Description and characteristics of Traminer grapes, cultivation and care
The name Traminer grape variety refers to a family of several varieties of berries of Austrian origin. This variety is widespread in Western Europe and is widely cultivated not only in this territory, but also in Russia. The proposed material examines the varieties of grapes of this family and the features of its agricultural technology.
Breeding history
This grape and its main variety - Gewürztraminer - was cultivated in the Middle Ages, on the territory of present-day Austria, on the Alpine slopes. Over time, the variety has spread to other countries.The current name Traminer was given relatively recently - in 1973, and is dedicated to the Italian province of the same name. Initially, it was cultivated by farmers from the wild grapes that grew in the area.
Varieties of varieties
Traminer belongs to the Muscat grape variety. The family includes several different varieties with some differences.
Pink
Pest and disease resistant, fruitful variety with round and pink berries. The berries are medium-sized, with a high content of juice. The main purpose is making wine.
The black
This variety was bred quite recently - in 2007 in Greece. The berry has a bluish-black tint, the brush is dense, medium-sized.
White
A variation of the pink variety. It is characterized by a lighter (almost white) berry color. It has a spicy taste and is widely used in winemaking.
External data
All listed varieties of varieties differ mainly only in color and characteristics of the berries. Further - about the external data of the variety.
Bush
It does not have a high growth rate, especially when it comes to industrial cultivation. It looks classic - of medium height, densely covered with leaves and strewn with grape clusters.
Leaves and shoots
The leaves are wide, leathery, with rounded teeth, small in size. The color of young foliage is green, with the course of the season acquiring a yellowish-red hue. The shoots are spreading, the tops are whitish.
Fruit and yield
The size of the fruit is small. The color of the berries depends on the variety. The brush is dense, conical in shape, after ripening it weighs, on average, about ninety grams.Traminer is distinguished by early ripening, the berries are stored for a long time on the vine, which allows for complete harvesting of the fruits. Productivity is consistently high, with minor fluctuations from year to year.
Growing region
Traminer prefers a warm climate and is grown in the southern part of Europe, on the territory of our country - in the Kuban, Crimea and other regions with a warm climate.
Landing time and technology
Shoots are planted on flat areas and hillsides facing south and southwest. The place is chosen with free access to sunlight and must be sufficiently humid.
If a wintering seedling is used, planting is carried out in the middle of April, young shoots are planted later - in early June.
A small hole is preliminarily pulled out, up to eighty in depth and up to seventy centimeters in diameter. The roots are sprinkled with an upper, more fertile layer of soil, and the lower one is evenly scattered over the site. If the soil is clay, a little rubble with sand is poured into the pit before planting, with sandy soil - compost. With the indicated composition, the pit is filled up to half, then fertilizers are applied, and the soil is filled up.
The seedling should be placed so that the top open bud is five to ten centimeters below the ground. The roots should be placed at a depth of at least forty centimeters, this will exclude their damage from winter frosts.
Agricultural rules
The peculiarities of grape cultivation take into account several factors, which determine how intensively the bush will develop. Traminer does not tolerate severe frosts, so for the winter the vine is buried in and covered with a film. At the beginning of the season, after opening, the vine is placed on a rigid trellis made of stretch marks between two installed pillars.
Soil composition
Loamy soils of high fertility are suitable for grapes. It is necessary to preliminarily liming the soil, especially if the soil is acidic.
Irrigation
Provide abundant irrigation at least once a week. Watering should be limited during the ripening period to eliminate excess moisture.
Top dressing
Regular feeding will provide essential nutrients and should be done every month, except for the specified ripening period. Fertilizers are also laid when planting a bush, directly into the pit. Used: wood ash, potassium, nitrogen, humus, peat.
Treatment
To protect the bushes from pests, fungicides are used. The grapes are regularly inspected for pest exclusion. At the beginning of the season, the soil around the bush and the vine must be treated with iron vitriol. Over time, regular treatments will help counteract possible pests and diseases.
Formation of a fruiting vine
To ensure a stable yield, the bush must be properly formed. Initially, half of the available buds, located in the upper part of the shoot, are left for the fruit, the clusters are removed from the lower branches - a vine is formed for the next year's harvest. They do this every season, gradually removing the lower branches and cutting off the weak ones, leaving strong shoots.
If the bush is not pruned for several years, you should not expect a high yield and large berries. The correct formation of the bush will provide the necessary quality of the berries and a stable harvest.
Note! A newly planted bush cannot be pruned; this operation is performed starting from the second season.
Reproduction methods
The main methods of reproduction of Traminer are by layering and cuttings. For the formation of a layering, the edge of a young vine is buried in the middle of the season, for subsequent rooting and obtaining a separate shoot.This method allows you to get a stronger shoot that is resistant to low temperatures.
Cuttings are cut from a young vine and stored until spring in the basement, treated with wax. They are planted in the ground when stable warm weather sets in, observing the above rules.
When to wait for the first fruiting
The first fruiting occurs in the second season. But the bush will begin to give a stable yield from the fourth to fifth year of cultivation.
Ripening and harvesting terms
The berries ripen towards the end of summer and beginning of autumn. You should not prematurely remove the brushes, since more mature berries have time to gain aroma and sweetness.
Where are grapes used?
The Traminer grape is widely used in winemaking. It serves as a raw material for the preparation of exquisite elite white wines.
Growing Traminer on a personal plot, the gardener will receive delicious juicy berries and will be able to independently prepare aromatic wine, which is in no way inferior to that purchased in the store. This variety is stable enough for cultivation in the Russian conditions of the southern regions and has a stable yield.
