How to care for potted grapes
This article provides an overview of how to care for potted grapes and the knowledge of potted grape cultivation techniques and management in the field of horticulture. Let's follow the editor to see the specific content!
Grapes are considered by the public to be a nutritious and juicy fruit, and many rural families grow grapes in their courtyards, which can be both ornamental and provide the joy of harvest in summer. However, as rural people gradually move into high-rise buildings, they no longer have courtyards, making it difficult to grow grapes! This is where potted grapes come into the public eye!
Potted grapes not only meet the needs of home greening and ornamentation but can also yield a good amount of grapes when grown well, which is very meaningful for those who want to grow grapes at home!
Some people ask, is it feasible to grow grapes in pots? Grapes have a developed root system, and putting them in a pot is not limiting their growth? Can they still bear fruit? In fact, this is a misunderstanding of grapes! Compared to other fruit trees, grapes are very suitable for potting! This is because of the following reasons:
First: Grapes have a strong adaptability to different regions. You may not know that among all fruit trees in the world, grapes have the largest cultivation area and the widest distribution, spanning multiple temperature zones, including tropical, temperate, and subarctic regions! Taking China's cultivation situation as a simple example, grapes can be grown in the south, north, and even in the northwest plateau! They have a strong adaptability to different climates and soil environments!
Second: Grapes are easy to propagate. Most grape varieties can survive by cutting, and they also have good grafting properties. For potting, you can directly plant the seedlings or cuttings.
Third: Grapes have good characteristics. Grapes bear fruit relatively quickly, and if not controlled, they will produce a large number of fruits (which may reduce the quality). They are not very demanding on soil and are relatively easy to manage, except for swamps and heavily saline-alkaline soils, where they can still grow well!
If you have a nice balcony or rooftop at home and want to grow a potted grapevine, how should you do it? Let's explain it in detail today:
Firstly, the selection of varieties:
Potted grapes are different from those grown outdoors, and their yield will not be very high, so there is no need to process mature fruits. Moreover, potted grapes are less affected by the growth period, so early, mid, and late-maturing varieties can all be planted! Try to choose varieties that are of good quality, disease-resistant, pollution-resistant, and productive, such as巨峰 (Jùfēng) and玫瑰香 (Méiguīxiāng)!
Then, the selection of the planting container:
The pot is the container for potting, and this selection should be scientific! It should not be too small, as it will greatly affect the growth of the potted grapes! The size can depend on the size of the tree you choose, and materials like plastic buckets or foam boxes can be used. If you want it to look aesthetically pleasing, you can also buy a clay pot specifically for this purpose!
How to care for potted grapes
Some people are not sure what size container to use and can be given a reference suggestion. If you want to cultivate seedlings, a small container will do, with a diameter of 10cm. If you are planting directly without transplanting, choose a container with a diameter of about 40cm and a depth of 50cm after selecting the size of the seedlings!
Next is the most important selection of potting soil:
So-called potting is a bit like having a "grape root limitation" meaning that root growth is confined to the pot. Therefore, it is essential to have good soil growth conditions. Good soil is conducive to root growth! At this point, ordinary soil does not meet the requirements for potting soil, and it needs to be prepared according to the properties of the soil. The best potting soil is humus soil, which generally requires loose, fertile soil with good water permeability, breathability, and moisture retention. The general ratio of soil to fertilizer is 7:3. Soil selection can use 40% garden soil + 40% leaf mold soil + 20% sand soil. Fertilizers can include organic fertilizers such as sheep manure or chicken manure, which are crushed and mixed with the soil. Make sure to mix the soil and fertilizer thoroughly! Remember: leaf mold soil is indispensable!
Then comes the preparation and planting of the seedlings:
When buying seedlings, choose those with a developed root system, full buds, and no diseases or pests. It's best to have seedlings that are over one year old. Proper pruning of the roots is necessary, with some straight or long roots directly cut off! Before transplanting, soak the seedlings in water for 24 hours. When transplanting, pad the bottom drainage hole to prevent soil from falling out. Then fill in more than one-third of the soil, making it higher in the middle and lower on the sides, like a steamed bun shape. Place the grape seedling on top, spread the roots in the center, and then start covering the soil. After covering the soil, gently lift the seedling with your hand and then press the potting soil down, followed by watering to stabilize the roots!
At this stage, the potting is basically done, but this is just the end of the preliminary work. There are still some things to pay attention to later:
How to manage water and fertilizer: Potted grapes require a lot of water, which varies with the season! Watering should be done in the morning and evening to avoid direct sunlight. Watering should be thorough and not just "dabbling" on the surface. You can also use a spray bottle to spray water on the leaves to reduce dust. If the potting starts before autumn, it is necessary to provide sufficient water, and in autumn, water should be controlled appropriately, not too much to avoid wasting water and nutrients!
The demand for fertilizer follows the principle of "apply thin fertilizer frequently." This is because the space for potted grapes is limited, and if you are not careful with excessive fertilization, it can easily cause "burning" to death! Applying fertilizer every 5-7 days is sufficient. Fertilizer can be chosen in the form of time-release chemical fertilizer solutions. In addition to top dressing, foliar feeding can also be done!