How to prune potted grape vines: illustration
Below is an introduction for netizens on how to prune potted grape vines with illustrations and precautions for home cultivation of grapes. This knowledge is sure to be helpful to you, so let's learn about it together!
How to care for and manage potted grape vines? Remember these points, and each pot can yield 10 pounds of fruit.
Grapes are a type of deciduous large vines, with fruits that are round or oval in shape. There are many varieties, and different varieties result in different fruit shapes and colors. The fruit colors range from purple, green, red, black, and more. Grapes mature from August to October, and it's currently the season to enjoy this fruit. If there's some extra space on your balcony or terrace with ample sunlight, consider growing a pot of grapes. So, how can potted grape vines be cared for and managed to grow healthily, with lush leaves and abundant fruit?
1. Ample sunlight
During the growing period, potted grape vines should be placed on the balcony or terrace, where outdoor sunlight is most abundant, to promote a robust growth, thicker leaves, shorter internodes, and plump fruits. The suitable temperature for grape growth is around 30 degrees, and maintaining zero to three degrees during winter is best.
2. Change the potting soil every two to three years
For grape vines that have been grown for three years, it's necessary to change the potting soil. The pot change can be done in early spring or autumn. Add some cake fertilizer and bone meal to the bottom of the pot as a base fertilizer, and use a mixture of decomposed leaf soil, river sand, and garden soil, along with a small amount of fermented animal manure. This type of nutrient-rich soil is ideal for grapes, as they thrive on ample fertilizer. Insufficient fertilizer can lead to early blossom and fruit drop.
Illustration on how to prune potted grape vines
3. Avoid waterlogging in the potting soil
During the growing period, it's okay to water frequently to keep the soil moist. However, when the grapes are fruiting, it's important to control the watering and reduce moisture. If the environmental humidity is high and the potting soil is constantly waterlogged, it can lead to root rot and fruit drop. Even more so during the winter dormant period, watering should be reduced.
4. How to prune potted grape vines
For some grape seedlings, if the main branches are less than one meter long, there's no need for pruning. When the main vine grows to one meter high, you can start topping it to encourage the growth of lateral branches. After the lateral branches grow out, you can then pinch them back to encourage even more side branches. The repeated topping and pinching aim to develop a robust main vine with full axillary buds, which is beneficial for flowering and fruiting the following year.
After potted grape vines enter winter, another round of pruning is necessary to ensure annual fruiting, increasing the weight and quantity of fruit each year. By caring for potted grape vines in this manner, with one grape seedling per pot, it's possible to yield more than ten pounds of fruit each year. It's time for grapes to mature again, and by growing a pot on the balcony or terrace, you can enjoy lush growth and abundant fruit year after year!