Covering grapes for winter in the Moscow region: methods

Climate conditions in central Russia force beginning gardeners to constantly consider how to properly cover grapes for the winter in the Moscow region.

The following factors influence the yield of vines after wintering:

• age of the bush - fruiting shoots are more resistant to sudden cold snaps than yearlings;
• full compliance with agricultural technology during the fruiting and growing season;
• the presence of diseases and pests on the vine.

During the summer, it's necessary to thin the bushes, removing excess shoots. This promotes the development of strong bark on the vines—only woody branches can withstand temperature fluctuations.

Preparing the plant

Before covering grapes for the winter in the Moscow region using the chosen method, the vines must be prepared. There are standard methods for preparing vines for winter, aimed at strengthening the stems and accumulating nutrients within the trunks:

1. After harvesting, water the plants generously before temperatures drop below freezing. Each plant should receive up to 10 buckets of water. In the first container, prepare a weak solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate). This procedure ensures sufficient moisture in the root zone for the spring, and the mineral will prevent it from becoming acidic.
2. Once all the berries have been harvested, the area around the trunk should be thoroughly fertilized to ensure the vines have time to accumulate sufficient macro- and micronutrients in their root system and woody shoots before the winter testing period. To do this, mix 4-5 kg ​​of compost with 50 g of superphosphate fertilizer, 1 g of boric acid, and 2 cups of wood ash. Apply the fertilizer simultaneously with digging; the specified amount of nutrient mixture should be applied per 1 square meter of the area around the trunk.
3. In early October, trim off the remaining leaves and form "sleeves" from the shoots that will overwinter. This is the foundation for next year's growth, so the branches should have a thick layer of bark. Remove diseased and damaged shoots and prune off yearlings. To ensure the vine begins bearing fruit the following year, it is necessary to properly prepare the young shoots. Before winterizing the grapes in the Moscow region in the first year of planting, select the strongest shoots with the densest top layer and trim them to the desired length—the optimal length of branches to leave depends on the plant variety.

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Expanded clay is a good covering material – it allows air to pass through and has low thermal and cold conductivity.

There is no exact date for the complete covering of the vines – everything depends on the expected weather conditions in each area.

If you do this too early, the buds will rot and the plant will die; if you delay, frost will hit the unprotected shoots and the bush will be completely destroyed.

You need to be guided by the weather: as soon as the temperature drops to -1°C, cover the bush for the night; if forecasters predict a drop to -5°C, close the cover completely. This temperature range most often occurs in late October or early November.

How to cover grapes for the winter?

There are several main ways to use scrap materials or industrial waste as insulation for grape vines. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, and by understanding these, you can choose the best option for each specific case.

How to cover with polycarbonate?

The cellular structure of the material is ideal for maintaining a constant temperature in vine shelters. This significantly simplifies the process, and it can be recycled from scraps of material previously used for greenhouses or from trimmings left over from larger structures.

This description and photo will show you how to cover grapes for the winter in the Moscow region using lightweight and durable construction plastic:

• Tie the prepared vines into one bundle with a wide ribbon - it is not recommended to use rope for this purpose, as it can damage the covering of the branches;
• prepare a bedding along the trellis from any non-woven substrate - spruce branches, reed mats or a thick layer of dry oak leaves;
• place the tied vines on the “mattress”, pin them to the ground with steel wire forks or special staples;
• Strengthen the side ends of the polycarbonate sheet with wooden slats or planks using a construction stapler;
• drill several holes in the wood at equal distances from each other;
• pull a strong cord or rope through the holes;
• place the structure over a row of bushes laid on a base;
• using a rope, tighten the sheet so that an arched tunnel is formed;
• secure the tie by tying its ends to posts dug into the ground.

Along the side walls of the resulting shelter, it's necessary to dig channels for water drainage—this will protect the plant from rotting during rain or thaw. The frame is covered with any type of insulation—sponbond, roofing felt, or film. The northern ends of such tunnels should be covered with a double layer of insulation, while the southern ends should be left open until the temperature drops below freezing. Don't forget prepare roses for winter!

Method #2: polycarbonate

Don't throw away scraps of material that are difficult to bend and crack. There's a way to use long strips of polycarbonate without having to bend them into a semicircle:

1. Cut a long strip of old linoleum, old industrial conveyor belt, rubber mat, or any other sturdy material.
2. Using a construction stapler, connect two pieces of polycarbonate of suitable size at right angles to each other with a strip.
3. Tie the cut grape branches into one large bundle with a wide ribbon in several places.
4. Place a base of reed mats, spruce branches, dry raspberry stems or large sawdust (dried) on the ground along the entire length of the trellis.
5. Carefully bend the top down and attach the tied grapes with special forks.
6. Cover the row of bushes with a “house” made of bonded polycarbonate, securing it along the long sides with a heavy stone or simply digging it lightly into the soil.
7. It is better to cover the entire structure from above with agrofibre or spunbond - this will help reduce the intensity of sunlight during a thaw or in early spring.
8. As soon as the mercury column on the thermometer reaches -5 degrees, close the end openings of the "house" with a double layer of any insulation, sprinkle sawdust on top or throw in some spruce branches.

This video shows how to cover grapes for the winter in the Moscow region so that this heat-loving crop can survive the winter safely and comfortably. It's important to remove the cover correctly in the spring—early sunshine and midday thaws can stimulate rapid growth of new leaves and shoots.