The best grape varieties of Arcadia

Recent developments of breeders attract the resistance of plants to adverse weather conditions and high yields. But there are also varieties that were bred back in Soviet times, which still do not lose the popularity and recognition of gardeners. One of these is the Arcadia grape, let's talk about its description and characteristics.

Description of the grape variety Arcadia

Arcadia belongs to early maturing plants with a growing season of 115-125 days... The vine develops quite intensively, reaching a height of more than 2 m. The leaf is wide, formed in the form of five lobes. The underside is slightly pubescent. Large conical bunches hang from 600 gr. up to 1.5 kg. And this is not the limit, with proper agricultural technology, the brush reaches a weight of 2.5 kg.

The Arcadia variety was obtained by Ukrainian breeders by crossing crops with excellent qualities: Moldova and Cardinal. Scientific station them. Tairova V.E. brought out many other cultures, but this work is rightfully considered one of the best.

Arcadia grapes on the vine, ready to be picked in boxes

The plant is recommended for planting in the southern parts of the country and the middle lane, but with the condition of creating a shelter for wintering. Harvesting is possible in early August, and in the south of Russia the harvest period begins a couple of weeks earlier.

Agricultural engineering consists of the usual rules that apply to most crops. When they are carried out, a consistently high yield (over 35 kg per bush) is ensured.

Characteristics of berries

Among the advantageous characteristics of the Arcadia variety are large round-shaped fruits reaching 2 cm in diameter. The weight of one berry is 12-15 grams. The color of the fruit is green with a slight pink tint. The pulp is very sweet and juicy, and the thin skin is hardly felt in the mouth when consumed. The product contains sugar - 15-16% with acidity not exceeding 4-6 g / l.

Ripe bunches are covered with a barely visible white wax. This factor contributes to long-term storage and good transportability of the crop. It is not for nothing that the Arcadia variety is highly valued by winegrowers who cultivate the plant for industrial and commercial purposes.

The berry has a pleasant sweet taste with a slight accentuating acidity. The aroma is nutmeg, pronounced.

Advantages and disadvantages

Winegrowers and ordinary summer residents who had experience in growing Arcadia grapes highlight the following advantages of the variety:

• early maturation;
• high yield (up to 40 kg per bush);
• resistance to mildew defeat;
• the plant tolerates frosts down to -25 °;
• simple rules of agricultural technology.

Arcadia grape berries close up

Like any plant, grapes have weaknesses.... One of these is susceptibility to disease (rot, powdery mildew). Like other varieties, this variety does not tolerate strong winds and waterlogging.Arcadia has no other, more compelling flaws.

Landing

Planting grapes is best done by cuttings. When choosing a place for a plant, preference is given to a well-lit area without drafts. The main thing is to avoid lowlands, from an excess of moisture, taste deteriorates, and the risk of cracking berries increases. The soil should be light structure and fertile., therefore, before planting, it is necessary to enrich it with organic matter or a mineral complex, which includes phosphorus and potassium. Cuttings develop quite quickly, forming a powerful root system.

Arcadia takes root well on any soil. To create more favorable conditions, it is recommended to lighten too dense soils with river sand.

When disembarking, you should first make a layoutto provide the necessary space for the bushes. The interval between neighboring plants is 2 m.If the culture is planted in rows on the plantation, then at least 1.5 m is left in the row spacing.

A pit is prepared for planting a seedling. Its parameters should not be less than 80x80x80 cm. It is recommended to fill the bottom with gravel or coarse sand for drainage. After that, half a bucket of humus and a bucket of fertile soil are introduced. Immediately before the immersion of the shoot, the pit is watered abundantly. When burying the cuttings, add water to moisten the soil. The surface of the soil after planting is mulched with moss or sawdust.

Planting dates are determined by climatic features. Soil temperature in spring should rise to 10 °. Experts do not recommend lowering the seedling into the cold ground. It still will not develop at low temperatures, but it may die. Disembarkation is also allowed in autumn in October.

Arcadia grapes in the garden

Care of young and mature vines

The rules for caring for a young shoot and a mature vine practically do not differ from the agricultural technology of other varieties.

• Watering for the crop requires abundant at the initial stage. Later, you just need to maintain the humidity at an average level. The abundance of moisture negatively affects the taste of the berries and their integrity, so you should not over-irrigate the bushes. Watering works are rarely carried out during the flowering period until its end; when the fruits ripen, they stop and resume only after the harvest. 2 weeks before the preparation of the bushes for winter, irrigation stops completely.
• Top dressing is simply necessary for a fast-growing plant, especially at the initial stage. Organic or potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are used as nutrients. You need to be careful with nitrogen foods, they provoke cracking of the fruit and impair the taste.
• At the stage of bush development it is necessary to prune in two or three stems.
• To maintain soil moisture after watering, you need to lay a layer of mulch on the surface of the soil from sawdust or moss.
• The vine is cut in such a way that 8-12 eyes remain on it. The total number of buds on a bush should not exceed 35-45 pcs. Every spring, shoots that have not endured the winter well are removed.
• Preparing for winter in regions with a harsh climate involves wrapping the bush with agrofibre or a special cloth. A ball of soil is scooped up under the root so that the root system does not freeze. When using the film, it is necessary to observe the temperature regime and the timing of the opening of the protection to prevent overheating.

Reproduction methods

To reproduce the Arcadia variety, gardeners use the following methods:

• grafting the cutting onto a separate bush (this method accelerates the fruiting of a young vine);
• planting seedlings (the advantage of the method is to improve the taste and marketability of berries).

Arcadia vine care

Experts recommend choosing planting material carefully. The root system should be white and the cut should be green. If the length of the roots exceeds 25 cm, they are pruned to 10-15 cm.

To improve the survival rate of the cuttings, it should be kept in a container with water for 24 hours before planting. Humate can be added to the liquid.

Shoot grafting is done in the prepared split. The connection is tightly fastened with a tissue dressing, on top of which garden varnish or wax is applied.

Diseases and pests

The Arcadia variety has excellent immunity, but the need for prevention remains relevant.... To create protection, the bushes are sprayed 2 times a season before flowering and after its completion. Bordeaux liquid (1%) is used as a working solution. When the first signs of damage are detected, fungicide treatment should be carried out immediately.

Planting grape seedlings of the Arcadia variety

The Arcadia grape has a high resistance to mildew, but is less resistant to mildew. Therefore, you should not ignore preventive measures.

Periodically, summer residents replenish the garden with new crops, often giving preference to the latest developments in breeding. But if the goal is to get a fast and stable harvest, then it is better to opt for a proven variety, which is Arcadia.

When starting the planning of his site, each gardener, as a rule, allocates space for grapes. Many people use this culture for landscaping a garden or an arch in the yard. It would be advisable to choose an elite woody vine, which is subsequently able to endow the owner with a generous harvest of amazing fruits. Such a characteristic can be safely given to the Arcadia grapes. Description of the variety, photos, reviews of the culture will be considered in this article.

History

Arcadia grapes occupy a leading position among many farmers and are in great demand in the market. It can rightfully be called a very successful achievement in the practice of experienced breeders. The culture was obtained at the V.E. Tairov Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking, in the city of Odessa. It is noteworthy that the varieties that were used for crossing, in contrast to the new variety, had a dark berry color. The bred liana has transparent and light berries. Judging by the description of the variety, photos and reviews, the Arcadia grape has absorbed the best qualities of the crops from which it was bred. From Moldova, he inherited endurance to various weather conditions, and from Cardinal - the positive properties of berries.

The grapes have another name - Nastya, but they rarely call it that. In addition to the originally created variety, two varieties of it were obtained - Arcadia early and pink, which have their own differences and characteristics. Further, a detailed description of the Arcadia grapes, a description of the variety and a photo of the culture is provided.

Short description

The bush grows intensively, with a lot of shoots, it looks very luxurious. The leaves are large, with a whitish bloom below. Most of the shoots throw out brushes (60-70%). One bush is capable of great returns. About 30 kg of grape clusters can be removed per season.

The table variety is among the record holders in terms of the amount of harvest. This can be judged not only by the description of the variety. Reviews and photos of Arcadia grapes confirm this cultural feature. The huge tapered brushes look pretty impressive. One of these grones can weigh up to 600 g, and a single berry - 13-14 g. Ripe fruits have a yellowish color and amber structure. Round berries are covered with a waxy, slightly white bloom. Their skin is thin, but rather dense.

Detailed characteristics

A more detailed description of the Arcadia grape variety and a photo allows you to fully appreciate the culture. Feedback from people will help you see the pros and cons of this plant. First, let's pay attention to the following features:

• An early ripe variety (depending on the region, it takes about 4 months from the appearance of the first buds to full ripening of the berries).
• Good adaptation to climate change.
• Self-pollinating variety, capable of pollinating other grape varieties.
• Excellent taste of berries, satisfying any taste, since they are not cloying, with moderate sourness and sweetness. The acidity is about 6 g / l, and the sugar content is 16%. The fruits themselves are fleshy, juicy and have a pleasant nutmeg taste.
• Suitable for cultivation in the middle zone of the country, as it can withstand severe frosts (-22оС).
• The fruits of the grapes are transportable and have a beautiful presentation.
• The variety is intended both for eating fresh berries and for making juices and dessert wine.

Benefits of the variety

Over the years of grape cultivation, Arcadia always takes its rightful place in the reviews of amateur gardeners. After planting young seedlings, the culture does not make you wait long with the harvest. In the third year, it will be possible to remove clusters of amber berries. After inoculation on a new stem, the fruits are harvested in the second year. The variety is resistant to mildew and has colossal yields. Under very suitable conditions, he is able to give up all the potential inherent in him. There were cases when the culture pleased the growers with a much larger harvest than indicated in the description of the Arcadia grapes. Professionals managed to grow grones weighing up to 1.5 kg.

Minuses

Like most garden plants, Arcadia also has negative sides. In the description and reviews, grapes act as a culture sensitive to high humidity. It is also prone to gray rot and powdery mildew. In the rainy season or with excessive watering, the berries sometimes crack. Shading the plant negatively affects its development and fruit ripening.

Under the weight of huge brushes, the grape bushes lean close to the ground, which, in turn, threatens mechanical damage to the shoots and rotting of the berries.

Varieties of Arcadia

The pink and early Arcadia mentioned above are slightly different from the standard look. This is noticeable both in the quality of the fruit and in their taste.

Early Arcadia ripens much faster, has a dense pulp of berries, is resistant to powdery mildew, frost-resistant. But her brushes with berries are much smaller than that of the main variety.

Pink is distinguished by a more concentrated fruit flavor, dense pulp and pronounced color. The pink berries are quite dense, and due to this, they are not subject to cracking.

Varieties of the variety also have valuable fruit qualities, which are repeatedly mentioned by experienced gardeners in their reviews of Arcadia grapes. Photos depicting wonderful berries are posted below.

Reproduction

There are two ways to breed grapes: grafting and planting cuttings.

Preparation of seedlings:

• The stalk is cut in such a way that after the lower kidney there is 1 cm of free space, and on top - 2 cm.
• For two days, the seedlings are immersed in a growth stimulator.
• After that, the cuttings are placed in sawdust for 14 days. This procedure promotes the swelling of the kidneys.
• The last stage is the hardening of the seedlings. They are left in the fresh air, first in the shade for 10 days, and then in a lighted place for the same period of time.

Vaccination is carried out as follows:

• The new stalk is pre-soaked in a plant rooting stimulator.
• The old bole for grafting is cut off, leaving a small stump, and a hole is cut in it.
• A young stalk is inserted so that the wood of the plants is in close contact with each other.
• Then the grafting site is wrapped with foil and tied with adhesive tape, and coated with clay on top.

The plant can only be grafted onto stems located in an open, bright place. In the description of the Arcadia grape variety, it was noted that it does not tolerate shade. Therefore, the choice of a bright area is an important factor in planting a crop. This also applies to planting cuttings. Next, we will talk about how to properly prepare a place for growing grapes and planting seedlings.

Suitable soil

To get a good harvest (for example, such as in the photo) of Arcadia grapes, you must initially take care of the correct planting. For good development of the root system, a permeable soil is necessary. The soil should be rocky and fertile. It is necessary to monitor the quality of the soil and with the further growth of grapes. Stagnant water, excessive accumulation of salts and lime can lead to death or disease of the vine.

It is more convenient to dig the landing holes square (80 x 80 cm). 250 g of potassium and 400 g of superphosphate are scattered along the bottom. Next, a three-layer soil is created, the lower part of which consists of sand, the middle part of the earth, and the upper part of humus. The pits are half full.

The cuttings are placed in ready-made grooves, the roots are straightened and sprinkled with fertile soil. A support is immediately installed nearby and the soil is tamped. The land around the seedling is watered abundantly. When it dries out a little, it should be loosened up and after the next two waterings with an interval of a week, it should be mulched.

Saplings of Arcadia grapes are planted in April or May (depending on the weather). Cuttings with open green leaves can be planted in early summer. Autumn planting begins in October.

Care

In the description of Arcadia grapes, the emphasis is placed on the fact that it reacts very sharply to improper care, as well as to the conditions in which it grows. For this reason, the cultivation of an elite culture should be approached competently. Care consists in proper irrigation, fertilization and bush formation.

Watering. Young bushes should be watered regularly to prevent the soil from drying out. Large plants are best watered using buried pipes near the roots of the grapes. A homemade irrigation system maintains the constant moisture required for woody vines. At the same time, one should not forget that the plant does not tolerate waterlogging. An excess of moisture negatively affects the quality of the berries.

Fertilizer. Three main dressings are required: during the growing season, flowering and fruit formation. In order for the roots to receive full nutrition, it is recommended to apply fertilizers in liquid form. Most of all grapes are responsive to organics. You can also additionally use nitrogen and mineral complexes.

Pruning. When forming a bush, the inner vine is freed from unnecessary shoots for better penetration of sunlight and oxygen to it. Thinning of plantings is carried out in any period, except for winter. At the same time, they retreat from fruitful shoots observing a right angle. The first pruning is carried out when the seedlings reach a height of 15-16 cm. A bush is formed in the fall (at the end of the juice circulation process): the shoot length is shortened by 10 buds. Weak, damaged and dry vines are harvested in the spring.

When the vines are blooming, remove all the extra brushes, leaving one on each shoot.

Before frosts, grape bushes are covered.

After completing all the necessary procedures, the appearance of your vineyard will be the same as in the photos used as illustrations for the article. Arcadia grapes, judging by the reviews, are a real decoration of the site. And besides, he gives berries of wonderful taste, which are always appropriate on the table.

Diseases and pests

To combat powdery mildew, sulfur-containing and manganese solutions are used. This procedure should be carried out without fail, since the grapes of this variety do not have immunity to this type of fungus. Many growers recommend using Ridomil Gold.

Preventive measures always serve as a guarantee that the plant will be healthy and fruitful. It would be good to treat the vine with iron vitriol or Bordeaux mixture. Spraying is carried out 2 times a year. A 3% nitrafen solution can be used.

Insects that damage grapes include wasps, leaf rollers, ticks, phylloxera, fleas and weevils.Boric acid and insecticides are used to protect the crop from pests.

To protect against wasps, special nets are used, which are worn on brushes with berries. They also hang various baits on the bushes to distract insects from the main berries. If the fruit is removed in time, the wasps will less attack the grapes.

Rodents can erode the vine in late autumn. To scare off such pests, gardeners spread smoking pieces of rubber or wool between the bushes.

Winegrowers Tips

And now let's summarize the information about the Arcadia grape. Reviews of people involved in growing vines indicate that with the right approach, the variety can be cultivated in any region of the country. Where there are severe winters, experienced growers still advise covering the bushes, despite the fact that it is a frost-resistant plant. Due to the fact that the variety is early, in areas with a short summer period, the berries have time to reach full maturity. It is recommended for beginners to engage in viticulture from this particular variety, since it is unpretentious in care.

Finally

The characteristics of the woody liana discussed in the article show that the culture really deserves the attention of amateur gardeners. Judging by the description of the Arcadia grape variety, photos and reviews of farmers, universal berries have excellent commercial qualities. They do not rot for a long time, are well transported and look very appetizing. Because of these characteristics, the grapes are suitable for growing for sale. With diligence and a competent approach, everyone can delight themselves with delicious berries.

When it comes to choosing a variety, stop at Arcadia grapes. This grape variety is rightfully included in the top ten in all respects.

Why should there be Arcadia grapes on the site

• yield from a bush of 20 kg and more;
• winter hardy. Tolerates frosts up to 24 degrees;
• transportable;
• self-pollinating.

And the most important thing! This is a handsome man with large, loose bunches, the largest berries and a unique taste. And let all neighbors - winegrowers envy.

This plant has many positive qualities. But among the negative ones - the variety is unstable to powdery mildew. A fungus that can seriously spoil the mood of the winegrower. To get a decent harvest, you need to know the features of this variety, its characteristics, the basics of agricultural technology.

Description of the bush

The bush is medium-sized, most of all shoots are fruitful. Arcadia's flower is bisexual, so this variety can grow and bear fruit separately. It is an excellent pollinator for some other varieties, among which, for example, popular with winegrowers, Laura and Talisman varieties. Therefore, the landing of Arcadia is desirable near them.

If there are no weather disasters, the shoots ripen very well. Variety Arcadia early ripening. Already after 110–120 days, you can taste the large amber berry.

Bunches

The clusters are very large, cylindrical-conical. The structure is rather loose, of medium density. With good agricultural technology, the bunch can hardly be held in an outstretched hand. And all because the weight can reach 2-3 kg. Although the average is 600-700 gr. Isn't it the grower's dream to have such a miracle on the site?

Description of berries

Large, ovoid. Weighing from 10 to 15 grams. The taste is neutral, but when fully ripe, you can feel a pleasant, weak nutmeg aroma.

The berry is juicy, fleshy, amber in color. The height and width of the berry are 3.5 cm and 3.0 cm, respectively. But this, of course, is on average.

At the stage of technical maturity, the sugar content of Arcadia is 15-16% (average), the acidity is 4-6 g / l.

Arcadia vineyard care

Selection of seedlings

We buy seedlings in a specialized agricultural firm, having previously reviewed the necessary certificates, a description of the available varieties. It is also possible on the market.But it will be extremely offensive if, after two years of waiting and work, not a powerful beautiful bunch of Arcadia appears on the bush, but sprigs of grapes of wine varieties.

There is no way to buy from an agricultural firm? No problem. If your neighbors saw a bush of this variety, ask for a stalk in the spring. Put it in water. You will soon find small white roots. You can now transplant it carefully into the soil mixture and put it in a warm place, periodically watering it. This is a self-rooted seedling. Why is it good? Less susceptible to diseases, unpretentious. And the bad thing is that there is a need to shelter him for the winter. Own-rooted plants are less winter-hardy than a grafted seedling.

During the growing season, you can cut cuttings from annual shoots when breaking or pinching. They should have two eyes and leaves. Then you can root the cuttings in a greenhouse.

Planting grape seedlings Arcadia

Before planting, you need to put the seedling in water for at least a day. If it is not possible to plant it right away, you can dig it into wet sand.

We dig a hole along the length of the seedling. We apply organic fertilizers. The rate is five tons per hectare. But where did we get five tons of manure and a hectare of grapes? Therefore, we make an audit of the compost pit. We bring in the rotted part, mixing with the soil. Before planting, we shorten the roots of the plant with a pruner so that 10-14 centimeters remain.

Description of agricultural technology for growing grapes Arcadia

Or what you need to do to get a good and high-quality harvest:

• You can plant plants in the fall, but it is still better to do this in the spring, in April;
• More refined taste in berries grown on own-rooted seedlings;
• Arcadia is quite resistant to mildew disease. But for the purpose of prevention, you need to treat the vineyard with Bordeaux liquid;
• Mandatory katarovka, which consists in removing the roots up to 20 cm from the surface;
• Vegetable watering before and after flowering. It is best to water not along the grooves, or under the bush with a bucket. The most economical is drip irrigation.
• Non-vegetation watering (irrigation in the fall, in order to make a reserve of moisture in the soil, which will prevent plants from freezing);
• Mandatory mulching and fertilizing with mineral fertilizers;
• It is desirable to carry out the minting of grapes. It should be done after flowering. If minting is carried out earlier, many stepchildren are formed. If you cut off the upper parts of the shoots later, the sugar content of the berries decreases;
• Variety Arcadia is not resistant to powdery mildew, which affects shoots in spring, and then berries. To prevent infection with a fungal disease, it is necessary to spray the vineyard with Ridomil Gold. This must be done when the plant has 3 leaves. Again - in two weeks. Description of the action of the drug and the norms are detailed on the package;
• Arcadia does not tolerate an excess of nitrogen. Therefore, it is better to feed the plant with potash and phosphate fertilizers. To a lesser extent, fertilizers containing nitrogen;
• The load on the bush is up to 45 eyes;
• Trimming for 9-11 eyes;
• We leave only one bunch on one shoot!

Usage

And how can this miracle of domestic selection be used? Having harvested, you can not only decorate your table with an exquisite berry, using it fresh for eating. This grape will make a pleasant juice and dessert wine.

Arcadia is a unique grape variety: dozens of new developments appear every year, and he, a native of Soviet times, is still among the top ten grape varieties in the world assortment. Due to its harmonious dessert taste and unpretentiousness to growing conditions, Arcadia rightfully occupies a worthy place both in the gardens of ordinary summer residents and in the vineyards of large farms.

Breeding history, description and characteristics of the Arcadia grape variety

The popularity of the Arcadia variety is evidenced by the fact that it is known and successfully grown even in the most "grape" country - France, whose inhabitants are well versed in the qualities of grape berries and the characteristics of grape plants. The hybrid form of Arcadia grapes (often also called Nastya) appeared during the existence of the Soviet Union and is still one of the most beloved in the territory of all the countries that were part of it.

Arcadia was bred by the breeder Evgenia Nikolaevna Dokuchaeva at the V.E. Tairov Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking (Odessa) by cross-crossing the Cardinal and Moldova grape varieties. Both of its "parents" are table varieties.

It is worth saying that several more grape varieties were derived from the same original forms, but Arcadia is the best in this collection, the most famous of all.

With the participation of E. N. Dokuchaeva, who was born in 1926 in Michurinsk, Tambov region, more than 60 grape varieties were bred, most of which are included in the Register of varieties of modern Ukraine or patented. And the breeder herself was awarded high Soviet awards - the Orders of Friendship of Peoples, the Badge of Honor, the Red Banner of Labor.

It is interesting to note that the "parents" of Arcadia bear fruit with dark berries. But their daughter (still a daughter, after all, Arkadia, not Arkady) is a classic white-fruited variety. Your deeds are wonderful, madam genetics!

Arcadia is an early grape variety, deservedly one of the record holders in terms of yield. The berries are famous for their excellent taste, the plants themselves are unpretentious in cultivation, quite frost-resistant.

Bushes, depending on the region of planting and growing conditions, are from medium to vigorous. The number of shoots on which flowers are tied and berries grow is from half to 75% of their total number. Under normal weather conditions, the shoots have time to ripen during the summer almost to their entire length, and the length can be quite rather large, which should be taken into account when pruning, and it is even better to pinch especially long young shoots still green as soon as they reach a height of 1.5–2 meters. The leaf plates are five-lobed, slightly pubescent on the underside.

The bushes of Arcadia sometimes grow gigantic, but what is the word to call the amount of the crop that they can keep?

The variety is quite frost-resistant, which allows it to be grown both in the south and in central Russia. But in conditions other than southern ones, it necessarily requires light shelter for the winter, since it is guaranteed to withstand frosts only up to -21 ° C, and subject to excellent agricultural technology, only a couple of degrees more. It has good resistance to various diseases, but requires preventive spraying, after which it is almost not affected by mildew and powdery mildew.

Arcadia is famous for its extremely high yield, and if the load is not rationed, all the fruits have time to ripen. However, this has a very negative effect on the condition of the plant.

Vines overloaded with harvest do not ripen by autumn and, as a result, die almost their entire length, which leads to a sharp decrease in the total yield for the next year. But even a completely dead aerial part of the bushes, provided the integrity of the root system, is quickly restored. New shoots growing from the roots in the first year practically restore the bush to its previous state, and after another year you can harvest the same harvest in volume.

The variety is early, but not very early: it takes about 4 months from bud awakening to harvest, so in the middle lane the main berry collection takes place in September, in more southern regions the first berries ripen by mid-August. The bunches of Arcadia are very large, have a variable shape: on the same bush, there can be conical, cylindrical, and “winged” specimens, but they are all highly branched.The structure of the clusters is medium density: you can see both quite well-packed berries, and loose, not very large. But rarely does a bunch weigh less than half a kilogram. With good care, the average weight is about 800 g, but bunches weighing up to two or even three kilograms often grow.

A good bunch of Arcadia can be hard to hold at arm's length

Arcadia's flowers are bisexual, therefore, it can grow and bear fruit separately from other grape varieties: no external pollination is required, and its flowers are almost 100% pollinated. On the contrary, Arcadia is an ideal pollinator for some other varieties, for example, very popular with Laura and Talisman gardeners.

The berries are often round in shape, but almost always grow somewhat elongated and even ovoid. The diameter of the berry is from 25 mm and more, up to 35 mm, weight is from 8 to 15 g. The flesh is fleshy, very juicy, the skin is thin and inconspicuous. In a state of technical ripeness (when they are already completely edible and can be harvested), they have a yellow-white color, and when fully ripe, they turn into amber-yellow, covered with a white waxy coating. The taste of the berries is amazing. The main thing is that it has a very well balanced content of acids and sugars, allowing you to eat an incredible amount of them. The sugar content does not exceed 16%, and the total acidity is 5–6 g / l. Therefore, for those who are afraid to gain weight, this is one of the most suitable grape varieties. Berries emit a subtle nutmeg aroma when consumed.

Arcadia berries are not super-large, but the size is still rather big

Due to the chemical composition of the berries, Arcadia is a variety intended primarily for fresh consumption. And it's a pity to let it be recycled! At the same time, something must be done with the huge harvests. The keeping quality of the berries is good, the transportability is also decent, but after all, an average family simply cannot eat so much: up to 40 kg of berries can be harvested from one bush. They are stored in a refrigerator at a temperature of about 0 ° C for up to 3 months, but where to get such a refrigerator?

Of course, you can squeeze juice, boil compote, dry raisins. But Arcadia is not at all suitable for making wine. It would be more correct to say that there is no wine from it. Of course, the juice ferments normally, but the taste of the resulting product is quite mediocre. At least, the author of these lines, who for many years has been making homemade wine of good quality from "waste" Lydia and Isabella, could not get anything decent from Arcadia for a long time. And only then I read in the relevant literature that it is not worth even trying. Well, okay: sorry for such a charm for wine!

In connection with the noted characteristics, it becomes clear that the Arcadia variety is in exceptional demand both among summer residents and farmers who grow grapes for commercial purposes.

Video: a story about the grapes Arcadia

Features of planting and cultivation of the Arcadia grape variety, including in central Russia

Even novice summer residents can plant Arcadia on their site, since caring for these grapes is very simple. Neither the planting rules nor the basic principles of cultivation differ from those in the case of other table varieties.

For the author of these lines, many, many years ago, Arcadia became the first "real" variety on a summer cottage north of Saratov, except for the "weeds" like Isabella and Amursky, which grow by themselves without any care, and when trying to radically cut them they only grow even faster. And no problems with Arcadia (aka Nastya) arose from the very beginning.

Like any grape, Arcadia loves sunny areas, sheltered from cold winds. It is desirable that, from the most problematic side, the bushes are protected by a house wall or a high blank fence. Buying a seedling from Arcadia is not a problem, only it should be done not “on the road”, but from sellers, at least who have any documents for the goods.Otherwise, you can plant the same Isabella and make wonderful wine out of it, but not eat delicious berries. But Arcadia reproduces very easily by cuttings, the survival rate of which is almost one hundred percent. Therefore, if you take a stalk from your neighbors, you can grow the seedling yourself. At least every autumn, you have to cut the cuttings in batches, since the number of those wishing to plant Arkadia does not decrease. Well, when choosing a seedling, the main thing is that it has healthy roots. Immediately before planting, it must be put in water for a day, slightly cutting off the tips of the roots so that the seedling is saturated with moisture. You can plant grapes in the fall, but much safer - in April.

For spring planting, the pit should be ready in the fall. And first, in the summer, a selected area of ​​several square meters must be dug up with fertilizers (manure, ash, superphosphate), simultaneously removing perennial weeds. Dig a large hole in the fall. When buying a seedling, an experienced grower advised to dig a hole up to a meter deep. It is very difficult to do this, especially in clay, but you have to try at least 80 centimeters. And the same in diameter. Drainage at the bottom (15–20 cm of crushed stone or broken brick) is absolutely necessary. At the bottom of the pit, a layer of fertilizers mixed with good soil should be laid, and in this layer (20–25 cm) there should be more humus than earth, as well as half a bucket of ash and half a kilogram of azofoska. And above, where the young roots will be, only pure fertile soil!

The planting pit must be large, at the bottom a layer of pebbles, gravel or other material for drainage is required

If the soil is not sandy, a piece of a thick pipe must be drawn to the bottom of the pit so that in the first years it is not the top layer of the soil, but the roots that need to be watered. Mature trees, having spread their roots in all directions, will already find their own moisture and will not need much watering. In addition, you need to drive in a stake to tie up shoots in the first year (then a strong trellis will replace the stake). It is necessary to plant deeply so that no more than 2 buds remain on the surface. Even the only one, at ground level, is enough for the seedling to grow quickly. Watering the seedling well, it is necessary to mulch the soil around it.

Caring for Arcadia is simple: watering, feeding, garter shoots, pruning, preventive treatments. It seems like a lot is being recruited. But everything, except for pruning, does not require special knowledge. But pruning grapes is an art. However, it is impossible without it: the harvest will only get worse every year.

Excess water is not needed, but periodic watering is required, especially in arid regions. The need for water is especially great during the growth of berries, but from the end of July watering Arcadia must be stopped: let the berries gain sugar and become tasty. And, in the case of dry autumn, - winter watering shortly before the bushes are sheltered for the winter. It is mainly necessary to feed with ash: a couple of liters annually under a bush and bury it slightly. Once every two years in early spring - a pair of compost buckets, in shallow holes along the periphery of the bush. And 2-3 times during the summer - foliar dressing by spraying the leaves. Before flowering and immediately after it - with weak solutions of complex mineral fertilizers, after another 2-3 weeks - only with potassium and phosphorus fertilizers.

For foliar dressing, it is convenient to use ready-made fertilizer mixtures, which are present in abundance on the shelves

Arcadia is quite resistant to mildew disease, but for preventive purposes, early spring spraying with a solution of ferrous sulfate will not interfere. But oidium is a scourge of the variety, especially in rainy years, because of it you can lose a lot of berries, and it will be a pity to throw them away. Therefore, when 3 leaves appear on the shoots, it makes sense to spray the vineyard with Ridomil Gold. Strobi and Topaz help well against other ailments.

All norms and methods for preparing solutions are detailed on the packaging of the preparations. They must be observed strictly. And the precautions when working with pesticides - even more so.

In early spring, before the start of sap flow, you can carry out a small pruning of the vines. The trouble is that Arcadia begins to "cry" quite early, so many summer residents are late with this operation. It is much safer to prune the grapes in late fall, before sheltering the bushes for the winter. But the main work on normalizing the bush from unnecessary shoots, stepchildren and, unfortunately, bunches must be done in the summer, while the cut-off areas are still green and small: on each shoot, in an amicable way, only one bunch should be left. If you work hard in the summer, it will be much easier in the fall. The total load on the bush should be no more than 55 eyes.

Before the onset of frost (approximately at the end of October), all vines must be removed from the trellises, lightly tied into bundles convenient for handling them and covered with any suitable materials on the ground. In not very harsh regions, spruce or pine spruce branches or dry foliage are suitable for this, in more northern regions they try to use non-woven materials or old clothes. The trouble is that under such a shelter mice feel good, eating the bark and, unfortunately, very close to the roots. As a result, the entire above-ground part of the bush perishes. Therefore, in the case of a serious shelter, it is imperative to lay out pesticides for rodents under it.

Ideally, the grower should have a pine forest next to the site, especially in the northern regions.

Arcadia ripens perfectly not only in the south, but also in the conditions of central Russia. It is only necessary to take into account that the temperature limit of Arcadia is closed here almost every winter, so the shelter of the bushes for the winter period should be reliable. If a solid layer of snow falls, then nothing else is needed: the vine is warm under the snow. But often frosts come to bare ground. Therefore, the challenge is to preserve the bushes until snow sets in. This means that you need a lot of spruce branches, and it is worth tying bunches of vines with them from all sides, and adding burlap on top. Don't need plastic wrap! Damping off the vines is no better than freezing. For the rest, the agricultural technology of growing Arcadia in the middle climatic zone is no different from that described above.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety in comparison with similar

It is difficult to say with which grape varieties Arcadia should be compared. Of course, for any feature, you can find the best and worst varieties, but by the totality of features, it is one of the best. So, there are varieties of earlier ripening, varieties with larger berries. There are berries with a high sugar content, a long shelf life. There are bushes that are less susceptible to diseases and more frost-resistant. But there are no ideal varieties and probably never will be. And in Arcadia, consumer properties are very well balanced, which makes it possible to recommend it for growing to every summer resident or farmer.

The indisputable advantages of Arcadia include:

• excellent, unique berry taste;
• interesting appearance, including shape and color;
• the size of both individual berries and bunches as a whole;
• long-term preservation of the crop;
• high transportability of bunches;
• early ripening of the crop;
• very high yield (up to 40 kg per bush);
• buncation of flowers, which does not require planting in the neighborhood of bushes of another grape variety, acting as a pollinator;
• high frost resistance, allowing bushes to winter under light cover even in the middle lane;
• good rooting rate of cuttings (up to 90%), allowing easy propagation of grapes;
• ease of growing;
• resistance to mildew.

Like any grape, it also has disadvantages, and very significant ones:

• tendency to infection with gray rot and powdery mildew without special treatments;
• tendency to cracking berries when the soil is waterlogged.

Arcadia, perhaps, has no other serious shortcomings. According to most indicators, the variety is at the forefront of early ripening grape varieties.And the advantages discussed above make its cultivation also economically profitable.

Video: Arcadia berries on the bushes

Reviews

During the existence of Arcadia, a huge number of reviews have accumulated about it; separate branches have been opened on specialized forums. Opinions vary, but mostly the variety is described with admiration.

Arcadia is an early grape variety that most summer residents tend to grow on their site; they also plant it in large agricultural enterprises. The combination of positive qualities inherent in both the bushes in general and the marketable product - the berries themselves - makes it popular among a wide range of winegrowers and ordinary amateurs.

Graduated from the Chemistry Department of Moscow State University in 1981. Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor.