Sicily grape variety
Sicily is a relatively new hybrid form of table grapes, developed by the Ukrainian national breeder Alexander Burdak. According to his main activity, Alexander Vasilyevich is far from research work in the field of agriculture, however, many years of experience in amateur viticulture and the successes of other breeders prompted him to start breeding the ideal "sunny berry" on his site. The new occupation turned out to be quite productive, and in a relatively short period of time a number of promising varieties, characterized by an attractive appearance of fruits, high gastronomic qualities and an early ripening period, appeared in the author's asset.
Among such interesting brainchilds of Burdak is our heroine. The author does not report on the parental forms used in the course of hybridization, however, it can be clearly stated that the hybrid inherited a lot of positive qualities from them, which allow it to be considered a very "market" variety of grapes. Many farmers both in Ukraine and in our country are sincerely interested in him, and are currently conducting a test on their plots. Do not lag behind them and amateur winegrowers, from among whom the nucleus of admirers of Sicily, wonderful in many respects, is gradually forming.
Agrobiological characteristics
The shoots on the bushes are distinguished by their great vigor of growth, providing a rapid increase in the vegetative mass and dimensions of the plants as a whole. The leaves are formed by large, rounded, consisting of three or five lobes, between which there is an average degree of dissection. The flowers of the variety are bisexual, which avoids pollination problems. Only in the case of heavy rains during the flowering period can seedless, under-pollinated berries be tied, which, at the same time, differ little in size from ordinary ones, and therefore one does not dare to call this property negative. Ripening of annual grape shoots is very good, more than 2/3 of their length. At the same time, the color of the vine changes to yellowish brown.
The bunch is very large, loose in structure and, as a rule, cylindrical in shape. The typical weight of a ripe brush ranges from 700 to 1500 grams. The most massive of them appear on large bushes with a large supply of perennial wood. The combs are of moderate length, tawny, but strong enough. The berries are amazing in appearance. Oblong, up to 5 cm long, they reach an average weight of 12-15 grams, and some even 20 grams. The grapes are painted in a beautiful golden color and are covered with a thin layer of light waxy coating. The pulp of the fruit is dense, crispy when chewed, with a perfectly balanced taste, with an unobtrusive aroma of nutmeg. By the time of full maturity, the sugar content in the juice of grape berries reaches high values - up to 20 g / 100 ml, but objective data on the amount of acids has not yet been presented. At the same time, the harmonious taste of the grapes indicates that there are no problems with excessive acidity. The skin is firm, but not tough, chews well when eaten. The number of seeds is small, as a rule, no more than one or two, in connection with which they do not have a negative effect on the gastronomic characteristics of the fruit. In general, the tasting ratings of Sicily are generally recognized as high.
The variety is intended primarily for fresh consumption. It has all the prerequisites to become an excellent commercial variety for cultivation for sale. Already the first reviews of farmers testify to the good "marketability" of our heroine, due to the external attractiveness of the bunches, excellent taste and good transportability. In addition, the early ripening of the bunches makes it possible to count on the realization of the harvest during the period of high prices on the market, and, consequently, on good indicators of the profitability of the cultivation of grapes.
So, from the moment the eyes awaken in the spring until the removable ripeness of the fruit is reached, no more than 115-120 days pass in Sicily.The readiness for harvesting occurs in the southern regions by mid-August, when the sum of active temperatures is 2300-2400 ° C. This allows winegrowers from a number of regions unconventional for the "sunny berry" to also count on the possibility of ripening the variety in their climatic conditions. However, in addition to the CAT level and the duration of the growing season, the average winter hardiness of the vine should be taken into account, not exceeding -23 ° C, which means that in frost-prone regions it is necessary to provide the bushes with a reliable shelter for the winter.
The potential yield of grape bushes is high, due to the large size of the bunches and good fruitfulness. However, one should not forget about the risk of overloading large-fruited plants with the harvest, in connection with which the bushes require annual rationing in accordance with their age, vital energy and cultivation conditions. On average, adult plants are cut in spring by 40−45 buds, leaving fruit arrows long - 10−14 eyes. With the beginning of the growing season, a fragment of sterile shoots is carried out, and then the thinning of inflorescences on fertile vines is carried out.
The resistance of Sicily to diseases and pests is still being studied, but, according to the first reviews of winegrowers, several preventive chemical treatments are enough for a variety to maintain a good phytosanitary state. He is also not inclined to cracking berries, due to which the clusters can hang on the bushes for a long time.
