction and develop freely.
Care features
Like any plant, grapes require special care. Consider what activities are worth holding.
Watering
For the normal development of the bushes, it is necessary to carry out moderate soil moisture. Watering is carried out 4-5 times. The first must be held in the spring, as the frosts will fall. The second time to moisten the soil is 10-14 days before the grapes begin to bloom.
During the flowering period, watering can not be carried out, because flowers can fall off, the harvest will be much less. The third time to water the plant is after the berries are fastened. The fourth watering is done after picking the berries. For one bush you need 10 liters of water. Irrigation is best done in the evening. 
Top dressing
Feeding is necessary to carry out 3-4 times for the entire growing season. Effective is the use of mineral substances that must be made under the bushes. They can be used both in dry form and dissolved in water.
Did you know? Vineyards occupy almost 80 thousand square meters. km across the planet, of which 71% of the crop goes to the production of wine.The first time should be top dressing after buds bloom, the second - before the beginning of the flowering period, the third - when the fruits are formed, the fourth - after the foliage has fallen.
Pruning
Pruning should be carried out in the spring, with the need to leave on the shoots of 10-12 buds. On one bush should be no more than 40-45 eyes. Pruning is carried out using a secateur.
Shelter for the winter
As the grade does not differ in high frost resistance, it without fail should be covered for the winter period. For this, ordinary earth or plastic film will do. First, the bushes need to be watered. If you plan to use the ground for shelter, it is worth tying up the bushes and tilting them to the surface of the earth, on which it is worth spreading the film. After that, the bushes sprinkle with soil.
If you decide to use polyethylene for shelter, you will need to install an arc of metal over the bushes and stretch the material from above. Put bricks or stones on the side of the film. The ends of the structure should not be closed before the onset of cold weather - this is necessary for airing.
Diseases and pests Raisins
Unfortunately, the variety is susceptible to diseases and may be affected by some pests.
Among the common diseases of Zest:
- mildew;
- bacterial cancer;
- gray rot;
- oidium;
- anthracnose;
- escoriosis
Important! Processing chemicals is strictly forbidden to conduct during the flowering period - it can destroy the inflorescences and deprive you of the harvest.Grapes are attacked by such pests:
- grape mite;
- spider mite;
- phylloxera.
Notice availability bacterial cancer can be in places where the vine or shoots were damaged. Its sign is a large bubble-like growth. The cause is an infection, which is introduced into the wound. After some time, the death of the shoots above the wound will occur, which, if ignored, can cause the death of the entire bush.If the growth has only appeared, it must be removed and the wound treated with special preparations. If the disease is already progressing, the bush is completely removed and burned. It is not recommended to plant bushes on this place for 3 years.
Often on the grade can be found gray rot. Its purpose is the fruits and inflorescences. Spraying soda solution helps to fight the scourge. Berries that have been affected must be destroyed.
If you notice on grapes oidium, urgently need to process the plants with sulfur powder or solution. Such treatment can be carried out as a preventive measure.
Often on the plant you can see anthracnose - dark spots on the foliage. After some time, they become noticeable on the stems and fruits, can lead to the death of the entire bush. In order to save the vineyard from the disease, it is necessary from time to time to feed, to treat the leaves with a solution of manganese, to thoroughly moisten the soil.
Did you know? The most expensive bunch of grapes, weighing 700 g, was sold at a Japanese auction in 2015 for $ 8,200. It was a Roman ruby variety, one berry measuring like a ping-pong ball.Escoriosis can also hit the plant and is characterized by black spots on the stems and foliage. It is necessary to remove the diseased areas and process the grapes with the help of special preparations.
Through periodic inspection of plants, you can easily detect a grape or spider mite. When these pests attack foliage and dark spots appear on the foliage. To overcome the pests is to treat the vineyard with the help of acaricidal drugs. For preventive purposes, spraying garlic infusions.Less common, but still occur phylloxera. If they attack the root system, it will not be possible to save the bush - it will have to be cut down and burned. If the pest attacked the foliage, it is necessary to treat the bushes with special preparations.
Also, grapes can infect such pests - thrips, cicadas, mealybug, moths, mining moths, skosar, smoky bud moth, wasps, flea grape.
The advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of a variety. The advantages of grapes Zest include:
- impressive mass of bunches;
- the ability to gradually harvest;
- beautiful unusual appearance of berries;
- pleasant taste of the fruit.
- lack of self-pollination;
- high soil requirements;
- lack of resistance to many diseases.
