Winter covering material for grapes and its characteristics

Winter covering for grapes is essential when growing them in cold climates. The plant must be prepared for winter. Covering it prematurely will reduce its immunity and the quality of the harvest. When choosing a covering, it's important to consider the climate and the crop's sensitivity.

Advantages of the method

Gardeners can grow varieties for extremely cold conditions without special winter protection for grapes. Here The following varieties are distinguished:

• Uncovered, they grow at temperatures down to -40 degrees.
• Without shelter, the varieties can withstand frosts of -30 degrees.
• Covering varieties are resistant to frosts down to -23 degrees.

Procedure and errors

To ensure the bush's well-being during the winter, the vines and their supports are removed and bent to the ground, followed by thermal insulation. When choosing materials for winter cover for grapes and performing the appropriate procedures, Gardeners make the following mistakes:

• Covering done at the wrong time. This procedure should be carried out when frosts are stable. In early October. cover the plant It is not worth it because it is not particularly prepared and the result will be damping off.
• Uneven covering is also possible. Although vines can withstand very low temperatures, the roots need to be kept warm. For optimal winter health, the vines must be covered along with the soil. Otherwise, the results will be disastrous: the roots will freeze, and the plant will die. Grapevine covering film should be distributed evenly within a 50 cm radius from the root collar.
• The bed preparation was done incorrectly. For the plant to survive frost, the wood must be mature. Otherwise, frost will damage the shoots, weakening the bushes and making them less frost-resistant.

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Therefore, it's necessary to add phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, as they will help strengthen the plant's immune system and promote the maturation of new branches. Nitrogen fertilizers are not required.

After harvesting, it's necessary to prune the plants, removing shoots and vines from the fruit. Afterward, apply a fungicide by watering. Before covering the grapes, they are hardened off a little., since at -7 degrees Celsius, the plant's immunity will be strengthened. This will help it withstand severe frosts without losing its essential properties.

Pruning should be done in the fall, at the same time as harvesting cuttings. Covering material for grapes has a number of specific features, so it's worth considering the best options.

The simplest method is to bend the plant down and cover it with peat. It's also possible to use soil. To do this, place boards under the bush and remove the vines from their supports. Form a bunch of shoots, and carefully lay the plant on the boards. Cover the vines with slate or roofing felt.

As a result, the grapes will be covered with 20 cm of peat. This type of cover will provide reliable protection from severe frosts. However, it also has a significant drawback: moisture penetration. Therefore, other options are preferred.

Application of film

Experienced gardeners try to cover grapes with film. Its advantages include a durable structure and good thermal conductivity. The following types of film are available:

• Polyethylene film is most often used for covering. It can retain up to 5 degrees Celsius. It has moderate strength and high water retention. However, condensation can form inside the film, which can soak the vines. Therefore, for better protection, it should be placed under materials such as straw or dry leaves. These absorb moisture while also providing thermal insulation.
• Reinforced polyethylene is more durable, retaining up to 8 degrees Celsius. It provides excellent protection from the cold. Its increased strength makes the material more resistant to mechanical impacts.
• Bubble wrap. This is a very high-quality and attractive material. Its advantage is that it retains 11 degrees of heat. Using this film eliminates the need for a water-absorbing layer.

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Option with spunbond

When frosts and thaws alternate, a different material should be chosen. These fluctuations are very detrimental to grapes. Buds may not open in time, and the vine may die. Therefore, a new material is used—an agrofibre called spunbond, which has several special properties.

The first property is thickness. To cover garden crops, a material with a density of 42 grams per square meter or higher is used. Grape vines are tied, wrapped in the material, and laid on boards. The downside of this type of agrofibre is its insufficient protection from very low temperatures; additional insulation is required for this.

Spunbond also allows water to pass through into the plant.

Agrofibre and other components

In mild climates, the plant is covered with agrofibre. If you don't have it at hand, then You can use the following materials:

• Straw is very convenient because it doesn't compact. However, it often becomes a haven for rodents. This poses the risk of them getting to the roots. Controlling them can be challenging. Additional insulation is required for protection.
• Dried leaves provide excellent thermal insulation, but can harbor microorganisms. They should be treated with a fungicide before use. It's important to remember that dried leaves from fruit trees are not particularly suitable for mulching. A good combination is with plastic film, which provides wind protection.
• Sawdust doesn't cake, trapping heat. Mulching grapes works well with conifers due to their antiseptic properties. Sawdust also works well as a weather protection layer.
• Spruce-based lapnik is easy to use and has antiseptic properties. However, if you need to cover many bushes, this can be quite challenging.

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Another method involves using mini shelter frames made from ordinary boxes. If wooden boards are available, the resulting structure should be used.

Whether snow can be used as a cover depends on the region. If the winter is mild, snow can be used as a cover. For snow to act as an insulator, it must be loose. This material can be harmful if the temperature fluctuates.

Will garden pine needles be suitable for covering? Yes, they can be used, but other natural materials are preferable. Pine needles are not breathable and will provide insufficient thermal insulation. Spruce branches, on the other hand, are more breathable.

When it comes to using cellular polycarbonate, it's best to choose the film variety. Polycarbonate becomes brittle at low temperatures, so it's important to purchase high-quality film. To ensure the plant survives the cold, combine two or three materials.