All about watering grapes

Grapes withstand dryness without problems and are sometimes allowed to be cultivated without watering, but still the plant will not refuse water, especially when grown in dry regions. Especially the crop needs watering in case of low rainfall – about 300 mm per year. When grown in the southern regions, that is, where it is possible to keep without water, mulching is relevant. In any case, without watering, the berries will be small, even if a variety with good drought tolerance is cultivated.

In order for the berries to be large and juicy, it is necessary to organize full-fledged watering and top dressing. After each irrigation procedure, a sharp increase in fruit becomes noticeable. In addition to enhancing growth, an improvement in taste can be noted. Berries become more colorful and appetizing. The quality of irrigation is influenced by many factors that experienced gardeners must take into account.

All about watering grapes

All about watering grapes

How often do you need to water?

Under the condition of moderate temperatures in summer, there are several irrigation methods, let’s focus on the most popular ones.

  • Rare irrigation pattern provides for irrigation of grapes no more than 5 times a year;
  • According to more frequent pattern watering should be carried out at least 1 time in 14 days.

Consider them in more detail.

Rare irrigation pattern

Watering the grapes must be done at a certain time. Once a season is not enough. You also need to calculate the required amount of water, depending on weather conditions and other parameters.

The main signs that affect the frequency and volume of irrigation:

  • weather;
  • liquid evaporation rate;
  • berry ripening rate;
  • grape age.

Irrigation through a pipe is often performed for the reason that with this method water is delivered to the heel roots. In addition, its evaporation takes much longer.

    All about watering grapes

    Timing and scope

    Watering is carried out at a certain time, its frequency depends on the ripening period of the grapes. On average, the following irrigation periods are distinguished:

    1. Watering the fruit crop for the first time during the tie. Then the plant especially needs moisture during bud break.
    2. Moisten the soil next time after the end of flowering just when the ovary of the fruit is formed, and the development period starts. Without the necessary amount of water and nutrients, the harvest will be poor. Experienced gardeners note that you can not water the plant during flowering. This can harm the grapes.
    3. As soon as the berries begin to grow, watering also needs to be done. It significantly affects not only the size of the berries, but also their color and taste.
    4. Despite the fact that grapes love moisture, it is very important maintain its optimal level. To do this, water must be dosed. Excessive irrigation will adversely affect the health of the plant and may damage the roots.

    Experienced gardeners are strongly advised not to water the grapes before picking the berries. This will lead to a significant slowdown in fruit development. Also, they can get cracked.

    All about watering grapes

    All about watering grapes

    It is enough to water adult fruit crops 1-2 times a month with a deep soil bay. The first time the plant is watered after water charging, which occurs in the spring. At this time, the size of the berries is more like a pea.

    • Varieties that belong to ripening early, watered once before winter and two or three times in June-July;
    • The mid grapes are watered once before winter and three times during the summer – in early June, July and early August;
    • Varieties that mature late (approximately at the beginning of September), it is necessary to water once before winter and 4 times during the summer – the first time from the beginning of bud break and the last time before the berries begin to ripen.

    Irrigation is carried out before the coloring of the berries.

    Note: Surface irrigation of the soil will not be effective enough if the ground is not covered with mulch.

    In the hot season, the frequency of irrigation should be increased. The exact amount of watering in the summer can be determined by the appearance of the foliage. Signs of wilting indicate a lack of moisture. And also irrigation must be carried out if wrinkles and other alarms appear on the leaves. Another signal indicating a lack of moisture is the tops of young green shoots that straightened up.

    All about watering grapes

    All about watering grapes

    For full development and active fruiting, each plant needs a sufficient amount of water. The soil needs to be moistened by about 50-70 cm.

    The optimal amount of liquid for grapes older than 3 years is about 60 liters (five 12-liter buckets) per 1 plant.

    • If grapes grow on sandy soil you need to increase the amount of water by one and a half times (at least 90 liters per 1 plant).
    • If the plant is still under 3 years old use half of the indicated rate (about 30 liters).

    An exception is watering 10–12 days before the berries ripen: it is necessary to reduce the volume of water by 30% (up to 40 liters for vines older than 3 years).

    All about watering grapes

    Watering summary table

    Regular watering is of great importance at all stages of the development of horticultural crops. In regions where heavy rains often occur, the grapes are not watered at all. They get all the moisture they need from natural precipitation. If the vineyard is located in the south or in the eastern strip, gardeners carefully monitor the level of soil moisture.

    In general, irrigation rules can be summarized in the table below (it is best suited for central Russia). Of course, it does not take into account the peculiarities of the state of the soil.

    Frequent watering pattern

    A more frequent watering scheme is presented in the book of wine grower A. Wright. According to him, it is customary to moisten early varieties three times per season, medium and medium-late varieties four times, but this is not quite the right approach, since the plant uses half the volume of water to fill fruits.

    Clusters of early varieties will not be able to gain maximum mass if moistened two weeks before flowering and during the period when the berries are still small. This is due to the fact that dry air, in the absence of water, coarsens the skin of the fruit, the berry stops gaining weight, and even subsequent watering will no longer solve the problem. In addition, irregular watering makes it impossible to fertilize fractionally.

    Therefore, it is recommended to carry out humidification once every two weeks (that is, twice a month during flowering and the appearance of berries) so that the earth is saturated 50 cm deep, so that the plant does not switch to superficial (dew) roots. This amount can be reduced by mulching the crop with straw.

    If there is less water, then the grapes invest strength in the growth of surface roots, and this leads to the fact that in summer the plant suffers from heat, and in winter – from freezing of the roots.

    All about watering grapes

    In general, the schedule and amount of watering can be adjusted under individual rules. To do this, you should control the condition of the plants. The following recommendations will help:

    • With increased growth green sprouts, reduce the amount of irrigation and increase the amount of phosphorus and potassium introduced, stop fertilizing with nitrogen.
    • If growth, on the contrary, slowed down or stopped, you should resort to increased moisture and fertilizing with a moderate amount of nitrogen in the composition.

    Use a few additional tips for frequent watering.

    • Do not moisten the soil during flowering, as this will lead to the fact that the flowers will begin to crumble, as a result of which problems with pollination are possible;
    • 2-3 weeks before ripening berries it is also undesirable to water the plant, as the fruits may crack and begin to rot;
    • Don’t take big long breaks between waterings to avoid hardening of the skin of the fruit;
    • Consider variety feature. So, if the variety is prone to cracking, then watering is carried out before the berries soften and after harvesting. Also, to strengthen the fruits of this variety, it is recommended to fertilize the plant with potassium sulfate or ash.

    All about watering grapes

    Features of irrigation by season

    In the spring

    At the start of the vegetation process, there is a rapid growth of leaves and shoots. The root system is also actively developing. Until the buds swell, the grapes are carefully watered. If the spring was dry, mandatory irrigation is carried out in April. With the help of water temperature, you can influence the process of awakening the plant. Warm water promotes bud break, while cold water does the opposite. This feature should be taken into account if the frosts return.

    In the process of active growth of the vine, watering is also indispensable. The vine needs strength and moisture. About 20 days before the flowers appear, be sure to water the plant. It is worth noting that during flowering the soil cannot be moistened, otherwise the harvest will be poor, and the berries will be small.

    Note: Experienced gardeners advise to moisten the soil abundantly several times instead of sparsely and frequently irrigating.

    All about watering grapes

    Lettom

    In most regions of Russia and other countries where grapes grow, summer is accompanied by high temperatures and lack of precipitation. The need for moisture increases rapidly when the berries are just beginning to gain strength and increase in size. For the first time, the soil is moistened when the fruits are still very small, as a rule, this happens in June. The second time falls on the last days of July.

    It is believed that irrigation of the land around the vine in the last month of summer harms the crop. Water gently until the soil is soft. In August, late varieties are watered, the harvest from which is harvested in autumn (from September to October).

    All about watering grapes

    In the autumn

    With the advent of autumn, the earth is moistened so that the plant survives the frost and does not suffer. From severe frosts, the soil begins to crack, because of which the root system suffers. If it often rains during the autumn, irrigation should be abandoned.

    Within the boundaries of the southern regions, the vine is not covered. But before that, you need to thoroughly moisten the soil. Perform this procedure immediately after the leaves fall. In northern regions with harsh winters, grapes are first covered and then watered. The procedure is performed from late October to early November. Varieties that ripen late stop watering about a month before the fruit is harvested.

    All about watering grapes

    Overview of Methods

    There are several ways to water grapes. A suitable method is chosen depending on weather conditions, characteristics of the variety and other characteristics. Some species are moistened at the root, pouring into the soil, for others they use special systems and other options. Mechanized irrigation is considered more efficient. This method doubles the productivity of the crop.

    Surface

    This method is not used for adult plants due to low efficiency. Their roots go to a depth of more than half a meter. Surface watering is often chosen for seedlings. The most popular surface irrigation method is drip irrigation. This option allows you to gradually moisten the soil.

    Gardeners lay out a special tape between plants at a distance of 25 centimeters. Through this system, the earth receives the necessary amount of moisture. As a result of drip irrigation, the earth is not eroded, and fruiting improves.

    Note: The use of sprayers for watering grapes is strongly discouraged. These systems increase the humidity around the plant, which leads to the development of fungal infections.

    All about watering grapes

    All about watering grapes

    Underground

    This method involves directing water to the roots. With this method, the productivity of the crop increases, since watering does not affect and does not violate the nutritional, temperature and air conditions. Evaporation from the surface of the earth is insignificant, since it is almost not moistened: water immediately gets to the roots.

    The structures through which water flows are made of special tubes. Water is distributed under little pressure. This is a fairly profitable method that saves money and improves the quality of the crop. This method delivers moisture to the lower layers of the earth.

    All about watering grapes

    Pit-based technology:

    • first you need to dig a pit, its depth is from 50 to 60 centimeters, where the drainage of the pit begins;
    • then you need to install the pipe;
    • the optimal distance between the stem and the pit is 0,5 meters;
    • in the pipe it is necessary to drill a small hole on one side – it is necessary for water supply;
    • before lowering the pipe into the pit, a drainage layer of crushed stone should be made – they cover the bottom, this will prevent soil erosion.

    Underground irrigation with a horizontal pipe:

    • work begins with the design of a trench that runs along the vine row, its depth is 0,5 meters;
    • the bottom of the drainage is covered with small gravel;
    • holes must be drilled along the entire length of the pipe, the distance between which is at least 0,5 meters;
    • the pipe must be wrapped with agrofibre – it is necessary so that the soil does not clog the holes;
    • the last step is to install a tank for heating water.

    The method of watering through a drainage pipe is popular among both experienced gardeners and beginners.

    All about watering grapes

    Along the furrows

    This is a popular way to moisten the soil. Furrows are made to a depth of 15-25 cm and placed between rows of bushes no closer than 50 cm from them. The width of the furrows is 30-40 cm, in the lower part the furrow narrows into a gap 3-4 cm wide.

    If there is a large distance between the rows (2-2,5 m), then two furrows are allowed, and in the case of 2,5-3 m – three. When using light soil, the gap between the furrows should be approximately 60 cm, with medium-density soil – 80 cm, for heavy soils leave one meter.

    First, water is supplied under high pressure, and when the furrow is moistened, the pressure is reduced. Sometimes it is required to irrigate a separately located bush, for this, a ditch is dug in a circle 40 cm from it, where water is poured. Continuous flooding leads not only to uneconomical water consumption, but also to the flooding of the earth, so this method of irrigation should be avoided.

    In large areas, it is advisable to use furrows 190-340 m long and 35-40 cm deep. In this case, the land is irrigated evenly. For irrigation, special equipment is used – pipes are installed opposite the furrows, which distribute water.

    All about watering grapes

    Sprinkling

    This method involves spraying through special systems. The method closest to natural watering, which allows you to moisten the surface layer. Moisture falls on the leaves and refreshes them. It is important to avoid the formation of puddles.

    Water is sprayed in a volume equal to the watering rate, or it is distributed into several “methods”. There are fixed and mobile systems.

    To form a rain cloud, several circumstances should be taken into account:

    • irrigation structure;
    • droplet volume;
    • the amount of precipitation;
    • uniformity;
    • relief of the site;
    • soil type.

    Aerosol

    This method is also called fine mist or mist irrigation. It is not particularly in demand in the cultivation of grapes, since when it is used, there is a possibility of the formation of fungi and cancer in plants. With this method of irrigation, the leaves, the upper level of the soil and the surface layer of air are moistened. Various sprinklers are used for irrigation.

    The aerosol method of moistening also has its advantages:

    • physiological processes are activated;
    • saves water.

    Among the minuses it is worth noting:

    • quickly passing effect;
    • the need for sophisticated devices.

    All about watering grapes

    Snow retention

    The method can be used in areas with low snowfall in winter. The advantage can be considered protection of the crop from frost. In addition, snow retention provides a delay in sap flow and bud break for 7-10 days, which significantly reduces the likelihood of young sprouts freezing during late frosts.

    What to consider?

    Grapes are plants that adapt remarkably to heat. In the southern regions of Russia, many varieties bear fruit even at temperatures of 32 degrees Celsius above zero. In the middle lane, a standard rainfall rate is quite enough to get a rich and full-fledged harvest. However, for some crops, additional irrigation is required. If you water the grapes correctly, you can achieve maximum efficiency and disclosure of varietal qualities from each type.

    All about watering grapes

    When caring for a plant, you need to consider a number of factors.

    • If you’re not sure how much water you need, it’s better to underfill than overwet the soil. Excessive moisture will cause surface roots to grow.
    • The soil will dry out if you make too long intervals between irrigation procedures.
    • If increased shoot growth was noticed, the volume of water should be reduced. In the case when the bushes develop slowly, it is necessary not only to water the grapes, but also to feed them with nitrogen fertilizers.
    • Pay special attention to the condition of the grapes in hot weather. You need to increase the amount of moisture when the berries get a characteristic color.
    • In the warm season, you can not water the plant with cold water, otherwise there may be a heat shock. The difference in temperature negatively affects the condition of the grapes.
    • The irrigation procedure is recommended to be carried out in the evening or before dawn.
    • Another common mistake is irrigation with water under strong pressure. This is especially dangerous when watering young plants.
    • Experienced gardeners recommend using rainwater. During the heavy rainy season, it is collected in barrels and other containers, and then used throughout the year.
    • Choosing the right irrigation method is important. Some options are preferable to use after planting cuttings, others are great for growing grapes in a greenhouse or newly planted crops.
    • In order for the root system to receive the necessary amount of oxygen, it is recommended to loosen moist soil. And also this process is needed to prevent rotting of the roots, and so that excess moisture evaporates faster.
    • Don’t forget to water the plant after opening with the arrival of the warm season. Moisture will help the plant wake up and give it strength.

    Be sure to take into account the weather conditions of each region. The temperature in the summer in the Volgograd region will differ from the readings of thermometers in the Urals. The same applies to winters. In some regions, this is a harsh time of the year, with severe frosts, in others, winters are mild and short.

    Combination with nutrition

    Nutrients are often added along with watering. Regular feeding is necessary not only for a rich harvest. They also protect the plant from diseases and dangerous pests. Despite the fact that many grape varieties are considered unpretentious, getting large and tasty fruits is not difficult if you follow the recommendations of experts. And you should also carefully examine the plant for diseases and other similar factors. It is worth noting that the process of making dressings is a purely individual thing.

    When choosing fertilizers, consider the following:

    • weather;
    • snow cover thickness;
    • soil type;
    • the area where the vineyard is located.

    If the grapes grow on sandy soils, then the first time you need to water only when the buds begin to swell. It is at this time that you need to feed the plant. Use organic compounds and other fertilizers rich in trace elements. When introducing organics, you need to correctly calculate their number, otherwise the effect will be negative.

    Experienced gardeners advise using nitrogen fertilizers once a year in the spring, which are necessary for the full development of the fruit crop and a stable harvest. Only with regular fertilization can you count on large clusters. Top dressing is also needed in order for the taste of the grapes to be at their best.

    All about watering grapes

    All about watering grapes

    When using ready-made formulations, be sure to follow the instructions on the package. Now on sale you can find fertilizers designed specifically for grapes of various varieties.

    With each watering, it is worth adding fertilizers to the water, for example, according to the following scheme:

    • spring – nitrogen fertilizers – are applied only once a year (chicken manure solution up to 1 liter per 10 liters of water) together with complex fertilizers that do not contain chlorine (for example, Kemira Universal);
    • in summer – potassium-phosphorus fertilizers: 25-35 g of potassium sulfate, 30-40 g of single superphosphate and 50-60 g of complex fertilizers per 10 liters of water;
    • 10-12 days before fruit ripening (at the end of July, if these are ultra-early varieties, and August 5-10, if these are early or early medium varieties) – 10–20 g of potassium sulfate, 25 g of superphosphate and 30 g of complex fertilizers without chlorine are taken per 40 liters of water. Recall that the amount of water for irrigation this time is reduced by 30% (up to 40 liters).

    All about watering grapes

    All about watering grapes

    Anna Evans

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