Levokumsky grape sustainable: characteristics and description of the variety, planting and care

Among the technical varieties of grapes intended for the manufacture of wine drinks, Levokumsky sustainable is considered one of the most hardy to weather adversities, pests and diseases, as well as unpretentious care.

But first of all, when describing the variety, the emphasis is on its winter hardiness, which is confirmed by the reviews of gardeners.

Grade description

The Levokumskoye stable grape variety was not developed by breeders, but by winemakers from the Stavropol Territory in the village of Levokumskoye. Now the grapes are cultivated and in the middle lane regions Russia - with good shelter, the plant hibernates safely at temperatures up to -40 ° C.

The ripening period of Levokumsky grapes depends on climatic conditions and can be medium early or medium - from 110 to 135 days. In the Moscow region, the fruits are ready for harvest in September.

Structural features

Levokumsky bush has medium growth strength, covered with medium-sized leaves. Leaves have five lobes, are rounded in shape, if the width of the leaf is comparable to the length, or heart-shaped - in length shorter than in width. The surface is smooth, shiny, light green in color. The vines have a light brown color.

The flowers are bisexual, pollination of the bush occurs without difficulty. Cases of grape peeling are very rare. Berries fill the bunch densely or with medium density. The shape of the bunch can be cylindrical or conical, the average weight is 110-130 g, the minimum is 80 g, the maximum is 160 g.

Characteristics of berries

Fruits are elongated or rounded, small in size, dark blue, almost black in the ripeness stage of the shade. The skin is thin, has a wax coating. The fruit contains 3-4 seeds, the pulp is juicy, but dense. The variety is characterized by a high level of sugar content of fruits - about 25%, while the acid content is 4-5 g / l.

Variety Levokumsky - technical, grape It is suitable for making dessert wines, but it works best as a raw material for a dry drink. Wine from Levokumsky berries has a rich ruby ​​hue and a fragrant bouquet with nightshade notes. The taste of the drink is quite simple, so grapes are most often used to make blends with varieties whose fruits differ in too sour taste.

Levokumsky grape bush is able to produce 6-7 kg of fruits, with the help of agricultural technology, you can increase the yield to 8 kg. 1.4-1.5 kg of berries can be removed from 1 m2 of the vineyard, with good care - up to 1.7 kg. About 1.8 bunches ripen on each vine, the weight of the berry is 1.3-1.4 g.

Sustainability indicators

Without additional protection, the grapes tolerates a temperature drop of -27 ... -29 ° C, which allows the cultivation of the variety in the latitudes of Samara and to the south as a non-covering crop. Due to the ability to accumulate a large volume of carotenoids, chlorophyll pigments and metal cations, the plant is highly resistant to adverse weather factors.

Levokumsky is characterized by low susceptibility to gray rot and mildew, tolerant, but not susceptible to oidium and phylloxera.The bush can be sick with black spotting, anthracnosis; of the pests, it is most often affected by a spider mite and phytophthus. Ripe berries are attractive for wasps and birds.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Among the advantages of grapes should be noted:

• high productivity;
• excellent ripening of annual shoots - up to 91% with a reduced load on the vines and 80-84% - with a slight overload;
• resistance to climatic phenomena;
• low susceptibility to fungal diseases and grape aphids;
• high-quality pollination of berries;
• unpretentiousness in leaving.

The disadvantages of the variety Levokumsky:

• low ratio of the mass of berries per mass of the comb;
• difficulty in separating the fruits from the brush;
• simple taste.

Features of agricultural technology varieties

The cultivation of Levokumsky grape varieties will not require complication of agrotechnical procedures, rather, the cost of care will be lower in comparison with other varieties.

Landing specifics

Levokumsky can grow and bear fruit under conditions of slight shading, but in a thicker shadow, the berries accumulate sugar worse and reach a lower weight, in addition, the ability of the bush to withstand frost is worsened. Between plants, 1.5 m of space should be left, 3 m between rows.

Grape not picky about soil, grows best on loam. Acidity should be neutral or, in extreme cases, slightly alkaline. When planting in clay soil, it is necessary to take measures to improve the structure of the soil in order to avoid the risk of root rotting in the spring.

Another way to prevent the negative consequences when growing on clay soil, which is practiced by gardeners in the southern regions, is to plant Levokumsky on a knoll. Reception not only solves the problem of spring floods, but also accelerates the heating of the soil, so that grapes grow faster in spring. The method is not suitable in regions with frosty winters. If low temperatures are accompanied by a small thickness of snow cover, it is recommended to deepen the bush when planting. The upper of the root processes must be placed at a level of 8 cm below the surface of the soil.

Grape care

In the regions of the southern part of the middle zone, Levokumsky bushes do not need winter shelter, but this does not apply to young plants. The seedlings should be accustomed to frost gradually: in the first two years of growth, the bushes need to be covered, only in the third year the grapes are able to winter without protection or under a layer of snow. It is advisable to first leave only one shoulder without shelter - counting viable buds in the spring will give accurate information on how grapes are adapted to the climate.

Levokumsky's requirements for leaving:

1. The grape bush is recommended to be formed in 2 shoulders, while the boom should be left at least 1 m. Fan forming is also allowed.
2. The vines should be shortened to 4-6 eyes.
3. In total, 15-20 fruitful shoots should remain on the bush - it was experimentally proved that such a load is optimal for obtaining the best wine material.
4. Grape Levokumskiy is demanding on irrigation during periods of flowering and ripening of fruits, watering during periods of drought is also necessary. Every week, a bucket of water should be poured under the bush. Overmoistening should not be allowed - the plant can respond to excess water by cracking the fruit.
5. The first two years of the growth of the bush should be removed from the vines that have begun to cluster in order to give the plant time to qualitatively grow stronger and accumulate wood.
6. Despite the resistance of grapes to diseases, experienced gardeners advise 2 preventive sprayings with fungicides per season.

Winemakers reviews

Dmitry, 52 years old

“The accumulation of perennial wood significantly affects the size of the clusters and the ripening time. Before Levokumsky just did not have time to ripen, I thought to get rid of it, but literally in the third or fourth year the berries began to ripen earlier.I also want to note the qualitative maturation of shoots for the winter. Under shelter from spruce branches and snow, grapes suffered frosts down to -37 ° C without damaging the vines. ”

Svetlana, 45 years old:

“I grow this variety to add to the wort from other berries. My favorite combination is with Rkatsiteli, a very balanced taste is obtained. But “mono-wine” from him is not to my liking, the taste is flat and inexpressive. But very high sugar content of the fruits, this allows you to perfectly adjust the acidic varieties. Juice from Levokumsky berries turns out better than wine - the taste is fresh, harmonious in sweetness and acid, with a pleasant aroma. ”

Vitaliy, 44 years old:

“The most dangerous wintering for this variety is a strong drop in temperature in the spring. Under thick snowdrifts, Levokumsky can winter even in Siberia, without other shelters. This lulls the vigilance of gardeners, who do not take into account that in the northern regions, after the snow melts, when the plant has no protection, there are significant cooling. The ability to withstand frosts down to -30 is for winter time, when the bush is at rest. And in the spring to beat awakened kidneys, even if they have not yet opened, maybe a frost of -10 ... -15. Therefore, at least, I always put mulch from fir branches on the vine. ”

Due to the high yield and simple requirements for conditions and care, the Levokumsky grape variety is profitable for both home and industrial cultivation for the purpose of wine production. Grapes, having high winter tolerance, are available for cultivation in most regions of the middle zone.