Grape Pruning Techniques
This article introduces the green plant and flower aspects of grape pruning techniques. Next, the site editor will introduce the content to netizens.
Grape Pruning Techniques
In the process of grape cultivation, pruning is essential to ensure high-quality and high-yield grapes. Grape pruning mainly includes adjusting tree weight, rubbing out buds, thinning branches, pruning inflorescences, and adjusting fruit clusters. How to do it? Let's find out.
Adjusting Load
For grapes to have a reasonable load, attention should be paid to the leaf-fruit ratio and the proportion of nutrient branches to fruiting branches. The specific load depends on the variety, tree vigor, and corresponding management measures. European and American varieties such as Kyoho usually have a leaf-fruit ratio of 20:1; European and Asian species such as purple soil have a leaf-fruit ratio of 40:1, which is better for the fruit; on Red Earth, the leaf-fruit ratio is 50:1.
Removing Buds
Bud rubbing should be done after the spring buds emerge and before the new shoots grow to 5-10 cm; buds close to the ground should also be removed, usually on branches and vines within 30-50 cm from the ground. This can prevent the fruit clusters from being difficult to fall after setting, enhance field ventilation, and reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests. If the buds are too dense, or the new buds on the trellis surface are too dense, strong buds should be left and weak buds should be removed as soon as possible.
Thinning Branches
Generally, when the new shoots grow to 15-20 cm, the final adjustment of branch density is an important task. That is, based on the inflorescence, retain the nutrient branches and fruiting branches. When the new shoots of a single hedgerow are vertically tied, one shoot is left every 10 cm; on a double hedge, one shoot is left every 15 cm. Generally, 15-20 branches should be reserved per square meter of the trellis surface, depending on the variety.
Pruning Inflorescences
For varieties with many inflorescences, large inflorescences, and severe flower and fruit drop, pruning inflorescences is of great significance and benefit. Proper pruning of inflorescences can concentrate nutrients, improve fruit setting rate and quality, and ensure a reasonable load of grapes. Inflorescence pruning is usually done 10-15 days before flowering. For small-cluster varieties and strong fruiting branches, two inflorescences can be retained, while weak branches should not retain inflorescences; for other varieties, it is best to leave one inflorescence per fruiting branch.
While pruning inflorescences, the ear tips and secondary ears can be pinched together. For varieties with larger and longer inflorescences, about one-fourth of the inflorescence should be cut off, and the excessive branches and secondary ears should also be removed properly. This can remove the poor differentiated ear tips and secondary ears, thereby concentrating the nutrition of normal fruit clusters, improving the fruit setting rate, making the fruit clusters compact, the fruit size uniform, and the cluster shape consistent.
Regulation
Fruiting branch pinching should be done 3-5 days before flowering to the initial flowering stage. Generally, 4-6 leaves above the inflorescence are suitable; it can be done simultaneously with the fruiting branch or a few days later. Generally, 8-12 leaves are recommended. To reduce nutrient loss and avoid the deterioration of surface permeability, secondary branches should be dealt with promptly throughout the growing season, especially in summer.
From July to September, the weather is hot and the plants grow fast. Before the fruit coloring, some long new branches and secondary branches should be pruned; excessively dense, diseased, or yellow leaves should also be removed to improve field ventilation, reduce nutrient consumption, and promote normal fruit coloring.
In the grape pruning process, as long as the above five points are done well, the later high yield and quality of grapes will be well guaranteed.
The above is a detailed explanation of grape pruning techniques, for everyone's reference and suggestion!