How to Cultivate Grapes
An article about how to cultivate grapes and share some tips on grape cultivation and pruning techniques. Let's follow the editor to see the specific content!
Grapes are a common category in orchard economic forests, with high market demand and good planting benefits. The production areas are widespread across China. In daily cultivation, if you want to achieve high yields of grapes, in addition to scientific management techniques, pruning is also essential, as it can effectively adjust the tree structure and ensure quality and abundant yields. Now, I will share the grape shaping and pruning techniques with you.
One, Shaping Methods
1. Multi-trunk shaping: When the seedlings sprout and grow to 5-6 leaves, the top is pinched off, and 3-4 strong main vines are selected and retained.
2. Single-trunk shaping: Only one new shoot is left after the seedlings sprout in the first year, training it to grow vertically.
3. Fan-shaped: This tree shape is used in various parts of China. It has a short or no trunk, with 3-5 main vines and several fruiting branches evenly distributed on the main vines.
4. Single-layer double-arm shaping: This tree shape is suitable for varieties with weak growth and close planting in low trellises. It consists of one main trunk and two horizontal main vines in opposite directions.
Two, Pruning Tips
Grape pruning is actually a job that requires quick eyes and clumsy hands. In specific operations, you need to know the characteristics of the variety and learn the three-step pruning method. Based on the flowering position of grapes, it can be roughly divided into:
Long shoot varieties: Including varieties like 'Kرسن' and 'Hongti'. These varieties have a higher flowering position, usually forming flower buds at the positions corresponding to the 6th, 7th, and 8th leaves, so pruning is usually done at the position of 2-3 buds above the cluster.
Medium shoot varieties: Including varieties like 'Ruby' and 'Victoria'. These varieties form flower buds at the positions corresponding to the 4th, 5th, and 6th leaves, so pruning can be done close to the fruit cluster.
Short shoot varieties: Including varieties like 'Jufeng' and 'Xiabo'. Good flower buds can be found at the positions corresponding to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd leaves, so pruning is usually done below the cluster.
But no matter what variety and trellis style, pruning should be divided into three steps: looking, calculating, and cutting.
Looking is to see if the flower buds at the theoretical flowering position are full. Generally, fat and solid flower buds with fruit are retained, while swollen buds, sunken buds, and diseased buds are not.
Calculating is to determine the number of shoots based on the yield, and then prune.
Cutting is to cut the pruning shears 2-3 centimeters away from the flower bud, preferably a flat cut rather than an oblique one.
Three, Pruning Methods
1. Removing buds
When the buds grow to 2-3 centimeters, remove the weak buds, forked buds, and useless buds that sprout from old vines. For twin or triplet buds, only one main bud is left. If the load is insufficient, twin buds with inflorescences can be retained in a spacious area.
2. Determining shoots
This is done when the new shoots are 10-20 centimeters long and the inflorescences can be seen. For varieties with low fruiting rate, large fruit clusters, and vigorous growth, sufficient fruiting branches should be retained. If the plant grows too vigorously or too weakly, with few fruiting branches and insufficient load, all fruiting branches should be retained, and a certain number of developing branches should also be retained.
3. Pinching
Pinching the fruiting vines with 6-7 leaves can increase the fruit setting rate and promote the expansion of young fruit. Varieties that are prone to flowering and fruit drop, such as 'Rose Scented', should be pinched 3-5 days before flowering. For varieties with a high fruit setting rate, pinching can be done after flowering.
4. Removing lateral shoots
After the new shoots are pinched, lateral shoots will sprout in large numbers, so they need to be controlled to avoid consuming nutrients. No lateral shoots are left under the inflorescence, and except for 1-2 lateral shoots at the top of the inflorescence, all others are removed. The remaining lateral shoots are repeatedly pinched with 4-6 leaves.
5. Shaping inflorescences and removing tendrils
Remove excess inflorescences, with strong branches retaining two, medium branches retaining one, and weak branches retaining none. In addition to thinning the flowers on the fruiting branches, excess flowers should also be removed to ensure continuous abundant yields. Keep 8-10 clusters of grapes per square meter of trellis area, depending on the weight of single clusters.
The purpose of shaping and pruning is to cultivate a reasonable grape tree structure, adjust and maintain the tree, and keep it strong and productive year after year. Grapes can be pruned throughout the year, especially during the dormant period, and the pruning methods also depend on factors such as the variety, planting method, management level, tree age, and tree vigor.
The above introduction on how to cultivate grapes and the specific introduction of grape cultivation and pruning techniques, I hope you will like it!