"Early Gourmet" is an excellent representative of table grapes, distinguished by delicate taste and remarkable external characteristics.
The unpretentious grade easily gets accustomed as in southern, and northern regions.
Story
The "early gourmet" was derived relatively recently - a little more than 10 years ago by one of the first national breeders, Viktor Nikolayevich Krasnov. An outstanding amateur breeder made an invaluable contribution to the promotion of viticulture. 
Initially, this hybrid form was given the name "Novocherkassk Red", and later it was assigned the code 1-12. It is known that the name "gourmet" was given by Viktor Nikolayevich to five varieties of grapes, bred by crossing the varieties of "kishmish radiant" and "talisman" - "Early", "Graceful", "Raduzhny", "Gourmet" and "Flashlight". Hybrids differ in color and ripening of berries, and they are similar to the original nutmeg flavor.
Get acquainted with such table grapes as "Arcadia", "Moldova", "Original", "Delight", "Talisman", "Tason", "Cardinal".
In 2006, the "gourmet" was recognized as promising for cultivation in the southern regions of Russia, Ukraine and Moldova.
Did you know? Due to the high content of fructose and glucose in the grapes, its use contributes to the improvement of the functionality of the brain.
Description and distinctive characteristics of the variety
Grapes "early gourmet" description of the variety (see photo), according to reviews of gardeners:
- early ripening (growing season 4-4.5 months);
- frost resistance to -23 ° C;
- nutmeg taste of berries;
- cylindrical or conical cluster;
- bunch weight can be from 600 to 1600 g;
- oblong berries;
- the color of the berries is pale pink;
- the weight of one berry is from 7 to 11 g.
Maturation term "gourmet" only 120 days. Beginning to bloom in early June, grapes can ripen in the southern regions in the first half of August. In the northern areas, greenhouse cultivation or wrapping of the crop for the winter is recommended.
The variety does not have the ability to ripen without a bush, therefore it is only necessary to harvest the crop when it is fully ripe. However, grapes can be stored, under proper conditions, until the end of spring. In addition, the hybrid is considered one of the most resistant to various diseases.
Important! "Gourmet" blooms only female inflorescences, so it is pollinated with the help of neighboring plants with bisexual or male flowers.
Features of growing
Knowing certain features of the cultivation of the early "gourmet", you can achieve excellent crop yields. When placing shoots in the garden plot, you should remember about the characteristics of planting grapes, such as lighting and soil.
Lighting
Grape is a light-loving plant. The lack of light leads to disruption of the normal functioning of the leaves, planting fruit buds, lower yields and disease resistance.
It is not recommended to plant a crop between fruit trees. Ideal for vineyards to take away a well-lit area throughout the day.
Better conditions for lighting the bush are achieved:
- with optimal planting density;
- placement of shoots on the trellis;
- shaping the bushes;
- timely garter, pruning and pasynkovane branches.
Important! The thermophilic hybrid prefers the southern or eastern side of the planting, and the lack of sunny days can lead to poor maturation of the crop.
Soil requirements
The main criterion for planting is fertile soil on small elevations. In case of heavy rainfall, the plant should be protected from rotting.
Before planting seedlings in the ground it is necessary to ensure its integrated feeding. In the future, the plant can be fed root and foliar fertilizers. All types of fertilizers are usually applied after sunset, as direct sunlight can leave fertilizer burns on the surface of the crop.
It must be remembered that the soil should be well heated. In the event of a sudden cold weather after the landing of the “gourmet” in the ground, the cuttings should be covered to avoid their freezing.
Planting varieties "early gourmet"
Many grape varieties, including the "gourmet", are propagated by cutting. Culture takes root well in the case of compliance with some features of the landing.
Did you know? Gardeners claim that it is necessary to plant grapes in places of landing of parsley greens. The taste of berries will be much higher.
Selection of seedlings
Cuttings for planting during harvest pruning in the spring. For this average thickness of the shoots cut into a length of 35 cm with five buds on each. The ends of the seedlings are dipped in melted paraffin, wrapped around the cuttings with a damp cloth, placed in a dark cool place.
About a month later, planting material is taken out, cut off the end and make several holes with an awl at the bottom of the branch. Of these, the root system will continue to develop. After that, the seedlings are placed for three days in a solution of honey (2 tablespoons of honey per 2 liters of water).
Learn also more useful tips on autumn and spring planting of grapes.
Timing
Planted cuttings in pots with garden soil and leave in a well-lit room at a temperature of 18 ° C. After about four weeks of systematic watering (once every three days), the buds will swell and leaves will appear.
In open ground, germinated seedlings are planted in May, in the ground warmed to 12-15 ° C.
Landing pattern
Planted cuttings need to a depth of 50 cm at a distance of not less than 3 m from each other. Next to the seedlings establish a support, and the ground, covering the sprouts, sprinkled with mulch.
Next, the ground should be covered with foil. This will help the soil to warm up faster, and the mulch, in turn, undergoing decomposition, will produce additional heat.
Important! You can not plant young shoots of a hybrid variety in the place of uprooted grapes for three years. Vineyards significantly deplete the land, pulling useful minerals out of it. For this reason, young animals grow very slowly and develop poorly.
Grade Care
Hybrid "gourmet" is quite unpretentious in the care in providing him with proper watering, fertilizing and pruning.
Watering
The first two months after planting watering the grapes is required. It is necessary to loosen the soil for better absorption of moisture by the roots and prevent their rotting.
Dry summer implies mulching of grapes to retain moisture and maintain optimal microclimate.
After mid-summer, systematic watering should be stopped to allow the fruit to fill with sugars.
Read about caring for grapes in the fall.
Fertilizer
Fertilization is mandatory for the crop after planting. Before the start of flowering, a hybrid must be provided with phosphate and potash supplements. After the end of flowering, the grapes should be fertilized with manganese, zinc and iron. So the plant will be provided with a strong immunity and will be less susceptible to diseases. 
In the fall, the hybrid also needs fertilizer, for which organic supplements such as cow dung or chicken manure are suitable. During the cold period, it will help the soil to fill with nutrients.
Pruning
Cropping culture is carried out in early spring, before the beginning of the sap flow period. 
It is necessary to save the plant from all those killed during the winter of the shoots, cutting the vine to five buds. On the bush should be no more than 35 eyes.
How to protect grapes from diseases and pests
Early grape variety is quite resistant to mildew and gray rot. However, young and weakened bushes are often exposed to diseases such as powdery mildew and oidium. At the same time on the berries and leaves formed a gray patina. Spring prevention with sulfur-containing and copper-containing drugs, as well as fungicides, will help to cope with similar diseases.
Important! Among all hybrids "gurman" considered one of the most resistant to diseases of the vineyards.
With careless pruning and damage to the vines, grapes may produce anthracnose, which affects the berries, leaves and crop sprouts. In this case, the branches and fruits dry up, and the leaves are covered with brown spots. Infected areas should be cut and burned, and the hybrid treated with protective mixtures containing copper sulphate or nitrophene.
Since the "gourmet" is prone to attacks of grape and spider mites, it is necessary to protect the culture with insecticides and acaricides.
It is necessary to systematically carry out preventive spraying with fungicides and biologics. Applying a biological tool we must not forget that after the precipitation it is washed out and additional processing is required.
Sweet berries of the early variety attract birds and harmful insects. To prevent the attack of birds, you can use a tensioned grid. Get rid of unwanted insects will help in a timely manner set traps.
Did you know? The first pruners of grapes are donkeys. The owners of the gardens noticed that those bushes that had eaten an animal, in the following year began to bear fruit much more than others.
Do I need shelter for the winter?
The frost resistance of this grape variety is relatively small - down to -23 ° C. In this regard, in winter, the "gourmet" is better to cover.
To do this, you must do preventive processing, cutting and autumn feeding. Then you need to hold a semi-shelter and hilling or complete shelter of the bush, depending on the climatic conditions of the region.
In some fairly cold northern areas, "gourmet" is cultivated only in greenhouses. 
The advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The grapes "early gourmet" is distinguished by a large number of positive reviews from gardeners.
Among the advantages of lovers of juicy berries say:
- early maturation of culture;
- stable and rich harvest;
- good disease resistance;
- delicate unusual taste of berries;
- quite promising for both individual and mass cultivation.
Light, tasty, early ripe, without any particular hassle, "gourmet" early grapes are favored by gardeners for their incomparable qualities. With proper care, the plant will fully repay grape lovers with its generous harvest.
