In the world there are about 10 thousand grape varieties - among such a huge amount I want to highlight the variety "Ilya of Murom". He has long been considered the favorite of gardeners, and for what his love - let's find out in this article.
Description and characteristics of the variety
To learn more about the grapes "Ilya Muromets", let's read the description of the variety. The name of this plant is chosen perfectly - the vine has a massive and strong trunk. Among other varieties this one is a real hero.
The leaves are large, most often the size is above average, the color is light green, the veins are clearly visible. Clusters are large, weight can reach 1 kg, medium density, their shape is triangular.
The berries grow large - 2-2.5 cm in diameter, purple. This is a table variety, the berries taste sweet, sometimes sour. By ensuring proper care of the shrub, you can get up to 7 kg of crop from one bush.
Important! Deciding to harvest - choose a dry and sunny day. Harvesting grapes on a rainy day makes the berries unsuitable for transportation and storage - they burst.
Breeding history
Known breeders of L.T. gave life to this variety. Shtin and I.M. Filippenko. In 1962, by crossing the varieties Pobeda and Severny, they managed to bring out grapes, which had a high level of frost resistance and an early period of ripening. In addition, this class has high yield and truly heroic size. Thanks to these qualities, "Ilya Muromets" quickly became a favorite in the garden of growers.
Fine specimens of table grapes are "Vostorg", "Talisman", "Arcadia", "Original", "Moldova".
Features and differences from other varieties
The characteristics of the variety, which favorably distinguish "Ilya" among many other varieties of grapes, can be safely attributed to these:
- High level of frost resistance of grapes ("Muromets", following from the reviews of gardeners, is able to withstand temperatures up to -26 ° C);
- High yield per bush;
- Early ripening (the first berries can enjoy 110 days);
- Rapid growth and the formation of shoots after planting in open ground;
- The thin skin of the berries and small bones inside.
Did you know? In Spain, there is an interesting New Year tradition - at midnight, making a wish for the next year, instead of drinking a glass of champagne, they eat 12 grapes, one for each chime of bells.
Landing rules
Having decided to plant "Ilya Muromets" in your garden, choose a sunny place, as long as there are no drafts in this area. It is important to choose the right sapling for planting:
- Seedlings should be free from damage and without signs of disease;
- The root system should be well developed.
Planted "Muromtsa" as follows - 1.5 * 3 or 1.25 * 2.50. Saplings fall asleep with soil mixture, while forming a hill in the center. The last but very important piece of advice is that pegs or fences should be installed next to the planted bushes so that the young shoots have a good place to trail while growing. 
Important! Sweet berries attract wasps. In order not to share the crop with insects, it is necessary to treat the grapes with insecticides. Also, in order not to attract wasps - in time cut the clusters with ripe berries.
Care
"Ilya Muromets" - unpretentious variety. To grow a hero in the garden, a lot of effort is not necessary. It is enough to provide moderate but regular watering, especially in arid summer, and also to make the correct feeding and timely cut the shoots.
Watering
Know that any grape variety ("Ilya of Murom", including) loves water procedures very much. This means that for the rapid growth and ripening of berries need water. In the summer, it is best to water every other day, and with the onset of autumn coolness, watering can be reduced to once a week. But, remembering the dangers of excessive soil moisture, try to avoid flooding the bushes.
Top dressing
Feed grapes better in the fall. Some gardeners are advised to fertilize with humus, however, if you are not a supporter of folk remedies, on the agricultural market there is a huge amount of fertilizer for grapes, with the optimal amount of mineral substances.
Pruning
Pruning of vines can be called the main procedure in the care of this plant. "Murom" is prone to overload, so this variety must be cut regularly and regularly. The pruning recommended by gardeners is carried out on 9-10 eyes, while the maximum number of shoots on one bush should not exceed 45. When wielding shears or scissors in the vineyard, try not to damage the shoots.
Did you know? Grapes are not only a tasty delicacy - it is also used to treat diseases of the gallbladder and liver.
Diseases and pests
It would seem that such a grape-hero and health should be heroic, but not. Fungal diseases, in particular gray mold and mildew, can cause significant harm to your vineyards and the crop itself as a whole.
Gray rot is difficult to treat. Even with regular spraying of fungicides, the risk of infecting grapes with this fungal disease is very high.
Mildew is dangerous throughout the growth period, and all parts of the plant can get sick. Increased humidity, for example, due to prolonged precipitation, contributes to the development of this disease. The main cunning of mildew is the speed of spreading in parts of the shrub; sometimes it takes a day or so for the grape harvest to be hopelessly damaged.
In order to reduce the risk of infection with fungal diseases, experienced growers recommend to carry out agrotechnical measures aimed at their prevention:
- regular inspection of the bushes and feeding;
- prophylactic treatment with fungicides;
- elimination of excess watering;
- obligatory pruning of dried branches;
- cutting off spoiled berries in the vine and leaves;
- burning of those parts of shrubs that are to be destroyed (they should not be thrown on the ground under a bush).
Also it is necessary to carry out prevention from oidium, Alternaria, phylloxera, thrips, tsikadok, mealybug, wormworms, grape pruritus.
Yield
Yield of "Ilya Muromets" is high. Having provided the vineyard the right care, you can collect from 5 to 7 kg from one bush. And this, you see, a lot.
After reading the grapes "Ilya Muromets", after reading the description of the variety, it is safe to say that it is definitely worthy of becoming an ornament to your garden.
