How many years does it take for Hutai No. 8 grapes to bear fruit?

Hutai No. 8 grape was bred by the Xi'an Grape Research Institute through bud mutation selection from Olympia, and was approved on January 10, 1996 at the 18th Shaanxi Province Crop Variety Approval Meeting. So do you know how many years it takes for Hutai No. 8 grapes to bear fruit?

1. How many years does it take for Hutai No. 8 grapes to bear fruit?

Generally, it can bear fruit in two years. It is a European-American hybrid. The young shoot is green, the shoot tip is semi-open with a slight purplish red tinge, and the fuzz is moderately dense. The young leaves are light green, the leaf margins have a purplish red tinge, and the lower surface has moderate white fuzz.

2. Fruit characteristics

The ripening period is from mid-July (first crop) to early to mid-September (third crop). The cluster is conical with secondary clusters, medium to slightly tight in density, a single cluster is 30cm×18cm, cluster weight is 600—1000g, berries are nearly round, longitudinal diameter 29 mm, transverse diameter 28 mm, bloom is thick, skin is medium thick, the tip is purplish black, the tail is purplish red, berries are large, average single berry weight is 10.4g, maximum berry weight is 18g, sugar content is 17—21% or more, acid content is 0.5%, sweet and sour and tasty, the skin and flesh separate easily, the flesh is fine and crisp, with no flesh sac, and each berry has 1—2 seeds. After the clusters mature, they can hang on the vine for 1 month, and after picking they can be kept on the shelf for 7-8 days. Multiple fruiting extends the shelf life, and the harvest period can continue from mid-July to mid-October.

2. Key points of cultivation techniques

1. Orchard establishment

Plant spacing is 1.5×2.8—3m, using a high, wide, drooping T-shaped trellis or a three-wire Y-shaped trellis, and in management, promoting early and controlling later is most suitable. Generally, shaping can be completed in two years.

2. Pruning

This variety has a well-developed root system and strong vigour, so winter pruning should control the number of retained branches, with 4 buds being most suitable, and few or no reserve branches may be retained. For summer pruning, pinch the shoot tip at 7 leaves before flowering, and remove all summer buds and tendrils.

3. Control the fruit load

This variety has high yield and strong multiple-fruiting ability, so the fruit load must be strictly controlled. For the first crop, retain 750-1000kg per mu; for the second crop, it is suitable to control it at 1250-1750kg per mu, with an annual yield of more than 2000kg per mu.

4. Fertilisation and irrigation

Apply sufficient base fertiliser and strengthen topdressing. The water-control period is from 10 days before flowering of the first crop through the entire flowering period. Apart from water control during the fruit colouring period in late June, at other times irrigation should be carried out promptly according to conditions.

5. Pest and disease control

This variety has strong disease resistance, and no obvious pests or diseases were found during years of regional trials. In production, according to the occurrence patterns of grape pests and diseases and the characteristics of this variety, early prevention and early treatment should be achieved, combining prevention and treatment with integrated control.