Oleg Valenchuk: Vyatsky grapes are a true wonder!

      This year the Grape Growers’ Club, operating at Oleg Valenchuk’s Gardeners’ School, has once again opened its doors to everyone eager to master the art of growing a southern berry.

      The Gardeners’ School, organized in 2011 at the initiative of the chairman of the Union of Gardeners of Russia and State Duma deputy Oleg Valenchuk, offers free lectures on topics related to vegetable growing, cultivation of fruit and berry trees and shrubs, floriculture and landscape design, as well as modern methods of pest and disease control. These classes are in high demand among Vyatka residents who seek to improve their skills and knowledge in gardening. However, as experience shows, gardeners are not only hard-working people but also bold experimenters ready to try new crops, including southern plants.

      Since 2014, at the numerous requests of participants, classes dedicated to viticulture have been held in Kirov. Today vines can be found in many home gardens. Some gardeners have many years’ experience, others are only beginning their journey, and some are only planning to buy their first seedlings. This diversity of skill levels creates a unique atmosphere in the club, where everyone can find useful information.

      The first lecture of the new academic year took place on November 15 at the A. Likhanov Library. The classes, led by Tatyana Shubina and Inna Kharina, are planned to meet the needs of both beginners and experienced grape growers, allowing each participant to gain new knowledge and skills.

      Already in spring gardeners will be able to apply what they have learned in practice, and in September a traditional grape exhibition will be held where club members can showcase the results of their labor. This event not only sums up the school year but also inspires new achievements.

      “You are doing what just 10–20 years ago seemed impossible. Vyatka grapes are a true miracle!” notes Oleg Valenchuk. “Such sweet, ripe and, most importantly, ecologically clean grapes cannot be found at markets or in stores. Everyone who attended the harvest festival in Kochurov Park in September saw this for themselves. People could hardly believe their eyes that such fruit can ripen in Vyatka. Grape growers from the Kirov region are already competing successfully with colleagues from the southern regions. I am sure this is only the beginning. And the Grape Growers’ School will continue to provide the necessary knowledge for lovers of the southern berry.”