Grapes are found in home gardens in almost every corner of the world. Gardeners are trying to find, plant and grow exactly the grape variety that will suit them in all respects. And there are quite a few varieties of this magnificent plant, thanks to breeding and existing technologies, all of them differ from each other. Experiments in the field of breeding helped to bring the hybrid, according to the characteristics much better than the parents. These hybrids belong to the Alfa grapes.
Breeding history
Alpha has been tested by domestic growers for several decades now. This is one of the varieties that is most often found in the northern areas. This grape is from the United States of America, where it was bred by American scientists as a result of crossing varieties Labruska and Ripariya.
Technical grapes also include: "Krasnostop Zolotovsky", "Isabella", "Chardonnay", "Cabernet Sauvignon", "Riesling".
It turned out resistant to cold and therefore suitable for use in the northern regions of a technical nature. His samples with the aim of studying varieties picked up in America were delivered to Odessa. 
Nearly 70 years have passed since the time when Alfa grape cuttings along with others were brought from the USA to the Vinogradar state farm in the Brest region. He became very popular in almost all former Soviet republics.
Did you know? There are at least ten thousand grapes in the world, which is much more than other crops grown.
Description
This variety is an excellent pollinator for other grape varieties. In the description of Alpha grapes, first of all, it should be noted that this beautiful variety is used for the purpose of landscaping the territory of the site, it also develops well.
Alfa bushes grow steadily and beautifully. It's pretty strong-growing varietygiving a lot of shoots. Creepers in length can reach 9 m, they are covered with large leaves with solid sharp-toothed edges and characteristic lobes. The length of the sheet can reach 25 cm, width 20-35 cm.
Bunches
Alpha blooms in the first half of June. On one shoot there are 2-3 oboepolny inflorescences. The clusters of this variety look beautiful, medium in density and size, they are characterized by a cylindrical or in some cases cylindrical shape.
The weight of the clusters varies within from 90 g to 250 g. With a significant thickening of grape bushes, the mass of bunches can be no more than 70 g, and they themselves become quite loose, berries - smaller. Usually the berries are round, medium size, almost black with a purple or brownish tinge.
Ripe berries are characterized by some mucus of the pulp, they are mediocre in taste, quite sour. On ripe berries visible wax coating. The weight of berries is 2-3 g. Sugar in the composition of ripe berries is 16%. Berries can be consumed fresh and processed.
Did you know? Grapes often cause a sharp increase in weight, but not only the berries themselves are the cause, but also their ability to significantly increase appetite.
Characteristics of a variety
According to the characteristics and requirements for the soil, this variety is quite unpretentious, tolerates cold and frost well, is quite resistant to pests and diseases. It does not require special care or any additional measures in the process of growing. Therefore, the variety is suitable for busy people who cannot provide the plant with more thorough care.
Yield
The yield of Alpha grapes is rather average and is about 10 kg of ripe berries from one bush or from 140 to 180 centners per hectare cultivated area.
Important! It is proved that eating grapes normalizes pressure, improves the permeability of capillaries and vascular walls, increases hemoglobin values. High levels of fructose and glucose improve brain function, but you need to take into account the level of sugar in the blood.
Gestation period
Alpha is a late-ripening variety. This process lasts for 140-150 days. The harvest period falls on the end of September or the beginning of October.
Winter hardiness
Alpha is characterized by high rates of winter hardiness. He is able, depending on his condition and growing conditions, to withstand frost from -35 ° C to -45 ° C. The roots of this plant can tolerate soil temperatures as low as -12 ° C without visible damage.
How to plant grapes
Alpha grape cuttings have fairly high rooting rates, and they also grow well with grafts. Due to the excellent survival rate and winter hardiness, it is even recommended to plant seedlings before frost in October-November months.
The spring period is also quite suitable for planting grapes. Choosing a place for landing, you must give priority to the southern, protected from strong drafts and winds with a high level of illumination during the day. 
Alpha variety is unpretentious to the composition of the soil, but it must be fertilized and have sand in its composition. The land should not be raised wetted, so planting immediately after heavy rain is not recommended. Before planting, a grape sapling should be pre-soaked in water for better root development.
A hole 80 cm deep is dug out so that all the layers needed for planting are placed in it. The pits need to be organized if you plant more than one plant, at a distance of 1.5 m between the bushes and 2 m between the rows.
First, a layer of drainage fall asleep, then mineral fertilizers, which are mixed with the ground. In the center of the pit you need to install a support for the vine. Seedling or grape grapes down to the neck and completely covered with soil, watered with plenty of water. For the winter it is necessary to cover.
Important! It is recommended to use grapes for food together with the skin, because it contains many antioxidants.
Care features
Grape Alpha has some features as planting and care. In fairness, it should be noted that this variety does not require any specific care from gardeners, which should practically be the same as for other varieties. But think about whether you will be able to carry out some of the necessary procedures, providing the right simple care, you need even before planting grapes.
Watering
The first watering in the spring is made after the bushes are freed from the shelter. Liberally, the ground must be moistened from late May to early June. It is recommended to combine watering with the necessary dressing, while under one bush it is necessary to pour up to four buckets of water diluted with fertilizers.
Did you know? Residents of Italy and France, who regularly use moderately wines, are much less likely to suffer from heart attacks, strokes and oncology.
Top dressing
When caring for grapes Alpha there is a need for periodic introduction into the soil of ferrous sulfate with iron salts, which favorably affects the development and growth of plants, and also helps to avoid plant disease by chlorosis.
For the harmonious development of seedlings need a lot of nutrients. Suitable for plant nutrition and organic fertilizer infusion of herbs, ashes, bird droppings. It is possible to apply solutions for fertilizing grapes from a complex of chemical elements acquired in specialized stores.
Trimming and thinning
Alpha variety has a rather high fertility, so it requires regular pruning. It is necessary to carefully observe the formation of fertile buds and, if necessary, cut them into 8-10 eyes.
Pruning grapes can be carried out in spring, summer and autumn.
This helps reduce the overload of the bush and will help to form a future large and high-quality crop. It should also be noted that the excellent strength for the growth and maturation of the shoots contributes to the need to carry out the stepson — removing unnecessary stepsons so that the main shoot develops favorably.
Diseases and pests
Grape alpha pretty resistant to various fungal diseases, but is prone to chlorosis, especially on sandy growing soils and with inadequate feeding and watering.
Sometimes the plant can be affected by such diseases as mildew, oidium, anthracnose.
The plant must be periodically sprayed and processed using special agents to combat diseases caused by viruses, fungi, bacteria. This treatment also helps prevent the damage of grapes by wasps, aphids, mites and other small pests.
Important! Grapes growing near parsley will develop better, produce more tasty berries and be less threatened by pests and diseases.
The advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Alfa has both advantages and disadvantages. To the positive moments These include high rates of growth, pollinability, rooting rate, survival rate and disease resistance of this grape, its considerable yield, excellent frost resistance.
Also from its berries make a tasty and healthy wine, and the grapes can be used as a stock and serve as an excellent decorative solution for landscape design, decoration of arbors, arches, pergolas, balconies, loggias, facades of various structures.
To some disadvantages Alpha varieties include its ability to quickly and significantly thicken the places of its growth with stepchildren, who need to be cleaned several times during the warm period. Also not very high taste indicators are noted.
The Alpha grape variety will be especially appreciated by gardeners and wine makers from areas with a not very warm climate and short summers. He has a lot of attractive characteristics for growing. For novice growers, this variety is an excellent first experience in cultivating such plants.
