It is estimated in about 55 days, the first volumes of Sicilian table grapes (Victoria and Black Magic cultivars) from no heated metal greenhouses in the area of Mazzarone will be available on the most important Italian markets.
In the picture above the table grape vineyards covered with plastic sheets in order to anticipate the ripening of seedless Black Magic, Victoria, Matilde and Sugraone varieties in the area of Mazzarone. In the lower part of this photo we can see the eradicated sheets due to a whirlwind on 11th March.
In the photo above, taken on 22nd March, grape grower Giuseppe Guastella from Mazzarrone is thinning the grapes of one of the clusters of Victoria and Black Magic varieties. With a delay of only 5 days compared to 2011, the harvest of grapes with 14 °Brix should start between 15th and 20th May.
In Apulia, for the same cultivars it is expected a delay of 50 days in ripening in vineyards covered with plastic sheets. As the photo below shows, on 22nd March in Apulia, the opening phase of the gems did not start yet.
The whirlwind in early March caused huge damages in Sicily, EUR 100.000 per hectare; unfortunately no grape growers were insured. Many greenhouses were literally razed to the ground and the production of grapes was irretrievably compromised.
In the photo above, metal greenhouses before the whirlwind on 11th March.
In the photo below, after it.
In the last two photo's we can see the reconstruction phases of greenhouses.
Contact:
Dr. Mario Colapietra
Mob: +39 339 6383200
Email: mariocolapietra@libero.it