Autumn fertilizing of grapes for winter

Timely autumn fertilization of grapes is essential for winter protection against low temperatures, diseases, and pests. Care for the plant is essential throughout the year. This includes regularly inspecting the vines, removing excess shoots, loosening the soil, and fertilizing it. Fertilizing before winter is especially important, as it helps maintain the plant's health throughout the year.

What micronutrients are essential?

The bush's fruitfulness will increase if the soil contains nutrients. Over time, the soil becomes depleted and the berries grow poorly. To ensure longevity, it's important to ensure the soil contains:

1. Zinc. Directly affects the yield of grape vines.
2. Nitrogen. It affects the growth of leaves and shoots. In September, it should be added carefully to ensure normal wood maturation.
3. Potassium. During the cold season, the bush needs it most. This micronutrient allows the fruit to ripen faster.
4. Phosphorus. Allows inflorescences to ripen faster.
5. Copper. Helps the plant survive the winter and cope with drought.
6. Bor. Acid accelerates ripening and affects the sugar content of berries.

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Fertilization methods

Autumn fertilization of grapes is especially important for the winter after the first year of flowering. The bush may experience a deficiency of valuable nutrients after the berries are harvested, so it is necessary to use organic fertilizers with a small amount of wood ash.

Excessive amounts of fertilizer will also have a negative impact on the condition of the bush.

Most gardeners treat the soil around the trunk with a small amount of compost or rotted manure.

Fertilizing the soil is prohibited only if fertilizer was applied at planting time. In this case, the first fertilization should be done only after three years. Annual fertilization in the fall can cause the bush to stop producing berries. Therefore, it is recommended to fertilize grapes once every four years.

To combat pests in the fall, you can use a soda-salt solution to spray the bushes.

For a bucket of water, you'll need 10 tablespoons of table salt and 5 tablespoons of edible salt. Using a spray bottle, spray the solution onto the bush and pour it around the roots. This treatment is most effective at the end of October.

The following methods can be used for feeding:

1. In early or mid-September, you can apply foliar fertilizer. Micronutrients are easily absorbed through the leaves, so the plant will produce more fruit next year and withstand frosts well. A solution of ash and herbs or a specialized macronutrient fertilizer are suitable for this. You can add sugar to speed up absorption.
2. To enrich the plant's roots, use salt and an aqueous superphosphate extract in a 2:1 ratio. Boric acid, zinc sulfate, iodine, and potassium permanganate are added. The solution is applied dry or dissolved and applied to a depth of 20 cm.
3. After the first frost, a mixture of potassium sulphate and superphosphate is applied. The components are used in equal quantities. This treatment is repeated every three years.

It's recommended to fertilize grapes in the fall for the winter early in the morning or evening on a windless day to ensure the fertilizer is well absorbed and produces maximum results. After fertilizing, mulch the grapes in the fall to reduce the loss of nutrients from the soil and protect the root system from freezing.