How to plant grapes in the fall using cuttings

Growing a vineyard is far from an easy task, especially when propagation is involved. Gardeners consider autumn the best time for this procedure. This is because the new plants will be able to stimulate vigorous growth in the spring. The first harvest can be obtained as early as the second year. To do this, you need to plant the grapes from cuttings in the fall. There are many nuances to consider.

Important nuances

To plant grape cuttings in the fall, you need to purchase them or prepare them yourself. If you choose the latter option, you should ensure you obtain healthy and strong cuttings in advance. Cuttings are taken from mother plants that have shown the best yields. They should also be free of any signs of disease.

Cuttings with even the slightest mechanical damage should not be used for autumn grape planting. Those with elongated internodes are also unsuitable. Thin or crooked cuttings should also be discarded. If purchasing cuttings, it's advisable to purchase cuttings from plants that have demonstrated good fruiting in the growing region. Acclimatized cuttings take root much better.

It's important to take planting material only from mature vines. There are several signs. With their help you can understand this:

1. The branches of the plant become light brown.
2. You can pick up a shoot. A green one will be much cooler than one ready for cutting.
3. The minimum diameter of the cuttings is 10 mm. They should have at least 3 live buds.
4. You can test the plant's readiness by placing it in an iodine solution. Mature shoots will change color, turning the solution bluish.
5. Fat shoots are not suitable for cuttings, as they will not be able to reproduce the root system.
6. The length of the shoot should be about half a meter.

The right time

Many gardeners believe that planting or transplanting grapes can be done year-round, except in winter. Some amateurs even manage this task in winter. Properly planting grapes from cuttings in the fall is quite a labor-intensive task.

To repot plants, you first need to select the right variety and understand all its characteristics. If the species is too warm-loving, the autumn procedure will not yield any results.

Wild grapes adapt to any conditions, so they can be planted at a time convenient for the gardener. You just need to choose a location. From there, they will develop on their own. However, wild grapes in the garden are intended only for decorating a gazebo.

When planting grapes in the fall, it's best to choose a frost-resistant variety. This will make things much safer during the winter, when severe frosts occur outside.

When choosing a drop-off time several factors need to be taken into account:

1. Autumn planting should be done only before the first frost and the soil temperature drops. Failure to do so will result in the plant dying, and all efforts will be wasted.
2. The best period is considered to be mid-September or early October.
3. Most grape growers believe that cuttings are best taken during the waxing moon. However, this is likely just superstition.
4. All tools used during planting should be treated with a potassium permanganate solution. This will disinfect them and prevent various pathogenic fungi from infecting the future vines.
5. Cuttings should be planted only in the morning and in dry, windless weather.

Rooting cuttings

Hobby gardeners have two main methods for planting cuttings. The first is to plant the grape cuttings directly into the soil. The second requires rooting the cuttings first, allowing them to grow over the winter.

It's important to remember that vine cuttings can only successfully overwinter if they're located in a region with a mild climate. The soil should not freeze too deeply during winter. In northern regions, planting in the ground should only be done if there's no room for more in the house. storage of cuttings.

Autumn planting allows you to grow varieties that are virtually impossible to root using traditional spring planting. However, this process must be replicated as accurately as possible. Algorithm for performing the operation:

1. Cut the planting material.
2. Prepare it. Place one end of the cutting in a jar of water for several days.
3. Prepare the soil. It should be loose and moist.

Cutting off shoots

Stiff planting material must be preparedWhen the final pruning will take place. This is done after the leaves have fallen and before permanent frost sets in. Using the standard method, each branch should have 3-4 buds. The average length is 30-40 cm. Sometimes other options are used. For example, gardeners root vines that can range in length from 80 cm to 2 meters.

Basic requirements for vines:

1. The shoots must be one year old, but mature and have normal strength.
2. The wood needs to be smooth and glossy brown in colour.
3. The best thickness is about 10 mm.
4. There should be no external signs of disease.

Preparation and kilchevanie

Kilchevanie significantly helps stimulate root growth. If the cuttings are planted outdoors before winter, this procedure is not necessary. However, the young roots that sprout will likely not be able to survive the cold November weather, which will significantly chill the soil.

To prepare the planting material for fall planting, soak the cuttings in water for 1-3 days. Rinse them with copper sulfate or a very weak solution of potassium permanganate. This will prevent various fungal diseases that often develop in damp, cold soil.

Once the cuttings are planted in containers kept warm indoors, they need to be rooted. For this, you can use a glass of water or some moistened substrate. Regular sand works well. Place the glass above a radiator. The bottom will be warm, and the top will be cool.

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Soil for a vineyard

Cuttings can be planted in any soil in the fall. Grapes are a very undemanding plant in this regard. However, certain nuances should be taken into account. For example, table and dessert varieties require different soil. Planting also varies.

If you've decided to propagate a table variety using cuttings, the best solution is to plant it in humus-rich soil. Shallow groundwater is even better.

Vineyards grow well in dark soil. The light allows it to warm up much better, as it reflects less solar energy.

The most suitable soil:

1. Clayey.
2. Chestnut.
3. Gray soil.
4. Carbonate. Vineyards thrive on slightly carbonate soil.
5. Black soil.
6. Red earth.
7. Gray soil.

The main thing is that the soil is light, well-aerated, and highly fertile. Throughout the growing season, planting cuttings The soil should be constantly loosened.

Planting holes should be prepared in advance to allow the soil to settle thoroughly.

Choosing a location

To get the best results when growing vineyards, it is necessary to select a good landing spotThis plant loves the sun. Therefore, it's important to choose a location with maximum sunlight. It's also a good idea to ensure the grapes aren't exposed to cold winds, but have enough space for good air circulation.

It's important to remember that vineyards require a large area to grow and develop properly. Avoid planting the vines too close together.

Before planting the cuttings, it's essential to cultivate the soil. Remove all weeds, dig over, and loosen the soil. Then, add organic, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. After a few days, it's a good idea to dig over the soil again.

Only after this can you begin to dig special holes or trenches for planting the cuttings. This is essential to ensure the grapevines take root.

The correct planting hole

Plant cuttings in a hole or trench. When digging, the soil should be thrown to both sides. Throw back the top 30 cm to one side. This is the fertile soil. The remaining soil should be thrown to the other side. After planting, the remaining soil can be removed completely. The trench should be at least 80 cm wide.

If planting in holes, they should be 80 cm in diameter. The minimum depth is also 80 cm. There needs to be plenty of space, as growing grapes have a very large root system. It needs to feel free.

A drainage layer is laid at the bottom. Fine crushed stone is ideal for this. Next, a layer of humus is added. Mineral fertilizers can also be added. This is necessary to create a nutrient cushion that will supply the vineyard with essential nutrients until next year.

The compost must be thoroughly mixed with the fertilizer. The next layer is fertile soil, which has been discarded separately. Cuttings should not be planted directly onto the nutrient pad. Doing so will cause severe burns, which will kill the plant. Wait until the soil settles before planting.

Planting cuttings

Planting cuttings requires a lot of patience and attention, as it's not the easiest task. The future grape harvest depends on proper planting.

Landing algorithm:

1. Planting should be done in early October. Everything must be done before the first frost.
2. A distance of 2.5 meters should be maintained between future bushes.
3. The minimum distance between each row is 3 m.
4. The cutting needs to be deepened into the ground and bury it. The soil around it should be thoroughly compacted. The depth should be such that at least two buds remain above the soil surface.
5. Place a cut plastic bottle over each cutting, then thoroughly water the soil. Pour at least 40 liters of water into each hole during planting.

After the water has been absorbed, the soil should be loosened slightly. This is necessary to restore air access to the deeper layers. Fall planting requires that the cuttings be immediately covered with pine needles, as the ambient temperature is already close to freezing. Instead of pine needles, peat or regular sawdust can be used. For effective insulation, the blanket should be at least 30 cm thick. Leave some space between the hole and the pine needles.

Already in the first year of planting, the cuttings will develop a very good root system. The following spring, the plant will begin to grow vigorously from the young seedling. Now all that remains is regular maintenance of the vineyard.