In the village of Bobrivnyk, located in Poltava, Ukraine, agronomist Oleksii Kravchenko has created a unique vineyard on his plot. His land is home to approximately 260 grape varieties, including both table and wine grapes.
Oleksii has been engaged in viticulture for nearly 30 years. During this time, he has studied the intricacies of grapevine cultivation, experimented with soil and fertilizers, protected heat-loving plants from wind, and mastered methods of combating viral and fungal diseases.
Despite the challenging climatic conditions, the agronomist is convinced that growing high-quality grapes in the Poltava region is possible. The largest grape cluster he has harvested weighed an impressive three kilograms!
Kravchenko dedicates all his free time to his vineyard, tending to the vines from early spring to late autumn. His collection includes more than 50 varieties of seedless raisins, and some of his seedlings are so valuable that their cost could be compared to half the price of a car. However, the agronomist has no regrets about his expenses, each new seedling, sourced from different corners of the world, fulfils another of his dreams.
More than 20 acres of land have been allocated for the vineyard, with some varieties even planted in his yard, where flower beds would typically be. Instead of roses, Kravchenko chose grapes—and he has never once regretted his decision.
Source: agronews.ua