Formation of grapes from the first year and subsequent years

Grow big grape harvest – is a huge amount of work that requires certain theoretical and practical knowledge and skills from the gardener. An important aspect of agricultural technology is the formation of the bush, as the duration and abundance of grape fruiting depend on it.

What is grape plant formation?

The life cycle of a grape bush is conventionally divided into three stages:

• growth, gain of vegetative power (lasts 5-6 years);
• active fruiting (25-50 years);
• weakening of growth, reduction of reproductive activity.

Fruiting and aging depend not only on local climate conditions, nutrition, and care, but also on bush pruning. On vines, shoots appear in the most unexpected places, and to increase the number of clusters, the bush requires shaping.

Formation is pruning grape shoots according to certain schemes, which take into account the variety, characteristics of the bush, and other factors.

They remove:

• unimportant stepchildren;
• diseased and deformed shoots;
• extra kidneys.

Thanks to this procedure, a redistribution of nutrition occurs, providing the main fruit-bearing vines with the necessary elements.

The need to form vineyard bushes

Pruning bushes – a labor-intensive but important procedure that allows for increased crop yield. Furthermore, thanks to the formation of:

• care of plantings is simplified;
• the risk of infections is reduced;
• the taste of berries improves.

Strong, sturdy bushes can withstand adverse conditions and avoid freezing even in harsh climates. Properly pruned bushes produce more berries, making harvesting easier.

Without pruning, berries gradually become smaller, their flavor deteriorates each year, and the yield per bush decreases. Plants don't tolerate cold well and are more susceptible to disease.

Basic conditions for choosing a formation scheme

Shoots are pruned according to specific patterns. Several methods for removing grapevine branches have been developed and implemented. The choice is determined by:

• the climate of the area where the grapes are grown;
• soil type;
• the rate of shoot development;
• the main characteristics of a particular variety;
• the need for shelter during the winter period.

The bushes' wood mass accumulation parameters and soil fertility are taken into account. In poor soils where irrigation is difficult, bushes with a small number of branches are grown. For fertile soils with abundant watering, any shape is suitable, including those with numerous branches.

In cold regions, grapes grow in winter requires shelter, so they choose the most suitable pruning techniques. In central Russia, where winters are light and strong winds are common, bushes are completely covered. In northern regions (the Urals, Siberia, and the Northwest), winters are colder and longer, so they use their own pruning methods.

Features of crop growth

When choosing a scheme, the general characteristics of the culture are taken into account:

1. Grapes lack fruiting branches. Each branch can produce fruit under certain conditions, and the result depends on pruning.
2. A distinction is made between first-year (summer) shoots, biennial (usually where the main crop clusters are formed), and perennial shoots.
3. Vines can be standard or standardless. The former is common in southern regions and is characterized by upright branches (fruit-bearing vines). The latter type grows with fan-shaped branches, supported by stakes (cups) or trellises.
4. A trunk is a perennial part, a shoulder.
5. A sleeve is a perennial shoot located on the shoulder.
6. Arrows or fruiting vines are biennial branches.

The placement of the arms or cordons varies depending on the region's climate. They all share one commonality: they are positioned horizontally to the ground, with the height of the sleeve and arm varying from high, medium, or low.

Basic schemes for bush formation

Fruit plants are pruned in certain ways, ensuring ventilation, sufficient lighting, and bush stability.

Sleeve pattern

Plants pruned using the sleeve method have a short lifespan. However, for small areas, this option is convenient and the most suitable.

Suitable for regions with harsh climates, cold winters, and strong winds. Parts of the plant are pruned annually, otherwise nutritional deficiencies will occur, resulting in plant death. During the first season, all branches are removed, leaving only the strongest and densest growing ones (long and short). The number of buds on a long branch is 7-9, while on a short branch, 2-3. In the fall of the second year, the long branch is cut off. Only strong shoots are left on the short branch.

Fan shape

The pattern is similar to the sleeve method, but the gardener must grow at least 5-6 sleeves. The name comes from the resemblance of the resulting fan-shaped form, as more branches remain on the plant. The arrangement is on both sides of the root.

Over two seasons, two strong, vigorous vines are required. The vines are supported vertically. They are fanned out on the support, with a couple of shoots left for lengthening. Vines are categorized by length as large, medium, and small.

The fan-shaped pattern is popular among winegrowers because it's suitable for many varieties. Fan-shaped patterns are also used when growing plants on trellises and stakes.

Cordon form

It takes about four years to shape a bush. First, the growing branches are thinned out, leaving a distance of 30 to 42 cm between them. Long branches are left, and all vines are used.

It is necessary to grow a strong, powerful stem in the first two years, then cut it at a certain distance and tie it randomly to a support (trellis, trellis).

In the third year, they begin growing shoots on the branch, thinning them out and removing weak and diseased specimens. In the fourth year, they begin working with the fruiting section.

Using the Guyau diagram

A relatively simple vineyard pruning scheme using the Guyot method. It produces lush, large clusters while increasing overall yield.

The shaping options are single- or double-shouldered. In the first case, a single small shoot is formed with a well-developed fruiting bud. When two shoulders are left, two branches with side shoots grow.

Guyot with two shoulders is suitable when growing vineyards In poor soils, when the bushes are stunted. Single-stem plantings are used in dense planting patterns, with a distance of 1-1.2 meters between plants.

Formation according to Moser

The method was named after the renowned Austrian winegrower Lorenz Moser. This cultivation method is primarily used in industrial viticulture, denoting the intensive nature of the technology. In amateur gardening, the method has been modified to suit specific climatic conditions.

The essence of Moser training is the use of standard trees, 1.2-1.3 meters tall. The training system for green vines has been modified, replacing vertical growth with a free-hanging one. This allows for moderate vine growth and simplifies care. Only certain branches are tied to prevent bending and bunches from falling.

Bowl-shaped formation

This system is used in vineyards in the southern regions. The placement of the branches, as well as their number, varies. The number depends on the vigor of the plant and the type and fertility of the soil. Most often, 3-6 branches are used.

They are formed over the course of 5-6 years. The basic stages are similar to those of fans, but branches from all plants are left to grow.

Formation of VNIFS-1

The scheme's name is derived from the phylloxera research station whose staff proposed their own version of vine pruning.

Short shoots free of replacement branches are left on the branches. The distance between plants during planting is 2-2.5 meters. Intermediate anchors are installed, onto which trellis wire is stretched. In the second season, all branches longer than a meter are tied to supports. Weak shoots are left until the following season. The vines are pruned to 3-4 buds, after which fruiting branches are created.

Small fan without a standard

Among the cover schemes, a promising method developed by gardener D. Tokarev is popular. It is used in small areas when space saving is important.

Plants are planted at a distance of 0.8-1 meters, leave a distance between the rows Up to two meters. Covering provides protection, and the vines quickly regenerate.

Formation of the trunk

This method is suitable for southern regions, where the risk of vineyard frost is eliminated. It will take 5-6 years for the vines to fully develop, after which it is essential to maintain the established shape.

The standard method solves many problems in plant cultivation. For example, this method reduces the risk of infection and pests in grapevines.

Molding work in the first year

A single strong shoot is grown, identifying strong offshoots on it. One branch is left to grow, the others are cut off. For the winter, the vines are wrapped to prevent the vine from freezing.

Formation for the second year

Last season's sturdy pole begins to resemble a standard. A control pruning is performed, leaving the branch at the desired size and adding 2-4 buds.

After pinching, two stepsons remain, which grow by about 30 cm over the summer.

Formation in the third year

The side shoots that form on the second level are pruned. Only the top buds are left, and the shoots that grow from them are then thinned and tied.

Formation for the fourth year

The shoot closest to the ground is pruned, leaving no more than three buds. This will become the replacement stem (knot). The fruiting stalk is formed from the vine growing above, pruned to 6-10 buds.

Accelerated formation of grape bushes

These schemes are used to quickly bring young vineyards into the fruiting stage. Types:

• N.I. Sklyar's method;
• scheme of stepsons (author F. Bashirov);
• Research Institute "Magarach" method (vine bending).

"Green" formation

Recommended for fertile soils and proper agricultural practices. Young plants are pruned, then a couple of emerging side shoots are left. In the second year, these side shoots are used to create replacement shoots and fruiting shoots. A full harvest is achieved by the fourth year.

Bending of the vine

Strong shoots that grew in the first year are pruned in the spring of the second year to 2-3 buds. These will produce side shoots over the summer.

In the third year, in the spring, the stepsons are trimmed:

• a couple of pieces with 12-15 eyes;
• The rest are cut into 2 buds.

Long stems are tied to a support, creating a bend in the vine. The following year, the portions of the stems that produced fruit are cut off. Shoots from the curved portion of the vine are used to create a fruiting link.

Methods of shaping using trellises

In the southern regions, vineyards are often grown on trellises. They are constructed using two-plane structures, which increases yields by 20-40%.

It is necessary to follow planting rules, placing the seedling in the hole so that the lower bud is 10-12 cm above the ground surface. A popular design is a fan-shaped plant with sleeves, or a standardless plant.

Leave a distance of 2-3 meters between rows.

Formation in the first year

Four strong shoots are obtained by removing all the others. In the fall, the side shoots are cut back to a length of 70-80 cm. For the winter, the vines are covered with shields or non-woven materials. If the shoots are weak, buds are left on them, which will produce the desired branches next year.

Formation in the second year

The number of side shoots is increased to six. A shoot is left behind, which will later serve as a horizontal standard. It is attached to the trellis and pruned to eight buds.

If it is necessary to form a standard, a strong stepson is selected from both sides, and all the stems located below are used as a replacement.

The entire top of the plant is cut off. In spring, two strong shoots are pruned back to three buds. A total of 5-6 shoots are left.

Formation on gazebos

Schemes:

• multi-sleeved with the formation of a trunk;
• multi-sleeve without a stem;
• vertical cordon.

They are used only for varieties that tolerate low temperatures well. Grapes are planted near arches, awnings, and arbors.

The main stem should be at least three meters long. All side shoots are pruned back to six buds. In the fall, the main stem is pruned back by two-thirds, and the side shoots are pruned back to two buds.

Terms and conditions

Pruning is carried out throughout the vineyard's life. During the first few years, the vines are shaped and then maintained to their desired shape. Of all the agricultural techniques, this is considered the most difficult.

Trimming times:

1. Spring. Bushes are shaped to increase yield and make planting easier.
2. Autumn. Plants are prepared for winter, covered during the cold season. Removing excess and diseased shoots also ensures healthy plants.

Reviews

Konstantin, Pyatigorsk

I use my own method in my garden, which I call "cordoning." I remove the thin shoots and tie the strong ones to the trellis. I leave shoots on the trellis at about 28-30 cm. These will later become the cordon's horns. All other stems are removed.

Over the course of a season, we obtain a cordon with several runners. It's about two meters long. We leave the strong vines for fruiting this season. I usually make five or six shoots, each producing a single cluster. For the following year, only one cordon remains.

 

Ivan, Voronezh

I use a fan-shaped method. I leave no more than 1.2 meters between bushes. In the spring, when staking, I ensure that the first buds on the fruiting vines are higher. They will receive good nutrition, and then in the fall, it will be easy to select the fruiting vines from them. Remove all the other buds. This way, there will be no need to grow a replacement shoot.

Conclusion

The rules for shaping vineyards are universal. It's enough to know the basic theory and existing schemes, and then try them out in practice. Only then will you find the most suitable option for a specific region and site.