Gelios Grapes: description, planting, cultivation, reviews

Gelios grapes are a new hybrid form that was obtained during the crossing of Arkady and Nakhodka cultivars known to experienced wine growers. The author of this hybrid was an amateur breeder VN Krainov. The variety has a second name - Arkady pink.

Features of the variety

Gelios grapes can be grown both in the southern regions of our country and in the central regions of Russia. It is valued not only for high yields, but also for resistance to most diseases characteristic of grapes, as well as for the possibility of transportation over long distances.

Grapes are pink, belonging to early varieties. The maturity period does not exceed one hundred and twenty days. Harvesting is carried out in early August. From one bush they take more than six kilograms of grapes.

Gelios Grapes: description

This hybrid is characterized by attractive characteristics that are inherited from the best parental fruits. Gelios variety of grapes forms high, strong-growing bushes with perfectly developed shoots. Flowering is oboe. Regardless of weather factors, pollination is always good. Productivity is consistently high.

Features of this grapes are good rooting of cuttings, high level of maturing of shoots, compatibility with rootstocks. Vines develop actively, therefore branches have an impressive height and occupy a rather large space. Vines and trunk are painted brown, on young shoots it is lighter, and on nodules it has a burgundy shade.

The leaves are large, round in shape, painted in a dark green color. The division into the blades is well expressed. The advantage of the variety are bisexual inflorescences, which greatly simplify the process of pollination.

Grapes

Gelios grapes pleases gardeners with large clusters of medium density, having a standard cylindroconical shape. One brush can reach 1.5 kg, but the average weight ranges from 600 to 900 grams. Due to the fact that the variety has a massive bush, the plant can be well loaded.

Berries

Bright bunches of beautiful pink color are an ornament of any vineyard. The fruits of this variety are distinguished by good taste and excellent commercial appearance. The berries are large - 3.5x2 cm weighing 16 g. They have an oval shape and are painted in a gently pink color. By the end of ripening, the berries acquire a reddish hue.

The pulp is soft, juicy, watery. Inside the berries can be 2-3 small seeds. Top of the fruit covers a thin peel with a thin layer of natural wax, which does not affect their taste. The Gelios grapes have a pleasant taste with a muscatite hue.

Fruits are distinguished by a high degree of sugar accumulation. That is why many experienced wine growers over-rest the bunches on the vine, thereby increasing the level of sugar content. For a long time berries do not crumble and do not crack.

Frost resistance

Gelios grapes are frost-resistant. He will not be harmed by a drop in temperature to -23 ° C. However, most experienced wine growers are advised to protect the plant from severe frosts. For young seedlings, such activities are mandatory. This grapes should be mulched in autumn.

Resistance to pests

Helios is resistant to most of the diseases characteristic of grapes: oidium, rot, mildew. Although the variety has a high degree of sugar accumulation, it does not attract either wasps or birds that usually harm the fruit. This is because the berries are not prone to cracking.

Planting of grapes Helios

This is a very important process, because if the plant is not properly planted it will develop poorly and bear fruit, the berries can become smaller, their taste characteristics will change.

Plant vines in autumn or spring. Autumn planting must be protected by shelter from frost.

Selection of seedlings

First of all, it is necessary to pay attention to the root system of a young plant, which should be healthy and well developed. It is desirable that the sprouts did not have kinks, were green, without traces of rot and other diseases. The recommended length of shoots is 20-22 cm, they are colored green.

Before planting, remove the lateral sprouts and dip the roots into a root stimulation solution for a day.

Site preparation

Perhaps one of the drawbacks of this variety is its fastidiousness to the ground. Actively develop and bear this variety only on fertile soils. Planting pits are digging at a distance of three meters from each other. The depth should be at least 80 cm.

It is necessary to clearly distinguish two layers of soil. The first layer of land that you dug from the pit is mixed with humus, potassium salt, superphosphate. Then the obtained mixture of soil and fertilizer is poured back into the pit by a layer of approximately 35 cm and it is carefully rammed. On this layer is placed the root system of a young plant. It is well spread and sprinkled with a second layer of soil. The soil is again compacted well.

Near each seedling should leave a hole diameter of fifty-five centimeters. After planting, each plant is watered at a rate of 25 liters of water per 1 m². Then the ground must be loosened, and the hole must be mulched. Together with the seedling, a peg for the garter is placed in the hole, which will become a support and will protect the root system from subsidence. Some vine-growers recommend mulching the soil around the young plant with a layer of sawdust - this will protect the soil from drying out.

Care of the plant

The procedures for the care of Gelios grapes are mulching, moisturizing. In addition, this variety needs timely pruning, feeding, weeding, preparation for winter.

Humidification

Pink Gelios grape requires an attentive approach to watering, because excess moisture can lead to a decrease in yield. In spring, when the air temperature does not fall below 0 ° C, the plant should be well watered. At subzero temperatures, this can not be done, since the water will freeze and destroy the root system of the plant. After pruning, bushes are watered very abundantly: up to thirty liters of water per one square meter of soil.

Mulching

To maintain the optimum moisture level in the soil, it is necessary to use organic mulch. It can be fallen leaves, straw, vegetable tops, compost, etc. The thickness of the mulch layer should be at least ten centimeters.

Trimming

Gelios grapes are high-yielding varieties, and therefore its vine is sometimes subjected to excessive loads. The circumcision procedure for this variety is very important. Pruning is carried out in the early spring, before the activation of vegetative processes. To properly distribute the load on the vine, pruning is carried out for seven eyes. The recommended load per bush of this grapes is thirty-five eyes.

Top dressing

For active growth, development, high yield, Helios needs timely feeding. Once a year, mineral fertilizers are introduced into the ground under the bush, once in three years the plant is fed with organic.

In early spring the soil is fertilized with ammonium nitrate. Before the beginning of flowering and after its completion, grapes are fed with potassium salt, superphosphate. Organic top dressing is desirable to combine with watering. Use compost, humus, peat.

Reviews of gardeners

Today many gardeners grow Gelios grapes. Reviews about him are different. Wine growers believe that this variety has both undeniable advantages and disadvantages. Not everyone likes the taste of berries - some gardeners consider it not sweet enough. But this, of course, is a subjective opinion.

There are claims to the appearance of the grapes - some experts of grapes think that they look a bit rustic against the background of other hybrid varieties of table grapes. However, all without exception, gardeners note the indisputable advantages of this variety. Berries after rains do not burst even during a full ripening period. It also attracts the possibility of transporting a ripe harvest over considerable distances while preserving its presentation. Gelios mostly used in fresh form, but the qualities of this variety make it possible to prepare jams, juices and wine from it.