Good afternoon, my reader. A heat-loving culture - grapes - needs shelter for the winter. Moreover, it is important not just to make a protective structure, but, taking into account the weather conditions, to hold the event at the right time. The choice of covering material is also important for the complete safety of the fruit shrub.
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Preparation
This event begins immediately after harvest. The grapes are pruned to form the crown of the bush. The plant is then watered abundantly to provide moisture for the winter. In addition, the culture is treated with fungicides to protect against fungal infections, and insecticides - from pests and rodents.
Be sure to feed the bushes with complex mineral fertilizers. Organic matter is used in the form of mulch before water-charging irrigation. So the soil and the root system of grapes will quickly absorb nutrients.
The vine is removed from the support so that in the event of a sharp cold snap, it can be quickly protected. The critical temperature for the culture is 10-12 ° C below zero. At this point, all the necessary tools and covering material must be prepared.
Attention! In pre-winter feeding of adult bushes, 1 g of boric acid and 2 g of zinc sulfate are added. These components strengthen plant immunity and stimulate the process of photosynthesis.
Shelter timing
The period of the event is determined taking into account the age of the plant and the climatic conditions of the region. However, there is one general requirement: before the onset of the first stable frosts, the culture is not covered.
Short-term negative temperatures (-5-8 ° C) are not terrible for the vine, they only harden it. As soon as the weather finally settles, you need to start the procedure for thermal insulation of the bushes.
Protection methods
Depending on climatic conditions, gardeners choose shelter methods: wet or dry. The first option does not require any special tools. Everything that is at hand is used: soil, hay, spruce branches, snow. It is noteworthy that in this case, the shrub breathes freely and atmospheric moisture penetrates the roots without obstacle.
Most often, growers use the dry method of protection. It is used to cover the plant completely, partially or limited to hilling bushes. The last two methods are used only in the mild climate of the southern regions of the country.
For regions with harsh winters, full shrub protection is suitable. Such a shelter will protect the plant from severe frosts. The vine is carefully tied so as not to damage it and laid on an earthen embankment. Then the shoots are covered with a layer of soil in several steps - this is the cheapest and most accessible material. However, in this case, there is a risk of complete freezing of the soil in severe frosts.
In the same way, snow is used for shelter. But the vagaries of nature are unpredictable. To preserve the vine, it is best to resort to a more effective method of protection.
Shelters made of agrofibre or spunbond are considered the safest: they retain heat and allow air to pass through. However, there are also disadvantages - the non-woven material absorbs moisture. Therefore, on top of such protection, it is desirable to build a "roof" of pieces of slate or roofing material.
Attention! Shelters made of spruce branches are considered effective. But this method of insulation is available only where there are coniferous plantings.
A vine that loves warmth and sunshine can be grown in any region. Another thing is that it may require some material costs, effort and patience.
Do you shelter grapes for the winter?
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Read about watering grapes in the summer in the following article:Watering grapes in summer is the key to a good harvest in autumn