How to properly propagate wild virgin grapes - in summer, spring, by layering

Parthenocissus or maiden grape is a wild plant with inedible berries native to Asia. It is planted in the country to decorate fences, gazebos and walls. The dense green mass of grapes protects the house from dust, heat and moisture. The liana grows quickly in the shade and in the sun, is frost-resistant, but draws water from the soil, which is dangerous for neighboring plants. Parthenocissus has intensive vegetative reproduction. Cuttings are the main way to propagate wild grapes.

About propagation by cuttings

The rapid growth of parthenocissus is a blessing and a curse for summer residents.During the season, the vines rise higher than the buildings, so they must be trimmed. The shoots make their way under the roof and destroy it, and the roots go very deep into the ground, so it is difficult to dig up virgin grapes. But the textured foliage captivates the eye with its greenery in summer and crimson in autumn.

A wild plant produces fruit without pollination. Its berries are an overly sour delicacy, but a useful ingredient in folk medicine. Decoctions of the fruits, twigs and leaves of parthenocissus are used to treat gastrointestinal diseases, metabolic disorders and hematopoiesis.

In nature, wild maiden grapes reproduce by seeds and shoots. For dacha needs, growing from seeds is a long and labor-intensive process. Cuttings take root faster, and you can get them for free - in the park or from a neighbor in the country. Cuttings are a technically simple way to grow and propagate virgin grapes in the garden. But experience shows that in this matter one must act in harmony with nature.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantage of cuttings is that cutting a shoot is easier than dividing a bush. Maiden grapes have a powerful root system. A common mistake when growing parthenocissus is cutting shoots for cuttings at any time of the year except the winter months.

Features of cuttings of wild maiden grapes:

In the first 2-3 years after planting, the maiden grapes develop a root system. In the fourth year, when the roots penetrate at least a meter deep into the soil, the vines begin to actively grow.

Cuttings

Lignified branches of mature plants are suitable for grape cuttings. Dry vines are not suitable propagation material. Also for vegetative propagation, shoots of three-year-old bushes grown over the previous year are used. Last year's shoots, on which new branches have appeared, are excellent for cuttings. This usually happens in June, a month suitable for harvesting.

General recommendations for cuttings of virgin grapes:

• cut the shoot at an angle of forty-five degrees with an inward slope;
• the optimal shoot length is 25 centimeters and thickness is 5 millimeters;
• signs of a shoot suitable for cuttings - green buds, bark without cracks;
• cuttings are cut so that each has at least 3 buds;
• At the end that will sink into the ground, remove the leaves.

Cuttings from thicker branches germinate less well. Material for vegetative propagation of virgin wild grapes can be collected in September, when sap flow in the plant has not yet completed. But then the cuttings may not have time to take root before the cold weather.

In summer

In June, new shoots appear on last year's vines. Suitable for cuttings are those whose base is denser and begins to become woody. Hammer-shaped cuttings are obtained from last year's and young shoots combined. They grow into denser seedlings.

Cuttings of virgin wild grapes are carried out before flowering. The appearance of fruit ovaries is also an unfavorable period for cutting shoots. Before pruning, the soil under the parthenocissus needs to be moistened.You can return to collecting material for cuttings in the fall after the fruits have fallen.

in spring

It is recommended to plant fresh cuttings of wild maiden grapes immediately. Therefore, May is the most favorable month for vegetative propagation of the plant.

Tips for spring cuttings:

• select lignified flexible shoots from last year;
• The parts with root-like inclinations on the buds take root best;
• when dividing a shoot, focus on the number of buds - 2-4 pieces on one cutting.

Dry and warm weather is suitable for cuttings. It is not recommended to cut shoots in March and April, when the heat has not yet set in and sap flow has not begun in the plant.

May cuttings already have enough vitality for growth and development of roots, so young parthenocissus will take root without additional stimulation. This is the advantage of cuttings in spring and summer. Autumn cuttings need to grow roots faster, so you will have to keep them in the Kornevin solution. But in case of prolonged rains, it will be difficult to control soil moisture.

There is no need to sprinkle or fix the shoot. It is only important to make sure that there are no other plants nearby from which it will take away moisture and nutrition. Several plants can also be grown from one horizontal shoot.

The buds will sprout roots and then sprouts will appear. It is necessary to give them an upward direction with the help of support, otherwise they will creep along the ground. After a year, young parthenocissus can be planted.

Rooting cuttings

Parthenocissus grows not only vertically, but also horizontally. The plant will independently reproduce by root shoots in a permanent place.Its roots grow more than ten meters in length and reach for moisture. There is a danger that they can undermine the foundation of the house. Root tendrils appear on vertical shoots and grow into the wall even through plaster.

Cuttings make sense if the green wall needs to be grown in a different location. Wild maiden grapes, cut at the right time, quickly produce roots. Cuttings do not have to be kept in a growth stimulator. Parthenocissus has such a growing force that it moves slate with its roots and shoots and bends chain-link.

The main method of rooting spring and summer harvests is in open ground. If it is not possible to plant the cuttings right away or they were cut in the fall, it is better to root them in a pot or in water. Autumn preparations can wait until spring if they are placed in a box with wet sand. During the winter, you need to ensure that the cuttings do not dry out or become moldy.

In the ground

The method is suitable for creating hedges and vertical cover. The cut cuttings are simply planted in the ground in the chosen location, but at a distance of 1.5-2 meters from the wall or frame. Planting them first in beds and then moving them is labor-intensive.

Young roots will be difficult to dig up and untangle without damaging them. By then, the seedlings will send out shoots. Wild maiden grapes do not really like transplanting, then they adapt again and slow down their growth. Therefore, it is better to plant cuttings immediately in a permanent place.

Recommendations for rooting parthenocissus in the ground:

• dig a border or metal sheets along the planting line to prevent the plant from growing beyond its designated area;
• after planting, parthenocissus cuttings should be watered moderately;
• there should be no weeds on the soil with seedlings;
• It is recommended to loosen the soil at the site of planting wild maiden grapes so that oxygen reaches the roots.

At first, the plants will seem lifeless. But gradually, as the roots develop, the parthenocissus will grow stronger and produce leaves.

In a pot

If the weather is unfavorable for planting in the ground or the right time is missed for some reason, the cuttings of virgin grapes are planted in pots. In this way you can grow grapes on the balcony in your apartment.

How to root parthenocissus in a pot:

• put drainage on the bottom;
• pour a soil mixture of one part low acidity peat and four parts sand;
• Deepen spring cuttings to the first bud, summer cuttings to the young shoot of this year;
• Place a peg next to the cutting for support.

At the end of planting, parthenocissus need to be watered. Clay and plastic pots, containers, and cut bottles are suitable for rooting.

Seedlings of virgin grapes should be placed in a moderately lit and cool place. The main maintenance requirement is to water regularly. Multiple seedlings sharing one container should not be allowed to become intertwined.

Sprouts of virgin grapes that are not planned to be planted in the ground need to be pruned in the second year of life. Seedlings intended for the garden will be ready to take a permanent place next year.

In water

Settled tap and spring water are suitable for rooting parthenocissus. Several cuttings can be germinated in turn in the same liquid. Organic substances remain in the used water, which further stimulate the formation of roots.

How to root wild maiden grapes using water:

• fill the glass container with liquid at a temperature slightly warmer than room temperature;
• Dip the cutting into water immediately after cutting. If it has been stored, trim the tip a little;
• water should reach a third of the length of the cutting;
• two days later, another container is prepared: a piece of charcoal is placed on the bottom, cotton wool is placed on top, and water at room temperature is poured two centimeters above the cotton layer;
• keep the shoots in a new container for thirty days.

Charcoal purifies the water, but it still needs to be changed every week. If the twigs and leaves develop faster than the roots, the seedlings can be kilched - increase the temperature in the root part and reduce it in the top.

For kilching, parthenocissus are soaked in water for two days, and then planted in steamed sawdust or coconut shavings and covered with wet sawdust or moss until the second bud. The container with seedlings is heated for two weeks. During this time, the growth of the top will slow down and the development of roots will accelerate, but the plant will need to be planted in the ground or in a pot.

Germination in water has one more drawback - after planting in the ground, the first roots will begin to die off and be replaced by new ones. The seedling will take root again in the same way as when planted in the ground immediately after cutting.

Landing

Maiden wild grapes grow in nutritious soil. Loam with low acidity suits it best. The area should be protected from the wind, moderately lit, without direct sunlight. Seedlings adapt faster in a shaded place with loose and moist soil.

How to plant parthenocissus:

• the depth of the hole is selected individually for each cutting so that there is one bud underground, and if there are more than three, then two;
• drainage is placed at the bottom of the hole in excessively moist soil;
• add sand to too clayey soil or peat to sandy soil, add fertilizer if necessary;
• the stalk is installed slightly at an angle;
• fill the hole and water it.

The time for planting potted seedlings is April-August, with the exception of particularly hot days. For the winter, it is recommended to cover young parthenocissuses: cover them with spruce branches, sprinkle leaves on the soil.

When the plant grows

Bushes of wild maiden grapes are considered mature in the third or fourth year after planting. They begin to bloom in July and bear fruit.

Young parthenocissus require simple care:

• watering as needed, more frequently on dry days;
• garter, mesh support, especially for shoots crawling up the walls;
• spring and autumn feeding;
• sanitary pruning.

In the second winter, seedlings of wild maiden grapes no longer need shelter. The plant is disease resistant, but can become moldy if the leaf density is high. Not only will pruning reduce the risk of mold spreading, but it will also help guide the vines' growth direction. If you monitor the development of shoots and prevent germination under the roof and on the ground, parthenocissus will not cause unnecessary trouble.