A typical table grape variety is called the Chameleon variety. Any gardener will like it because of the sweet taste and large size of the fruit. Growing a chameleon is simple, it is not necessary to create special conditions, and fruiting in grapes proceeds by itself. The variety is quite suitable for beginners, as it is problem-free. You can get the maximum yield if you carefully study the characteristics of the variety with a detailed description and reviews.
Content
Characteristics and description of the variety
The chameleon was bred in Ukraine. The variety was received by a breeder by the name of Vishnevetsky. For breeding, he crossed 4 grape varieties: Glasha, Arkady, Atlanta Zaporizhia, Kishmish. The chameleon adopted only strong qualities from the parental varieties, so it competes with the popular grape varieties. According to the ripening period, the Chameleon belongs to the superearly crops; ripening of berries takes from 100 to 110 days. Berries during this time are fully formed, reach the final color and are saturated with taste.
The hermaphroditic variety, pollination passes independently. The yield is stable: 30 kg of fruits are harvested from the bush. This is not the limit, with regular top dressing and proper care, the yield can actually be increased by 1.5-2 times. Grapes enter fruiting 2-3 years after the start of cultivation. The maximum yield can be estimated only when the vine is 6-7 years old.
Large berries 10-15 g in size are collected in heavy clusters. The mass of the bunch can reach up to 2 kg, while the berries from it do not crumble. The shape of the fruit is slightly oval, the skin is strong, but thin. The fruits are stored for a long time, do not crush during transportation. When the grape ripens, its color changes from light green to pink. The skin is always dull. To taste, the berries are mostly sweet, without nutmeg or citrus flavors. The acidity is underestimated and amounts to 6 g / l, but the amount of sugar is high - 18-19%.
Chameleon bred for sale. In the market, the variety is in demand due to its attractive appearance and taste. It is loved by adults and children. You can use grapes for harvesting: good stewed fruit, jam, juices are obtained from it. For making wine, the variety is suitable, fermentation proceeds well due to the increased concentration of sugars in the pulp.
The chameleon has spread not only in Ukraine, but also in Russia. It is willingly grown on the Black Sea coast, in the southwestern part of the country. Possible landing in the middle lane, but only with mandatory shelter for the winter. Frost resistance is low, grapes successfully survive the temperature up to - 20 degrees, not more.
The chameleon is not susceptible to rot and fungal diseases. There are practically no cases of defeat of vineyards by oidium or mildew. To maintain immune qualities at a high level, they are prevented from diseases once a season.
The advantages of the variety include:
- high palatability of fruits;
- large size of berries;
- good disease resistance;
- stable rate of productivity;
- transportability and long shelf life of the fruit.
The variety has no obvious flaws. Vine growers and ordinary gardeners speak about him only on the positive side.
Landing
The chameleon can be planted in the open ground in spring and autumn. Seedlings quickly adapt to new conditions. The vineyard plot is located on the south side of the house, on the north side it is desirable to establish wind protection. Grapes are not particularly whimsical to the soil. The main condition for it is neutral acidity and low groundwater levels. If the soil on the site meets the stated requirements, you can start planting immediately.
The pits for grape bushes should be large and deep: with a diameter of 80-90 cm, and a depth of about 1 m. The bush grows actively, with each passing month it will need more and more space. Grapes do not like thickening of the territory, so the distance is always left with a small margin.
Essential care
The most important procedure in the care of the Chameleon is to trim the bush. It is carried out in the spring, to increase fertility, the vine is cut into 5-6 eyes. At the same time, the load on the bush is reduced, and the quality of the crop will increase markedly. In the fall, all not fallen leaves, poorly developed shoots and diseased branches are cut. Pruning is carried out before the onset of frost, but at an air temperature of 3-4 degrees heat. Juice does not circulate in the branches so actively, therefore for grapes removal of shoots will not be stressful.
In addition to pruning, proper watering is important for the plant. An excess of moisture in the soil is detrimental to the variety, so it is watered once every 3-4 weeks. It is convenient to use grooves for irrigation: along the diameter of the bush at a small distance from the trunk, make a trench 10 cm deep. Each time, 2-3 buckets of water are poured into the trench gradually, so that the moisture has time to be absorbed. Water should not be cold, its temperature is 20-25 degrees. After watering, lay next to the trunk a layer of any mulch - straw, sawdust.
Shelter for the winter
Winter preparations begin in November. Weeds are removed from the place where the grapes are grown, the soil is no longer watered. Mulch (4-5 cm) is put on the ground, and then a vine is instilled into it. Water-repellent material is placed on the mulch so that water does not penetrate the plants. Sometimes agrofibre, ruberoid, and greenhouse film are placed on top of the mulch. On the sides they leave room for air to enter, otherwise the grapes will “suffocate” during the winter.
Reviews
Sergei from Ulyanovsk writes:
“I tried grapes from a friend in the country and was pleasantly surprised. The berries are large, with sweet juicy pulp, the skin is thin. For fresh consumption, they are ideal. I took 8 cuttings to my site, planted in the spring. In winter, he dug up the ground with mulch, and covered the cuttings with agrofibre. I look forward to next summer, I hope that the harvest will be. ”
Alexander from Mirgorod says:
“My plants have gone the third year. Initially, I liked the harmonious taste of the fruit, so I planted a variety of Chameleon. Last year, the berries that appeared appeared to fade slightly in the sun, I was late harvesting. This year I did potash top dressing before flowering, now the grapes have only bloomed. ”
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