When and how to open grapes after winter
It is necessary to open grapes after wintering at a certain temperature regime. If the procedure is carried out too early, there is a risk of losing the vine from frostbite. If you overexpose the cover, the vine will rot - the plant will suffocate.
When and how to open grapes after winter
Temperature regime
For Ukraine and the southern regions of Russia, the optimal time to open grapes is early April. In these areas, the risk of frost is already minimal. For central Russia, it is better to open grapes after winter in the 20th of April. The northern regions (Ural, Siberia), where a harsh climate reigns, do not rush to open grapes after winter - this event is most often held in early May.
Currently, the most popular shelter methods are:
- hilling;
- semi-shelter;
- full and partial cover.
Opening grapes after wintering is permissible only when the air temperature stabilizes both day and night, the snow melts, the soil dries out a little. The opening procedure depends on the selected method. Burlap, roofing felt, wooden shields are carefully removed.
If the seedlings were insulated by the hilling method, the soil from the vine should be removed very carefully. If you damage the vine, juice will flow out through the cut, thereby depriving the bush of strength.
There is no need to delay the opening: freezing temperatures, warmth and shelter will negatively affect the condition of the vine. Diaper rash can form between the bush and the material, the eyes will rot. It is important to open the plants on time, without waiting for high temperatures.
There are times when growers expect a series of frosts, but so far the weather is warm. Then the culture is revealed, but the insulation is not removed. Leave the vine to dry in the sun, and wrap it up again as the frost approaches.
Spring frost protection
A strong vine with dormant buds can withstand frosts down to -4 ° C, with open buds it easily dies at a temperature of -1 ° C.
- In northern regions with an unstable climate, it is customary to remove winter shelter material and replace it with a more ventilated one. This is done as follows: an arch is installed over the bushes, which is covered with non-woven material to protect the plants from night frosts.
- In this case, you should not use a film: it creates a greenhouse effect. The buds and eyes can become rotten, in the future there is a risk of fungus and mold appearing on the bush. It is better to use materials like spunbond and agrotex. They let in fresh air, but at the same time keep warm. Such a shelter is able to protect the bushes from frost down to -3 ° C. If lower temperatures are expected, it is better to use winter insulation.
- Another way that allows you to raise the temperature by 3 ° C-4 ° C is fuming. The weather at this time should be calm, the smoke should travel between the bushes, and not go up. Then it will reduce the intensity of heat release from the soil.
How to protect bushes from frost with water
Water plants after winter should be done carefully
Moderate soil moisture is an important condition for successfully surviving frost after plant opening. The bushes should be watered regularly, preferably during the day and in the presence of the sun.
You need to water the bushes carefully, so that water does not get on the branches.
Watered soil will release condensation as the temperature drops. The humid one is able to retain heat well, by dawn the temperature in this place will be higher.
It is impossible to water the plants every day, because during the period of insufficient heat, the roots will begin to rot.
Sprinkling is another good way to protect seedlings from frost after opening. Spraying is carried out with the smallest droplets. This method neutralizes frost down to -5 ° C.
Another method related to water is to install containers with liquid under each bush, or to make a small trench along the vine row and pour it there. When freezing, the water will give off heat and thereby protect the bushes from the destructive cold. If a crust of ice forms above the water in the morning, it should be removed.
How to properly care for bushes after opening
Immediately after the opening of the kidneys, it is required to treat the bushes with antifungal and antiparasitic drugs. Pests often look for shelter for the winter in insulation.
Before bud break, the bushes are treated with copper sulfate. To prevent the appearance of mold, they are sprayed with a 5% solution.
If the pruning of the bushes was not done in the fall, this is done in the spring. The term is also limited: until the grapes began to "cry".
It is important to feed and tie up the vines in time. At the end of all the necessary procedures, fertilizers are poured under each bush. The most effective mixture is considered to be a combination of ammonium nitrate and superphosphate. These substances are taken in 15 g each and diluted in water according to the instructions that are written on the packages with fertilizers.
Next, a "dry" garter is produced. If the branches have been well tied in the fall, check the integrity of the garters and fix the young shoots during the season.
The twigs should be tied vertically or with a slight slope. It is impossible to fix the vines horizontally, because during the period of pouring the bunches, the branch risks breaking off.
Conclusion
If you open the grapes correctly after winter and carry out all the necessary measures after, the bushes will be ready for the formation of an ovary. If the opening occurs early, with the necessary measures, you can easily save the plant from frost.