What types of grapes are now justified in the Gomel region, learned from local experienced gardeners

15 to 25 kilograms per bush: good grape harvests from those owners who work from February to December

For wine growers of the country, the end of September is the peak harvest of sun berries. Varieties of the average ripening period by this time have reached the desired taste and weight parameters. It is time to bring the harvest and seedlings to the autumn fairs. What types of vine are now justified in one of the most fertile for viticulture regions of the country - Gomel region - learned from local experienced gardeners.

From 15 to 25 kilograms from the bush - that is how much on average this season collects Andrey Valoven, the owner of a personal subsidiary farm "Vineyard" in the village of Tsegelnya Gomel district. Behind the shoulders - more than 20 years of experience in cultivating vines, on the farmstead - more than 300 varieties of table and technical grapes. This year has been a successful one:

Winter was harsh, and in summer the vineyards were affected by cool nights and high humidity due to prolonged rains. As a result, the maturation dates of the main varieties shifted by an average of two weeks. The greenhouses were rescued again: we cut the first bunches here at the end of July. But grapes in the open air had more difficult. And in October - early November, if weather permits, will ripen late varieties. Nevertheless, the harvest is good, the vine has returned a hundredfold the work invested in it.

It shows something that cannot but delight. "Gourman" - berries from the plum. You can’t believe that this was actually imported from Belarus and not from Turkey or Georgia. Over the summer, it gained both form and content. Good now and muscat kishmish "Jupiter" - sugar level at 26 percent. Pure honey... Over the years, dozens of varieties have been tested for strength on the farmstead of Andrei Valovnya, which the specialist willingly recommends to beginners and seriously enthusiastic. In the conditions of the south-east of the country, “Baikonur”, “Pleven nutmeg”, “Nelson”, “arcadia”, “transformation”, “melon”, “sensation”, “Jupiter”, “Dnieper souvenir” perfectly show themselves. He knows he won't.

The specialist focuses on new varieties, already adapted to Belarusian conditions. The second season grows and receives a good berry from the “autograph”, “katyusha”, “etuda”, “shakira”, “twin”... But here he makes an important caveat: in all cases the result is possible only under the condition of painstaking work and strict observance of the rules of cultivation of southern culture:

- Yes, the climate has changed. In Belarus, we can now get decent harvests of cultures atypical for our latitudes. Grapes are no surprise. Culture from year to year is becoming more popular among owners of private farmsteads and farms. However, in order to have a harvest of sun berries, you need to work hard. The season starts in February and ends in December. Cutting, opening, first treatment, after - the second, grooming green operations. Everything is mandatory and requires consistency, otherwise there will be no result. But if everything is observed, the grapes will not offend.

The fact that Belarusians imbued with the philosophy of amber berry is shown by autumn festivals and fairs, where the gifts of vines have long ceased to be exotic and have found their connoisseurs. One of the main events in this agricultural segment is the September festival "Groups of Gomel", which has become a kind of grape "Dazhynkami" for vine farmers. This year it brought together about 50 specialists from different regions of the country, who have been engaged in viticulture for decades. Dozens of varieties of seedlings, including novelties of the season, abundant harvest presented at the exhibition stands, a variety of sweet berries from nutmeg to squish, which can be tasted without leaving the counter. The head of the regional club "Grapes of the Gomel region" Mikhail Marchenko gives an understanding of the essence of the event:

- On the one hand, our festival platform allows you to show the results obtained this season at vineyards in different regions of Belarus. And today, the culture is successfully grown in the north and in the south both in greenhouses and in open ground. Discuss problematic issues, share experiences, look for new products. On the other hand, it is the popularization of viticulture, familiarity with the culture, which feels great in the climatic conditions of Belarus and is becoming more and more popular among owners of private farmsteads, potential buyers. At every festival we hear, “It is impossible for such grapes to grow here.” However, it sounds less and less.

THEME

The open festival "Groups of Gomel" this year for the ninth time was held in the city above Sozh on September 12. He gathered wine growers from all parts of the country. Traditionally, as part of the festival, competitions were held in several categories: the largest cluster, the most delicious berry, the best exposition, a product from grapes, a new variety. This year, a record cluster was presented by the Khmelevsky family from the Mozyr district - weighing more than 3.6 kilograms, a variety of "da Vinci".