Shelter of grapes for the winter in the middle lane
It is necessary to properly shelter grapes for the winter in central Russia. This measure is mandatory, its absence can completely destroy the vine.
The principle of sheltering grapes for the winter in the middle lane
Pruning grapes in front of shelter for the winter
In the fall, preparations are made for the upcoming wintering. To begin with, the grapes are removed from the upper trellis, the excess shoots are cut off, and the sleeves are left with an annual vine. Then they cut off the shoots that woke up from the dormant buds, remove the antennae, stepchildren, leave 5-6 eyes on the fruit link.
Annual branches, in contrast to the sleeves, are required to cover. They are pressed to the ground and covered with earth. To do this, grooves are dug from the side, as a source of soil and to collect excess liquid that forms on the surface of the earth as a result of unexpected warming. The accumulation of moisture on top of the frozen ground leads to rotting of the plant.
The groove should not be too close to expose the roots. Otherwise, they are threatened with freezing in the cold winter.
When to shelter grapes
You can weed all summer, protect from pests, fertilize and water the grape bush, but if you do not properly cover the grapes for the winter, all the work will be in vain. First of all, you need to choose the right time for the preparatory work.
You can't rush to the procedure. If there is a warming, and the grapes are already wrapped up to the conscience, rotting will occur, the buds will begin to rip out, the vine will die. Until stable frosty weather is established, the temperature will not drop to -5 ° C, you should not bury the branches or sprinkle them with earth.
It is better to complete work a little earlier that open the season for preparing grapes for wintering, such as:
- pruning a bush;
- treatment with iron sulfate (300 g / 10 l);
- basing the head of the bush with humus.
All this is done 2-3 weeks before frost. If the preparation of the bush takes place in advance, it will be possible to quickly cover it at the first serious cold snap.
Shelter methods
There are many techniques for preserving grapes in central Russia for the winter.
Hilling
This method of covering the grapes is used in the first year of planting the bush. A mound of soil is made around the young plant. Its height reaches 30 cm. If the bush is old, the shaft will grow up to half a meter. This is a mild form of protection and does not always work.
Another drawback is that the kidneys remain unprotected and can die if severe frosts hit.
Before hilling, the plant is treated with antifungal and other chemicals that protect it from diseases and pests.
Ground
For shelter, you can use polypropylene
Gardeners create shelter from old sugar bags. One layer of polypropylene is covered with annual branches, pressed to the ground by some suitable device for this purpose, for example, iron hooks. Then everyone is covered with a layer of soil (up to 10 cm) taken from a groove along the burial.
It is easy to shoot such a shelter.The storage place of the bush rises high above the ground level, it is clearly visible. To open, take the edge of the burlap and throw it aside.
Car tires
To shelter a young vine from frost in the middle lane, they use the most unexpected devices. Flexible vine branches are twisted, placed inside a car tire, having previously made holes in it. Then sprinkle with soil or drop in.
Car tires are placed on the surface of the ground, hiding their flexible branches inside. From above, the hole is covered with a wide board. Gardeners are inventing more and more ways to protect grapes from winter temperature drops, so there is plenty to choose from.
Mini greenhouse
Such a shelter is a plastic wrap on a frame. Its height is adjustable, depending on what purpose it will serve. The winter version of the greenhouse, designed to protect the plant from frost, has 2 layers of polyethylene, between which an air cushion is formed. It helps to shelter the grapes in extreme cold.
Box shelters
Planks, the thickness of which reaches 2-3 cm, and the length - 1-2 m, form "houses" that hide the grapes. To increase their service life, they are painted, covered with a waterproof top layer. It is advisable to make them collapsible, since they turn out to be voluminous and cumbersome. In the spring they are removed, as a whole it is problematic.
Instead of boards, another material, more suitable for this, is used, for example, penoplex. It is a type of foam, a durable, stress-resistant material that has excellent thermal insulation properties.
Vertical
In the latter, the same method is used to insulate the grapevine as for roses, berry bushes. Shelter does not take place at the very ground. The vine is brought upright with a high stake. Then such a "stem" is wrapped around with various insulating materials, the structure is fixed with a cord.
Conclusion
Young grape vines are unstable to severe frosts, typical for the climate prevailing in central Russia. So that the plant survives the cold and does not die, a shelter is created for it with the help of various improvised means. Preparing for the upcoming frost makes it possible to preserve the grapes, create optimal conditions for its growth and, as a result, get a good harvest.