Nursery farming of grapevines - a traditional craft in the area of the town of Kilifarevo
What is nursery farming?
Nursery farming is a relatively new craft related to the cultivation of fruit trees, grape vines, etc. In Bulgaria, this craft has developed in the last 100-120 years. The area of the town of Kilifarevo in the 20th century became a center for the production of grape vines.
The process of creating grapevine plants involves using a wild vine rootstock, known for its resilience, onto which a branch – a scion – of a wine or dessert grape variety is grafted. This results in new plants with the desired characteristics, ready for planting.
Kilifarevo – the center of nursery planting in Bulgaria in the 20th century
Although the Kilifarevo area is not known for large-scale grape production, it played a key role in the development of vine-growing through production of grape vanes. In the 20th century, nursery planting became the main livelihood for the local population.
The craft received a particularly strong boost after the phylloxera epidemic, a small insect brought from North America in the 19th century that destroyed almost all the vineyards in Europe. During this period, the Kilifarevo region established itself as a leading producer of seedlings for the restoration of vineyards in the country and abroad.
Timeline
- 1905: Dimitar Kalchev, a winegrower from Kilifarevo, imported several phylloxera-resistant grape varieties from America, thereby laying the foundations of modern nursery farming in the region.
- 1925-1947: The establishment of the Misket Vine and Wine Cooperative in Kilifarevo gave a new start to the organized production of grape seedlings. At that time, the region was cultivating up to 4 million vines per year, exported to countries such as Germany, France and Hungary.
- The Socialist Period: After the consolidation of agriculture, the production of grapevine seedlings reached its peak – up to 12 million vines per year, exported mainly to the Eastern Bloc countries.
Among the most popular varieties for which seedlings are produced in Kilifarevo are:
- Dessert varieties: bulgar, chaush.
- Vine varieties: Dimyat, Hamburg Misket, Pamid.
These varieties are used to create vineyard plots both in Bulgaria and abroad, which establishes Kilifarevo as a significant producer of planting material for viticulture.
The decline of nursery farming in Kilifarevo
Today, nursery farming is no longer practiced in the area. Changes in economic conditions and the development of new technologies have led to a decline in this once thriving craft. However, the history of nursery farming in Kilifarevo remains a testament to the resilience and innovative spirit of the local people.
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