Features of growing grapes Libya

Libya is a Ukrainian selection of grapes, ideal for fresh consumption. The harvest ripens early, already at the end of July it gives sweet, large berries with a thin pink or golden-pink skin and a nutmeg aroma. Grapes are not resistant to fungal diseases and phylloxera, but with proper care and preventive treatments, such problems can be avoided.

Description of grapes Libya

Libya is a table grape variety bred by the breeder V.V. Zagorulko. Despite its relatively recent appearance (1999), the culture has managed to win the recognition of winegrowers. The Ukrainian breeder transferred the copyright to the "Magarach" Crimean Research Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking.

In 2011, Libya was added to the State Register of Ukraine, and in 2014 it was allowed to grow in the North Caucasus region (Rostov Region, Ingushetia, Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories, Dagestan, the Republic of Adygea, Crimea, North Ossetia - Alania, Kabardino-Balkarian, Chechen) and entered into the State Register of the Russian Federation.

Zagorulko bred Libya on the basis of the maternal form of the Flamingo variety, convenient for cross-pollination, with a female type of flowering, and the paternal form of the famous Arcadia variety. As a result, the world saw ultra-early large-fruited grapes with large pink berries and a pleasant aroma.

Specifications

Libya ripens early, the growing season is 100-110 days from budding to ripeness. The grapes are suitable for cultivation even in cold climates. For ripening, 2100 ° C of the sum of active temperatures is sufficient. The culture enters fruiting 3 years after planting.

The bushes are distinguished by high vigor of growth, and those grown on their own roots are vigorous. Young shoots have light green crowns without pubescence. On the shoot, an integral first leaf of a rounded shape is formed, the subsequent ones are five-lobed, wide, moderately dissected, without pubescence. The side cuts on the plate are open, with a sharp bottom and parallel sides. The petiole is open, lyre-shaped, the aperture is narrow, the bottom is rounded. The edges of the leaf are serrated triangular, large, wide at the base. The color is green, in autumn the leaves turn yellow from the edges. The flowers are bisexual, do not require additional pollination. No tendency to peel.

The bunches are large, cylindrical-conical or shapeless, branched, loose structure, from 25 cm long. The average weight is 0.8-1.2 kg. The berries are located freely, they are not squeezed. The comb and leg are long, light green in color. The berries are large, obtuse-shaped, 22x28 mm in size, weighing 10–12 g. The skin is thin golden-pink or pink, not felt when consumed, covered with white bloom. The color depends on the climatic conditions of the growing region and is less intense.

The flesh is firm, crispy and juicy at the same time. The taste is pleasant, the content of sugars and acids is balanced, the aroma of nutmeg is pronounced and lasts for a month after harvest. The seeds are small, separated from the pulp, in the berry there are 1-3 pieces.

Reference. Sugar content juice - 18.8 g / 100 ml, acidity - 6.2 g / l.

After ripening, bunches of Libya grapes hang on the bush for a long time, retaining their freshness due to their loose structure. In dry weather, the berries do not crack, but with high humidity there is a risk of a similar problem.

Table grapes are suitable for fresh consumption, so it is important to provide protection against wasps. Libya appears on the market before everyone else, has an attractive appearance and is in demand among consumers. However, the thin skin of the berries reduces keeping quality and the possibility of transporting goods over long distances. Bunches need careful collection and transportation.

Yields are moderate, but with proper care, the crop bears fruit consistently and abundantly. In favorable years, it is possible to collect about 25-30 kg of berries from one bush.

When testing the variety, the potential yield was assessed as high - 168 c / ha. Frost resistance average - up to -21 ° С. Growing as a non-sheltering crop is possible in regions with a warm climate. The shoots ripen completely, but with an excessive load on the bush, it is not enough. Annual ripe shoots are light brown. The number of fruitful shoots is 70–80%.

Growing

To maintain yields and obtain high quality bunches, it is important to adhere to the rules for choosing a place for planting and caring for a vineyard. A neglect of culture leads to loss of crops, weakening of bushes and death of vines in winter.

Landing rules

Libya cuttings root without problems and are compatible with any rootstock. The culture is planted in two ways: seedlings or grafting.

In the first case, they achieve excellent results in growth. This method improves the taste of the berries. When landing grafting on the rootstock increases the fruiting of bushes and productivity.

Before planting, the roots are treated with a solution to stimulate root formation ("Kornevin"), the tips are cut off with a pruner, dipped in liquid paraffin, then cooled in cold water. This allows you to retain moisture and strengthen the seedling's resistance to external negative factors.

Landing rules:

1. The hybrid prefers sunny areas, so the plants are planted so that the fence or walls of the house serve as protection from drafts and support.
2. The ideal soil is black soil, but the culture adapts to any type of soil, subject to the introduction of nutrients when planting and growing.
3. In the southern regions, grapes are planted in spring or autumn, in the middle lane - in April.
4. In the summer preceding planting, the site is dug up and a solution of chicken manure is introduced (1:15).
5. In the fall, they dig a planting hole measuring 70x70 cm.
6. A drainage layer (broken brick or crushed stone) is placed on the bottom of the pit, a thick pipe is brought in for irrigation in the first few years. A layer of fertilized soil is poured on top, then soil without fertilizers.
7. The roots of the seedling are straightened, they should be in clean soil. A layer of earth is poured on top, without deepening the root collar, and the trunk circle is mulched.

Care features

Libya hybrid grows best on wet soils... Watering is carried out 2 times a season: before and after flowering... In dry periods, the frequency of irrigation is increased, but overflows are not allowed - this leads to the development of fungal diseases. Assessing the condition of the foliage will tell you when to hydrate the plant. Yellowing, dry and brown spots on the leaves are signs of moisture deficiency. Dark green leaves should alert you - this is the first symptom of chlorosis.

The soil under the bushes is mulched with straw, humus, hay or peat. This helps to protect the grapes from frost, curb the growth of weeds that draw out nutrients, retain moisture and fill the deficiency of nutrients. Mulch is laid out in spring and autumn.

Libya grapes are fertilized with organic and mineral substances. The culture is more in need of potash-phosphorus fertilizers. They are brought in in late autumn. An example of feeding: 20 g of potassium sulphide, 40 g of superphosphate per 10 l of water or 100 g of ash, 10 g of potassium sulfate, 20 g of superphosphate per 10 l of water.

Reference.The bushes are formed according to a covering and semi-covering scheme. In regions with warm winters, Libya is grown on a high trunk, and the lower tier harbor spruce branches or agrofibre.

In practice, growers use one of the simplest methods - the bushes spud earth from the rows.The method is used in regions with a high snow cover, which, on the one hand, acts as an excellent thermal insulation, and on the other hand, it threatens to damp out eyes in waterlogged soil. In cold regions to protect the vines use multi-layer shelters from straw, leaves, reeds, coniferous branches.

When growing Libya monitor the load of shoots on the bush and the harvest. On overloaded bushes, the quality of the bunches sharply decreases, the likelihood of incomplete ripening of the vine increases. This reduces the already low yields. The recommended load on one bush is 35–45 buds. However, experienced growers recommend setting the load taking into account the age and vitality of the bush, increasing or decreasing it. The length of the pruning is varied, since the first eyes of the grapes are fruitful. Standard cropping spend on the 4-6 kidney. When forming, leave 4-5 sleeves. When leaving, it is not recommended to remove the leaves, even during the ripening period.

It is advisable to shade the ripening bunches to obtain an intense color. For the same reason, the variety shows better results when grown in cooler regions than in southern ones. Under the scorching rays of the sun, the berries ripen quickly and do not have time to get a pink color.

Diseases and pests

Resistance of Libya to mildew, oidium is low - 3.5-4 points. This indicates the need for prophylactic fungicide treatments throughout the growing season. For this use 40 g of "Arcerida", 6 g of "Tilt 250" per 10 liters of water 7 days before flowering. When the berries reach the size of peas, the bushes are treated with a solution of 25 g "Ridomil MC" and 25 g "Tilt 250" per 10 liters of water.

The grape is not resistant to phylloxera, therefore, as a root crop, it is propagated in regions free from pests. Otherwise, the cuttings are grafted onto an American graft. When infected, grapes are processed:

• insecticides "Zolon", "Fury", "Angio 247";
• biological products "Aktofit", "Lepidotsid", "Borey Neo".

Thin skin and pleasant aroma make Libya berries attractive to wasps. To preserve the harvest, each bunch is placed in a cloth or mesh bag, a bait is placed - a jar with a solution of honey and any insecticide.

Reviews

Reviews from the variety Libya are positive. Winegrowers are attracted by the pleasant nutmeg flavor of the berries and the low labor costs in the cultivation of the crop.

Ivan, Krasnodar: “I got acquainted with the grapes of Libya 3 years ago. I saw large bunches of pink sweet berries at a relative's dacha and was eager to plant them. I asked for some cuttings and planted in the spring. This year I got my first harvest and was delighted. The bunches are loose, do not rot, the berries are delicious crunchy. The sugar and acid balance is excellent. On the recommendation, he left no more than 30 clusters on the bush. If you overload, 3-4 bunches wither, but the yield does not decrease. "

Valery, Volgograd: “Libya grapes for table use ripen in late July - early August and remain fresh until mid-September. At the same time, the taste and presentation do not deteriorate. The culture is unpretentious in its care, it is important to water it on time, avoiding overflow and moisture deficit, and to introduce potassium with phosphorus. "

Olga, Chekhov: “I bought the cuttings of Libya from a local grower - I wanted to plant something new. After 3 years she received the first harvest. I must admit it was abundant. The berries are large, pink with a golden hue, moderately sweet and crunchy, the skin is not felt when consumed. In the first year after planting, the leaves showed signs of mildew, but the summer that year was rainy. I treated her with Ridomil solution and the symptoms disappeared completely.

Conclusion

The Libya grape variety enjoys a well-deserved popularity among winegrowers and consumers. Weighty bunches with large pink or golden-pink berries are among the first to appear on market shelves.The authorship belongs to the Ukrainian amateur breeder V.V. Zagorulko. He set himself the goal of obtaining self-pollinated grapes with high yields and taste and achieved it. The breeder considers Libya one of his best achievements, and the high praise of winegrowers confirms this.

The variety is characterized by unpretentious care, but it is recommended to pay due attention to shelter for the winter and shaping the bushes. Due to the low resistance to fungal diseases and phylloxera, the plant has to be treated with fungicides and insecticides.