General cleaning of the vineyard: a list of mandatory activities

After harvest, any vineyard requires a thorough cleaning and serious preparation for winter. Before carrying out any post-harvest maintenance, allow the vineyard to rest for a few days. In the fall, fertilize, prune, treat for diseases and pests, and water the soil. The vineyard is then covered for the winter.

Fertilizing plants after harvesting

Fertilizer should be applied 30 days before the plant sheds its leaves and definitely after harvest. After fruiting, grapevines must be fed. This requires potassium-rich fertilizers, such as:

• potassium sulfate;
• potassium chloride;
• potassium sulfate;
• simple household salt.

Fertilizing helps increase yields and enhance the flavor of the fruit. Be sure to follow the package instructions; improper application can be harmful. To ensure the fertilizer reaches the plant's roots, dig a hole approximately 50 cm deep near the main stem.

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Potassium nitrate is a good choice. It can be applied in liquid or dry form. In rainy weather, it's best to apply it dry; in dry weather, apply it liquid. Every 2-5 years, you should fertilize the plants with organic fertilizer.

Pruning grapes

After the last leaf has fallen from the grapevine, it's essential to prune it, as the plant is entering dormancy. Pruning shears are ideal for this. Start by trimming away any dead, diseased, or damaged branches. Then, remove any shoots growing directly to the ground, as they won't produce any fruit anyway.

On the grapes, absolutely all branches are pruned, leaving only 5-7 buds.

They're starting pruning in the middle of the bush, all unnecessary and thin branches must be removed to encourage the development of strong and fruitful shoots. Typically, 2-3 branches are left from the entire bush.

Periodicity:

1. Every year, after harvesting and shedding of leaves, it is necessary to prune the grapes.
2. Every 5 years, carry out a “general” pruning – remove fruit-bearing branches, leaving only new shoots.

Pruning must be done before fertilizing, so that as many nutrients as possible reach the “necessary” vines.

Protecting vineyards from pests and diseases

After harvesting, each vine should be inspected for pests or diseases. Even if the vineyard is completely healthy, after the leaves have fallen, preventative treatment with iron and copper sulfate is essential. These two products help prevent disease and plant death.

To combat it, the following preparations are used for chemical treatment:

• Strobe;
• Amistar;
• Mikal;
• Efal;
• Topaz.

If there are powdery mildew lesions on branches that can be pruned, it is best to remove them.

For grape leaf roller use Rovikurt. For gray mold use Horus or Scapa. If grapes If there is a disease or a tick has been spotted, the leaves must be torn off and burned.

Watering and insulating the vineyard

Sometimes, severe drought occurs after harvest, meaning water needs to be applied before rainy weather sets in. Watering times are usually reduced, but they are necessary to ensure nutrients are absorbed into the soil. It's essential to monitor a soil moisture sensor; if you don't have one, dig a small hole about 45 cm deep and check the soil yourself to see if it's damp or dry.

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Insulating a vineyard for winter – this is the final step in the general vineyard cleanup after harvest. After all these steps are completed, it's time to protect the vineyard from frost. It's important to know that this crop is highly susceptible to frost. If the air temperature drops to -15°C, the vineyard will be damaged. ^OC, then there is a high probability of not getting a harvest next year. Even the temperature is -4 ^OC, is already seriously affecting the grape vines.

Grape vines are covered strictly horizontally. To "lay grapes," you'll need:

• remove it from the trellis;
• bend to the ground;
• secure with metal pins;
• sprinkle the branches with earth.

For covering, use burlap or dark, dense, yet breathable film. If hot weather sets in after covering, the grapes should be uncovered for a while, otherwise the shoots or roots may rot.

There are species that can withstand frosts down to -20 ^OC, but just in case it is worth covering such varieties, because the frosts can become more severe.

These are the basic tasks a vineyard gardener performs. If completed promptly, the crop will yield a bountiful harvest the following year.