Preparing grapes for winter in the middle lane. Smart vineyard: how to properly prepare grapes for winter. Treatment of grapes from pests and diseases

Grapes are a perennial plant, so information about preparing grapes for winter will be useful to any summer resident. You need to prepare for the winter period in the fall. Grapes will survive the cold well if its vine is woody. To do this, you need to go through the process of hardening the plant. For hardening to be successful, it is necessary to water the grapes in time, provide the necessary access to light, remove excess shoots and harvest in a timely manner.

Usually, novice growers do a good job with watering and lighting, but they forget to thin out the grape bush. Therefore, if during the summer period you did not remove excess shoots, then thinning should be done in the fall. Also remember that the first light frosts are not afraid of grape bushes, so do not rush to cover them ahead of time - let the vine harden from frost.

Preparing the grapes for winter includes warming and sheltering the grapes. In this article, we will consider the option of preparing a small backyard vineyard for winter. For small home vineyards, air-dry shelter is used. Manufacturing looks like this:

In autumn, in mid-October, after the first frosts, the vine is tied up and fastened to the ground along the ridge with wire hooks. An important point - wait for the first frost, the vine must be hardened.
We make dry spruce branches from coniferous wood and lay it under the grapes.
We pour a layer of spruce branches and dry leaves along the entire ridge.
We cover it all with a yew shield.
We cover the shield with a layer of polyethylene or roofing material.

You can make another grape shelter for the winter:

We make a long wooden box from boards.
We lay a vine on it.
We fall asleep with dried fallen leaves and spruce branches.
We cover the boxes with boards or slate.
We cover the structure with roofing material or polyethylene.

A few tips for caring for such structures:

Snow should tightly cover the fortified shaft. A five-centimeter layer of snow raises the soil temperature by 3-5 degrees, and a twenty-centimeter layer prevents the ground from freezing.
Lapnik can be replaced (more on that below).
Don't forget to set up mouse traps.

The problem of decay

In order for the wintering to be successful, it is necessary to solve another important problem of viticulture - damping off. Incorrect shelter of grapes can lead to partial or complete death of the plant. Burnout may occur:

Late autumn. Due to natural causes, the soil under the bushes can retain water for a very long time. If you close the plant for wintering during such a period, then the plant will definitely rot.
In early spring. During the thaw, the soil is also saturated with moisture and can kill the grapes.

This problem must be dealt with. You can solve it by creating a ventilation system:

Make small holes in the ends of the shelter.
In autumn and spring they need to be kept open, and in winter - closed.
It is desirable to close the hole with dried fallen leaves.

By now it should be clear to you why the preparation of grapes for winter must necessarily include the creation of ventilation.

What can replace spruce

In order to qualitatively cover the vineyard from frost, you need to buy spruce branches. It can be bought at any hardware store. However, if your vineyard is large in size, this can cost a pretty penny. In addition, environmentalists have recently feared for the disappearance of conifers.
In order not to waste spruce branches, you can weave small slabs of plants, for example, from reeds. For this:

We will weave ourselves or buy reed mats in the store. Size: length - 3 meters, width - 1 meter, thickness - more than 7 centimeters.
We will tie two grape bushes and tilt them closer to the ground (there should be a gap of about 10-15 centimeters between the grapes and the ground).
On the sides of the formed arcs we put boards.
On top of the arcs we put our reed mats.
We cover the resulting structure with roofing material or polyethylene to the ground.
Do not forget to make ventilation (the recipe is described above).

In order for the preparation of grapes for winter to be as effective as possible, you need to know a few tricks. We list the main ones:

Before sheltering the grapes for the winter, water the soil under the plant liberally. The plant will still need moisture in winter. About 10 buckets for 1 plant will be enough (do not forget about ventilation).
Before covering the bushes, add some fertilizer to the ground. A good example of fertilizer would be a combination of 4-5 kilograms of humus, 50 grams of superphosphate and 1 gram of boric acid. If the soil under the plant is acidic, apply lime.
Dig up the soil under the plant. Water will be better absorbed into the ground, and the soil will not freeze so much.
Prevent the death of the eyes of the plant. Eyes may die in case of prolonged exposure to low temperatures. Temperature fluctuations also have a negative effect. How to be? The ground needs to be warmed up. To cover the grapes with natural insulation. To do this, pin the grapes, as described above (do not forget to leave an empty layer of 15-20 centimeters between the ground and the bush). Then we make an earth embankment of 10-15 centimeters. Then we cover the embankment with a small layer of peat, straw or manure. Now we are pouring the earth again. Do not forget that the grape vine should stick out of the insulated earth, and not be dug into it.
There is no exact timeframe for closing a grape bush. This is usually done after the first frost. They usually come at the end of October and later.

Outcome

So that in winter the grapes do not die from frost, they must be covered immediately after the first frost. As a rule, for shelter, simple structures are made of wood and covered with a layer of polyethylene or roofing felt. So that the plant does not rot, you need to make several small holes in the film, which must be opened at relatively high temperatures, and closed at low temperatures. In order for the structure to be resistant to low temperatures, they need to be insulated with spruce branches or its natural analogues.

How to prepare grapes for winter is a question often of interest to gardeners. Having their own small piece of land, everyone wants to get the maximum yield of crops growing on it. So grapes are among the most common and very favorite delicacies of the whole family. But the plant is a little finicky and tender: the vine is afraid of frost and too dry days. In many sources you can find the secrets of caring for grapes. Only by following the recommendations, reading reviews and relying on your own experience, you can grow a rich harvest and enjoy the wonderful taste of grapes all year round.

How to prepare grapes for winter is a question often of interest to gardeners.

The benefits of a strong vine

Shoots of young grapes during the period of growth and fruiting must be nourished with useful substances as much as possible. After all, a healthy and strong vine is more likely to endure low temperatures in winter than a weak and fragile one. Gardeners determine the optimal thickness of the shoots - 12-14 cm with a core diameter 1.5 times smaller than the main trunk.

The lack of vitamins is observed during the flowering of grapes, the formation of the ovary and the ripening of berries. Among these three stages, the first occupies a particularly important place. After all, the formation of inflorescences takes almost all the forces from the plant. That is why it is so important to help the grapes. For this, there is a method of feeding, which nourishes the roots and sprays the leaves.

Often organics are used in a liquid composition. It can be both cattle and pig manure, and poultry droppings. After the winter, a lot of ash remains in houses with stove heating, which can be used as fertilizer for grapes. All of the above substances are diluted in water (1 kg of slurry per bucket of liquid) to avoid high concentrations. Then the grapes are fed during the flowering period. At the same time, the fruits are formed faster, they are larger and have better taste. It is recommended to fertilize the grape root system with nitrogen-phosphorus supplements.

The ratio of phosphorus and nitrogen is so well chosen that in early spring such food for this plant will be simply irreplaceable.

The frost resistance of grapes also increases with the systematic feeding of its root system with fertilizers containing potassium. A prominent representative is potassium magnesia. The peculiarity of watering it is that the fertilizer itself is not applied under the roots, but they dig in a bush and distribute the feed in small pits. The soil is leveled and regular watering is carried out. After two weeks, it is necessary to repeat the feeding procedure.

Foliar supply of nutrients is carried out with the same solutions, but only applied to the leaves. Then the grapes will calmly survive very dry periods. At the same time, its growth, the quality and quantity of the crop will be preserved, and the ability to overwinter in central Russia will increase.

Ways to prepare grapes for wintering

Vitamin-rich vines will be more able to withstand a drop in temperature. But gardeners offer not to take risks and still additionally wrap the roots and vine, after removing them from the trellis and cutting off the extra shoots. Preparing grapes for winter includes several techniques. These include hilling the root system and shoots, semi-covers and shelters.

The first method will well preserve grapes that are planted in the spring. He is only 1 year old, so it will be easy to cover the bush with a layer of earth and dry leaves. After all, the vine has not yet had time to grow to large sizes. It is easy to clean and cut. But at the same time, the root system, adhesion sites and the lower part of the vine will perfectly overwinter, but the buds will remain not completely protected from frost. Gardeners recommend in such cases to increase the layer of powdered material until all shoots are completely immersed.

Gardeners suggest not to take risks and still additionally wrap the roots and vine, after removing them from the trellis and cutting off the extra shoots

The second way to prepare grapes for wintering protects the crown, which is located at a height of 10-20 cm from the base. The rest of the vine is dressed in special materials 3-4 cm thick. It can be ordinary hay or straw, all types of agrofibre, old clothes are perfect. Such drapery will not only prevent frost from getting to the vine, but also protect it from drying out. This technique is perfect for varieties of combined groups. As soon as the sun begins to bake, it is necessary to free the vine from “clothes” in a timely manner in order to avoid the appearance of rot.

For grapes that have been growing and bearing fruit for several years, the method of complete shelter in the winter is perfect. Before starting the preparatory work to wrap the grapes for the winter, it is necessary to carry out its competent pruning. The prepared vine is not just removed from the arch along which it was woven, but is laid on the ground in even rows, one next to the other. From above it is covered with a layer of earth, waste from seeds, dry grass or foliage. Then they put any fabric, old rugs, jackets. The top of the structure is a film. But it must be monitored and removed in time, as soon as the air temperature begins to rise, in order to avoid diaper rash.

If the grape variety is not very afraid of frost, then a complete shelter can be built from an ordinary sheet of slate or roofing felt. After removing them in the spring, it is worth carefully checking the condition of the vine to avoid frostbite.

Often, poisons for rodents are also placed under such “blankets” for grapes, so that they, having made their way to a warm place, do not feast on a young plant.

For grapes that have been growing and bearing fruit for several years, the method of complete shelter in winter is perfect.

Grapes are a storehouse of useful vitamins and minerals. It is enjoyed by both adults and children. Who doesn't love to feast on fragrant grapes, juice or rich wine? Especially when you do not need to pay money for them, but you can simply bring these products by looking into your own bins. But in order to enjoy the grapes all year round, it is necessary to make a little effort to care for the grapes and protect this wonderful vine from seasonal dangers.

How to cover a plant for the winter (video)

Annual care of grapes in autumn involves a number of operations, reduced to pruning, thinning foliage and other activities that allow not only to properly form, but also to increase the yield of shrubs. Grapes - although a popular culture, it is rather capricious, and not every gardener is cultivating it even in the middle lane. Separately, it is worth noting the fact that grapes are cultivated well in Bashkiria, despite the fact that this is a region of risky farming. The main thing is the knowledge and understanding of what constitutes the proper care of grapes.

Annual care of grapes in autumn involves a number of operations.

To achieve good yield results in a difficult climate, you need to try very hard. Not every gardener has the opportunity to experiment with varieties, and with the right approach, this is not necessary. It is worth noting that grapes in Bashkiria are characterized by large and fragrant clusters. First of all, you need to purchase a zoned seedling. In the case under consideration, it should be obtained for cultivation in the climatic zone of Bashkiria. Proper planting and care of grapes increases the likelihood that the plant will take root.

To achieve good yield results in a difficult climate, you need to try very hard

There are many varieties offered, and Alexander is one of the most popular. The variety belongs to the early canteens, a distinctive feature of which is resistance to frost. During the ripening period, the fruits acquire a dark pink hue and excellent aroma and taste. The average weight of a bunch is about 150 g. Several more zoned varieties are endowed with similar characteristics. Of these, Bashkir, Jubilee, Druzhba, May-3 should be singled out. If we consider such hybrid varieties as R-65 or R-81, then they have a bunch weight of about 500 g, and such indicators cannot but please gardeners who cultivate grapes in Bashkiria.

planting grapes

Before planting a seedling, an incision is made on it, checking for damage and viability. A healthy stalk has a greenish color, while the bark on the entire vine should not change in color. If you press on the kidney, then it will fall off, and when cut, the embryonic leaves should be visible. If the vine has a pale color and no moisture is observed in it, then such planting material is not suitable.

Under the future vineyard, you need to choose a sunny place where the shrub will be protected from the winds. On the site determine at what depth groundwater occurs. If the water is too close, it will negatively affect the growth and development of the plant. When it is planned to plant several bushes, planting should be carried out in one row from north to south, leaving 2 m gaps between plants, 1 m between rows.

Particular attention should be paid to the preparation of the landing pit. The hole is similar in diameter to a hole for a fruit tree, and this factor is especially important in areas with poor soil. After preparing the pit, about 2-3 buckets of humus are poured to the bottom. If the soil is predominantly clay, then 2 buckets of crushed stone are poured into the bottom of the hole, which will be drainage and ensure soil breathability. A layer of wood ash 400 g and phosphorus fertilizers 200 g are added as nutrients. After that, all components are well mixed with a shovel with the soil in the pit.

Proper watering

Grapes, in comparison with other horticultural crops, feel good during drought, which is explained by the characteristics of the root system, which has a large branching and excellent water conduction. It is important to remember that the shrub is responsive to watering. There are several ways to properly care for grapes, and attention should be paid to the time of year. In autumn, the soil is moistened through special channels, which are organized for drainage and covered with earth. With dry soil, cold air in winter penetrates to the roots more easily, exposing them to frostbite and subsequent death.

After watering, a sufficient amount of moisture will be concentrated in the soil for further development in subsequent periods. With abundant watering, the soil will get wet by 40 cm, after which the moisture will gradually sink lower, and in summer it will reach a depth of 1.5 m. In this case, even with severe drought, the shrub will receive water. Leaving in the spring implies the mandatory watering of the grapes if the winter was not very snowy. They perform an event until the moment the kidneys begin to awaken.

Under the future vineyard, you need to choose a sunny place where the shrub will be protected from the winds

If it is necessary to delay the development of the plant, for example, to protect against possible frosts, watering is done with cold water.

During the autumn planting, the grapes are watered directly into the pit, pouring 2 buckets of water. Having placed the seedling in the hole, sprinkle half with soil and again pour 2 buckets of water. To warm the soil in spring, you can use hot water, and after moistening, water it with warm water. In the first year of life, a bush of young grapes should form a good root system. First, the roots begin to grow near the planting pit, which indicates the need to irrigate the first year of growth into the canal, for the formation of which 30 cm recede from the plant, deepening 20 cm. The need for this watering is determined by examining the shrub and its leaves and is done with warm water. The following periods of growth and development are more favorable for irrigation. Happening:

awakening of the kidneys;
the end of flowering;
development and ripening of berries.

Caring for grapes in the spring has some features. If the grapes are watered before flowering or during it, this will dramatically affect the loss of peduncles. Before harvesting, it is also not worth watering, as this will lead to incomplete ripening of the berries and their cracking.

Autumn grape care

In the autumn, grape care consists of activities such as fertilizing, pruning, watering, preventive procedures against diseases and pests, as well as protecting the shrub in the winter. When pruning, the goals are not only to rejuvenate the bush, but also to increase productivity. The berries ripen faster, which is associated with a greater intensity of sap flow in young shoots than in old ones. There are other positive aspects in pruning: frost resistance increases, preventive measures against diseases and pests are facilitated, while diseased and damaged shoots are removed.

Depending on the region, grape pruning in the first year may also be carried out in September. The procedure is started after the plant is ready for winter. Perform pruning a few weeks after the leaves fall. Previously, it is not worth doing it, because photosynthesis continues in the shoots, which can lead to a lack of nutrients for a successful wintering of the shrub and obtaining a future harvest.

Depending on the region, grape pruning in the first year may also be carried out in September

Caring for grapes in the fall, which are pruned for the winter with the first frosts, can damage young shoots. This is due to the fact that at sub-zero temperatures the vine becomes brittle and fragile. During pruning, it is necessary to remove damaged and diseased stems, which, after the event, are collected in one pile and burned, this rule will prevent the spread of infection in the vineyard.

Fertilizer and top dressing of grapes (video)

How to form grapes?

The formation of grapes in the first year consists of a series of successive steps. Extra shoots are removed on the shrub, while it is important not to overdo it: in addition to good shoots, they also leave branches that are spare. Along the row in which the grapes are planted, a trellis is organized, which is 2 rows of wire that serve as a fastener for the vine: the lower row is placed at a height of 30 cm from the ground, the upper one at 60 cm. When pruning, you must adhere to the following rules:

Since the formation has not yet been completed, the two lower buds on the vine do not need to be touched.
With the advent of September, on last year's vine, all young side branches that have grown to the top row of wire are removed.
The young vine that has reached the bottom wire is not removed, but only shortened by 1/4.
In October, a fruit link is formed, consisting of a replacement knot and a fruit branch.
All shoots that have reached a length of 20 cm are removed in mid-September, and branches over 30 cm are shortened by 10%.
In young shoots (first year), it is necessary to remove excess processes, leaving only those that are located at right angles. To get a powerful bush, there should be about 7 such sleeves.
Finally, the top is removed.

All places of cuts are treated with garden pitch, which will protect against the penetration of pathogens.

How to care for grapes in spring? The procedure during this period is similar to the autumn. After winter, bushes are opened, pruned and fed, which are standard steps that have a direct impact on crop yields. In order to increase the yield of shrubs, in the summer they perform a cut, which is the cutting of roots located close to the soil surface (20-25 cm). When caring for young grapes in the summer, one must not forget that the soil near the trunk is loosened several times during the growing season. Weeds are removed in a timely manner, irrigation is carried out several times a week.

Shelter of grapes for the winter

One of the most common materials for sheltering vines for the winter is coniferous spruce branches, which is due to their low susceptibility to frost. However, not every gardener has a coniferous forest nearby, so you can use various covering materials to wrap the bushes or pin the vine to the ground. Such material can be agrofibre or film. It is worth considering that agrofibre in regions with prolonged frosts is not suitable as the main covering material. It is used only in combination with other materials.

There are varieties characterized by good winter hardiness, and therefore care for the vineyard in the autumn is not required. However, it is necessary to take into account the climatic features of the growing region. To increase winter hardiness, the plant is hardened during the dormant period. The initial stage lasts for 2 weeks at a temperature of +10 ... 0˚С. During this period, starch is broken down into sugars, which give the plant energy, making it easier to endure frost. The second stage of hardening also lasts for 2 weeks at a temperature of -1 ... -15˚С.

How to protect grapes from frost?

One of the most reliable ways to shelter a vineyard for the winter is to bury it in the ground and then cover it with a layer of soil and snow. The following rule should be followed: the soil is poured 35 cm high. If there are unripe shoots on the bushes, then shelter in this way will allow them to be preserved until spring. Additional measures include spraying the bush with slaked lime, after which the vine is dried and wrapped in covering material, which will protect it from decay. Then the shrub is bent to the ground, laid in a prepared trench, fixed and sprinkled with earth. To avoid flooding the trench, a layer of roofing material is laid on top.

Some experienced gardeners living in cold climates use the “dry” winter method of sheltering the vineyard. In this case, the vine is not buried, which prevents it from rotting, but it is still subjected to hardening. Fruit branches and sleeves are collected in a bundle, laid and fixed at the bottom of the trench, placing, for example, roofing material under the vine. As a shelter, wooden shields 30 mm thick are used, on top of which roofing material or polyethylene is laid, which will provide protection from melt water. Thus, the correct wintering of the grapes occurs.

Grapes are opened after winter, as stable warm weather is established. Young shoots are separated from each other and attached to the trellis. Caring for grapes in early spring comes down to water-charging watering. After the procedures, all that remains is to wait for the buds to open, the development of a powerful shrub and large fragrant clusters.

Attention, only TODAY!

Sooner or later, all gardeners come to the conclusion that for a more successful cultivation of a grape plant, you need to know more about how to properly care for it in the fall and prepare for the winter. After all, an important period for caring for a fruit-bearing vine is not only spring, but also autumn. It is during this period that it is required to qualitatively prepare the bush for wintering, and specifically in such a way that not a single vine is lost during the frost period. Therefore, in this article you can find useful information on how to skillfully care for grapes in the autumn: properly feed, water, cut, treat for diseases and pests, shelter for the winter.

Timing! Depending on which variety you have planted, respectively, on the timing of its ripening, as well as the climatic features of your region, autumn care and preparation of grapes for wintering begin from the end of September to the first of November. Most often, October is the month of grape care.

In order for the grapes to overwinter well, it must be properly prepared for the winter, namely, to complete the main stages of autumn care for climbing berry bushes after harvesting:

By the way! At the same time, usually, they are either transplanted to a new place.

top dressing;
watering (autumn water-charging);
preparation of cuttings;

vaccination (yes, some even inoculate in the fall);
treatment for diseases and pests;

Detailed information about how to cover grapes you will find .

Fertilizing grapes for the winter

Advice! Fertilization can be combined with watering.

After abundant fruiting, the grapes must be fed, because he spent a huge amount of energy and was exhausted. In order for it to successfully endure the winter, and go into active vegetation in the spring, for the rest of the autumn it needs to recuperate and nourish itself with useful macro- and microelements.

Fertilizers during this period should be applied exclusively phosphorus-potassium.

If you allow entry mineral fertilizers, then as should be used (30-40 grams), potash fertilizer - potassium sulfate(potassium sulphate), or potassium magnesia(20-30 grams), but it is most convenient to use potassium monophosphate(20-40 grams). The most effective will be wet root dressing, that is, these funds should be diluted in 10 liters of water and poured under the root.

If you are a supporter organic farming, then as potassium-phosphorus top dressing will suit you (100-200 grams). You can simply bring it in for digging, or you can make a solution.

Also works effectively rotted compost or manure(10-15 kg per bush), which can be applied to the trunk circle, namely, you need to dig fertilizer at a depth of 20-25 cm (for example, you can dig a trunk groove) at a distance of about 40-50 cm from the base of the bush.

Important! No nitrogen fertilizers(urea, ammonium nitrate) should not be added under any circumstances. Plants need nitrogen in spring, but not in autumn.

Video: fertilizing grapes in autumn and spring with organic fertilizers

Autumn processing and spraying of grapes

Before sheltering the grapes for the winter, it is imperative to treat the bushes with one of the fungicides.

Typically used for spraying inkstone, which destroys all fungal scourges to prevent the development of mold under cover during temperature fluctuations.

Note! It is necessary to spray the bushes only after the foliage has fallen and the buds have completely closed (so that they do not burn after spraying).

Possible before cutting to cut yourself already processed cuttings, but in this case you will need much more solution than when spraying after pruning, therefore most often economical summer residents process exactly after autumn shortening of the vine.

A solution of ferrous sulfate for processing is suitable for 3-5% (300-500 grams per 10 liters of water), or rather 3% - if the grapes were not sick, 5% - if they were sick. For young plantings, it is better to use a 1% solution of iron sulfate (100 grams per 10 liters).

Important! The vine will darken (turn black) after a while, but this is not scary, do not be afraid. That's the way it should be.

By the way, in a solution of ferrous sulfate also (optional) you can add 100-200 grams urea.

Worth knowing! Why is urea needed in the autumn if it is a nitrogen fertilizer that is used only in spring?

The fact is that urea has burning properties, so the larvae, which were laid by various insects, will burn after such spraying.

By the way! It is necessary to process not only the vine itself, but also the ground under it in order to destroy all hidden fungal spores.

Important! If this season your grapes were seriously ill, for example, (powdery mildew) or (downy mildew), then you need to treat with special means and compounds specifically against these diseases (so that the outbreak does not recur in the new season), all the information about which you will find in the relevant articles.

Pruning grapes in autumn

When all the leaves have fallen, the bushes will be completely ready for autumn pruning.

Note! Pruning is a very important process both in preparing vines for winter and in growing them in general, so carefully familiarize yourself with the rules and techniques of autumn pruning of grapes which are described in detail.

Watering grapes before wintering

Another event that must be done for the winter ( after leaf fall and pruning, but before soil freezing)- this is a plentiful moisture-charging watering of grape bushes in late autumn.

It is necessary for the plant to receive a sufficient amount of nutrient moisture before wintering. Such saturation with moisture prevents the root system from freezing in winter, since the earth saturated with water freezes much less. In addition, the nourished vine wakes up earlier in the spring.

When watering, it is important to take into account the characteristics of the soil. So, if you have sandy soil, then you will need to pour about 50-60 liters of water under each adult bush (or along the trench), but on loam and black soil - 2 times less (25-30 liters).

Advice! To effectively carry out moisture charging, you need to dig a small groove in the form of a groove around the base of the stem (10 cm deep). Thus, water will only flow to the root system, without spreading over a vast area. Or, if you planted grapes with a pipe, it will be even easier.

By the way! In this case, much less water will be required.

Video: moisture-charging watering of grapes before wintering - ways

Shelter of grapes for the winter

Some winegrowers believe that shelter for the winter is the most important moment in the care of grapes, the harvest of the next year directly depends on the correct implementation of it.

What to do if the vine does not ripen in any way

If the vine is still green, and winter is near (it is time to cover), then it is necessary to take measures aimed at its forced maturation.

Well ripened vine

Important! No need to delay the harvest, otherwise the vine simply will not ripen. If the variety is late ripening, and the branches are still overloaded with brushes of unripe fruits, then it is recommended to cut them off as soon as possible. It is better to lose part of the crop than grape bushes.

You can speed up the ripening of the vine in the following ways:

stop watering at the end of fruiting (second half of August-September), or only combined with potassium-phosphorus top dressing (if it is hot in early autumn).

Note! Moisture-charging watering is carried out already at the end of fruiting and ripening of shoots.

Spend foliar top dressing (in September): leaf spraying phosphorus-potassium fertilizers also well improves the maturation of the vine (it is necessary to dissolve 20-30 grams of each fertilizer in 10 liters of water).
Provide increased amount of heat (in October). To do this, you need to remove the grapes from the trellis, lay them on the ground and cover them with one of the heaters, for example, spunbond or lutrasil.

Thus, the quality of the work carried out to care for the grapes in the autumn and its preparation for the winter will be how effective the efforts of the grower will be rewarded next year. And this requires a very responsible and thoughtful approach to the issues of feeding, watering, pruning, treatment for diseases and pests, as well as sheltering grapes for the winter. Rich harvests!

Video: what to do with grapes in autumn

In contact with

Like it or not, but grapes in the conditions of the Almaty region are a covering culture, like garden blackberries. There are, of course, old varieties that hold frost without removing the vines, but these are mostly wine varieties and less baked about. And grapes with their frantic growth power are not clear to everyone, so beginners are a little afraid of him. Let's try to give a simplified method of preparing grapes for winter - shelter and pruning of the vineyard for the winter, as they say, "for dummies."

Grapes: preparation for winter (pruning, shelter, moisture charging and top dressing)

Preparing grapes for winter is not only pruning and warming. It is also necessary to carry out moisture-charging irrigation and fill the vineyard with potassium. In summer, from mid-July, the grapes, as a rule, are not watered. This is necessary so that the vines redirect the growth force of the shoots to the maturation of the crop. But the dry ground freezes quickly and the roots are damaged, so the grapes are strictly necessary to shed well in October. It is better to water the grapes with a flood, as sprinkling enhances the spread of mildew.

Autumn grape fertilizer with potassium is filling the vineyard with wood ash. Potassium, like nothing else, increases the winter hardiness of the vine and, most importantly, the eyes, which will release flowering shoots next year. Water the vineyard with an ash solution the next day after water charging. A day before feeding, dissolve 1 cup of ash per bucket. Pour a bucket of such a solution under each bush.

In addition, ½ bucket of dry ash is poured under each bush. Why is it better to do it in the fall? Yes, because the ash has a very strong alkaline reaction and this adversely affects the growth of thin roots. In autumn, the thin roots of grapes die off and transfer nutrients to thicker roots. That is, they are no longer afraid of any alkali - this time. Well, and the second - in late autumn, winter and with the beginning of spring, the ash will be saturated with organic acids and become available for grapes.

How to prune grapes for the winter

Perhaps a beginner can determine where the grapes have this year's shoots. It is from the buds of these one-year-old shoots that will wake up next year that flowering (=fruiting) shoots will begin to develop. But there are too many of them on the grapes, and it is necessary to leave only two of them. Now we will not dwell on the formation of grapes in detail, and how many sleeves a bush should have - there will be another article about this.

We need to understand how to prune grapes for the winter so that they bear fruit next year. And we go from simple to complex. On any of the sleeves, we select two mature whips from below, as shown in the figure below:

Above the second shoot, we cut off the entire whip (step 1). And we shorten the lower shoot (step 2), leaving 2 buds (sometimes they leave 3 buds, and in the spring they break out an extra shoot, or shorten it). A long shoot before shelter for the winter must also be shortened, but leave 10-15 buds on it (step 3). So we got a fruit link, which is left for the winter.

On a long vine in the summer there will be a crop, and replacement shoots will go from a short knot. They will develop more strongly, because there are only two of them (if more, it will be necessary to break it down). Of these, we will again make a fruit link next autumn - we will leave a short knot at the bottom and a long shoot for fruiting. And we cut off the entire fruiting lash under a knot. And every autumn, this is how grapes are pruned for the winter.

How to cover grapes for the winter

Shelter of grapes for the winter is carried out immediately after pruning. It doesn't matter if you grow grapes on a trellis or an arbor - the principles are general. You can remove, cut and wrap the whips by pinning them with staples to the ground. And you can hide them and tie them vertically to a trellis or gazebo. The main thing is that the covering material must be free so that the plant can breathe.

If you cover the removed bushes not with a cloth, but with spruce branches or other plant materials, then the vine bushes can injure mice in winter. Then you need to find elderberry leaves and twigs, and first throw them in, and then other twigs. Elderberry perfectly repels rodents.

These are the general principles of preparing a vineyard for winter. Carry out moisture charging in late autumn, feed the bushes with potassium. Well, do not be afraid of grape bushes, they are easy to prepare for winter - pruning and sheltering a vineyard is within their power, believe me, everyone started somewhere.