How to Prune and Shape Grapevines
Core introduction to the text: Explanation of how to prune and shape grapevines in the green plant and flower category, with specific content as follows:
How to Prune and Shape Grapevines
Grapes are a common type of economic forest in orchards, with high market demand and good planting profits, and they are widely distributed. In the daily cultivation process, in order to achieve high yield of grapes, in addition to scientific management techniques, pruning is also essential. Pruning can effectively adjust the tree structure and ensure high-quality and high-yield production. Now, I will share the pruning techniques for grapes with everyone.
Shaping Methods
1. Multi-Trunk Training: Top the vines when they grow to 5-6 internodes and select 3-4 main fruiting vines.
2. Trunk Training: Leave only one new shoot after germination in the first year to cultivate a vertical trunk.
3. Fan Shape: Widely used in the North and South of China. The tree has a short or no main stem, with 3-5 main vines and several fruiting branches on the main vines.
4. Single Layer Double Arm Shape: Suitable for varieties with weak growth, low trellising, and dense planting. The tree consists of one trunk and two horizontal main vines in opposite directions.
Pruning Points
Grape pruning is a task that requires both intelligence and brute force. In practice, it is important to understand the characteristics of the variety and learn the three-step pruning method. According to the flower position of grapes, they can be roughly divided into three categories:
Long Shoot Varieties: Including varieties like 'Crayson' and 'Red Globe', which have higher flower positions. Flower buds are usually formed at the positions corresponding to the 6th, 7th, and 8th leaves, and pruning is done 2-3 buds below the cluster.
Medium Shoot Varieties: Such as 'Ruby' and 'Victoria', which form flower buds at the positions corresponding to the 4th, 5th, and 6th leaves, and can be pruned close to the cluster.
Short Shoot Varieties: Including 'Grape Giant' and 'Xiahei', which have good flower buds on the first, second, and third leaves, so pruning is usually done below the cluster.
However, no matter what variety or trellis, pruning should be divided into three steps: observation, calculation, and cutting. Observation involves checking if the theoretical position of the flower bud is full, as肥实 (fat and solid),鼓芽 (swollen buds), 萎蔫芽 (withered buds), and 病害芽 (diseased buds) are not suitable; calculation involves determining the yield and the number of young shoots, and then pruning; and cutting involves making a cut 2-3 cm away from the flower bud, with a diagonal cut surface.
Pruning Techniques
1. Rub off Flower Buds
When the buds grow to 2-3 cm, rub off the weak buds, branching buds, and unnecessary latent buds on the old vines. For double or triple buds, leave only one main bud. If the load is insufficient, double buds with inflorescences can be left in spaces with more room.
2. Fix the Tips
When the new shoots are 10-20 cm long and the inflorescences are visible. For varieties with low fruiting rate, large clusters, and vigorous growth, enough fruiting branches should be left. If the plant grows too strongly or too weakly, with few fruiting branches and insufficient load, in addition to all fruiting branches, a certain number of development branches should be left.
3. Pinch from the Heart
Leaving 6-7 leaves on the fruiting grape inflorescence can increase the fruit setting rate and promote the expansion of young fruits. For varieties prone to flowering and fruit drop, such as 'Rose Scented', pinch 3-5 days before flowering. For varieties with high fruit setting rate, pruning can be done after flowering.
4. Remove Auxiliary Tips
After pinching the new shoots, a large number of secondary buds will germinate, so they should be controlled to avoid nutrient consumption. There are no secondary branches under the inflorescence, and 1-2 secondary branches at the top of the inflorescence. Leave 4-6 leaves on the secondary branches and repeat the pinching.
5. Shape the Inflorescence and Remove Tendrils
Remove extra inflorescences, leaving two strong branches, one medium branch, and no weak branches. In addition to thinning the fruiting branches and flowers, it is also necessary to thin out excessive flowers. To ensure continuous high yields, 8-10 clusters of fruits should be left per square meter of surface area, and removed according to the weight of single clusters.
The purpose of pruning is to cultivate a reasonable grape structure, adjust and maintain the grapes, ensuring they remain fruiting, high-yielding, and of high quality. Grapes are suitable for pruning throughout the year, especially dormant pruning, and the pruning method should be determined based on the variety, planting method, management level, tree age, and tree vigor.
The above is the full content on how to prune and shape grapevines, hoping it is helpful to grape enthusiasts!