To preserve the plant, prevent its freezing, death or disease, you need to know how grapes are covered for winter, taking into account the region of growth. But before sheltering, it is important to prune and treat the bushes from pests. Only specially carried out measures will help the plant survive the frost safely.
Why cover the grapes?
Many gardeners wonder: is it necessary to cover grapes? It all depends on the region of growth, the severity of winters and the type of shrub. It is worth noting! Frost-unresistant species, hybrid varieties, young seedlings, and complex-resistant shrubs are covered. It is important to properly prepare frost-resistant varieties for wintering.
Optimal periods of shelter from frost
First, it is important to decide when to cover the grapes. It is recommended to create a protective layer in mid-autumn. The timing of covering grapes for the winter depends on the plant variety. A slight decrease in temperature (-5) promotes hardening of the bush.
The shelter is made with material prepared in advance; it is important to ensure that the temperature does not drop below 12 OWITH.
How to properly prepare a grape bush?
For successful wintering, you need to know how to properly prepare grapes for winter. To do this he:
- trimmed;
- treated for pests;
- takes cover.
Particular attention is paid to covering young grapes for the winter; the thinner the bark, the more careful it should be treated.
The shrub planted in the first year is not pruned; any fallen leaves are removed from it. There is no need to apply fertilizers; they were applied during planting.
In the Urals
There are certain features when preparing grapes for the harsh winter in this region. It is unacceptable to prune with a fruit shoot and replacement knot due to climatic conditions. In March, sharp changes in temperature can be observed, this leads to a slowdown in the development of the first buds.
Necessary:
- remove all stepsons, as well as shoots up to the woody area;
- about 12 buds are left, no more.
In the first year after planting, the bushes are not pruned, four sleeves are left, because growing grapes in this climate is unpredictable.
When pruning, young vines growing from the center of the bush are left behind.It is also important to leave spare branches for replacement, taking into account winter losses, and remove unnecessary eyes in the spring.
It is important to carry out catarification: remove the roots at a depth of 15 cm and fill the hole with sand. Fertilizers are applied, and liming is carried out on highly acidic soil.
Before the onset of frost, the vines are rolled into a ring, bent and covered with suitable materials.
In Siberia
Preparation for winter begins after harvest. It is necessary to add ash, which promotes the ripening of the vine and the destruction of spores of fungal diseases. It is important to carry out pruning correctly, because the freed bush is easier to cover for the winter. Be sure to leave 1/3 of spare buds.
Before frost, the vine is removed from its support, bent down and covered. In this region, the best material for covering is fallen leaves, the soil is covered with boards or sawdust, then the vine is laid and covered with foliage up to 35 cm thick, and non-woven material is laid on top. Afterwards, you need to lay down tree branches to retain the snow, the thickness of which should be at least half a meter.
The vineyard growing in trenches is laid on the bottom and covered with several layers of agrospan. Afterwards it is covered with a wooden shield; foam plastic, cardboard or polypropylene bags must be placed on it. The final layer is roofing felt. To prevent rotting, side vents are made, which must be closed when stable frosts occur.
In the middle zone and Moscow region
Winters in this region are quite mild, with vines preparing for frost a few weeks after the leaves fall. There is no need to wait for the final frost.
For circumcision you need:
- prune young shoots;
- cut off the stepsons;
- leave 12 eyes on the trunks;
- It is recommended to trim the lower branches, leaving no more than 4 eyes.
To cover grapes for the winter in the middle zone, they are removed from their supports, bent down to the ground, and a shelter is created from dry leaves and additional means (special material, slate sheets, straw bundles).
When growing crops in the Moscow region, it is important to correctly bend the vine to the ground. It is necessary to ensure that they do not come into close contact with the ground. It is recommended to lay out wooden planks. This will avoid the appearance of condensation, mold, and prevent rotting of seedlings. If desired, you can treat the bush with copper sulfate to protect it from pests.
The following species do not require abundant shelter:
- Early Northern;
- Moscow Sustainable;
- Anniversary of Novgorod.
Pruning grapes for the winter
Pruning of seedlings is preferably carried out in the fall, this will reduce the volume of plantings and make it easier to bend down to the ground. When pruning in spring, juice may leak from the vines, which will cause the crop to become weak and, accordingly, the yield will decrease.
In order for the grapes to winter well, they need to be pruned correctly in the fall. When pruning, non-bearing vines, damaged or diseased parts, old sleeves or unripe areas that will freeze in winter and become a site of infection are removed. It is necessary to leave the replacement knot and fruit arrow.
Trimming is done twice:
- After harvesting, dried and weakened branches are removed.
- After dropping leaves. Work is carried out before the onset of frost, at a temperature not lower than 3 OC, shoots above 1.5 meters are cut off, vines exceeding the second row of wire on the support are cut off by 30 cm. Stepchildren are also removed. The lower part of the vine becomes the basis for replacement knots, 4 eyes are left, and up to 12 eyes are left on the fruit tree.
After pruning, it is necessary to treat the vine for pests.A soda-salt solution works effectively. For 10 liters of liquid, 200 g of salt and 120 g of soda. In the field of treatment, lay the vine on the ground and treat it with a solution of iron sulfate. After drying, the vine can be covered. To repel mice, it is recommended to place calcium carbide nearby, absorbing moisture, it emits a gas that repels mice.
How to protect grapes from frost
So that next year the vine does not get sick and enjoys a new harvest, you need to know how to insulate grapes for the winter.
If the winter temperature is below 20 OC, the plant must be protected. An important rule before covering is to treat with iron sulfate (can be replaced with copper sulfate).
The vine needs to be bent to the ground and buried on top with moistened soil. You cannot take soil next to the vine, the roots will be exposed and they will freeze.
Some gardeners, telling how to properly cover grapes for the winter, advise using the air-dry method. To do this, put plastic burlap over the collected bunches of shoots, and then cover the plant with earth. It is recommended to ventilate periodically, opening the shelter for a short time.
Covering material for grapes for the winter can be different materials: leaves, sawdust, straw, non-woven coverings, wooden panels, boxes. The shelter material depends on the area of growth, the severity of winters and the plant variety. Some modern varieties are able to tolerate frost under light cover.
In the northern regions, coniferous spruce branches are abundant, they allow air to pass through perfectly, and rotting processes do not occur. It retains snow well, creating favorable conditions for wintering.
If the plant is grown in trenches, it is convenient to insulate it with wooden panels. Air circulation is ensured between the boards.Fallen snow prevents freezing. In the absence of snow and frost, it is recommended to cover the shields with non-woven material.
Important! It is not recommended to use polyethylene film for covering, since high humidity is created under it and there is no ventilation. Sudden changes in temperature promote the formation of condensation, which will lead to mold.
The following methods of covering grapes for the winter are distinguished:
- semi-shelter - applicable in the southern regions;
- full cover - used in regions with harsh winters;
- snow;
- earth;
- dry shelter - using slate, boxes, roofing felt.
Covering grapes with slate is done if there are excess sheets left after construction. To do this, you need to dig a ditch along the bush to a depth of 20 cm, wrap the vine in burlap, bend it to the ground and cover it with a sheet of slate.
Any of the correctly selected covering methods will help the vine to withstand frost and produce a harvest next season.
