In the first year after planting, young grapes, like other plants, need special care. After all, its productivity depends on how well the bush develops during this period.
Watering and top dressing
Young grapes need regular watering. The frequency of watering directly depends on the conditions in which the bushes grow. On average, plants are watered once every two weeks. If it rains infrequently, the bushes have to be watered more often. It is very important to pour enough water under the roots of the plant. The soil should always be well moistened.
For watering young grapes, it is best to use warm and well-settled water. It is recommended to water the plants in the early morning or late evening. During the day, you can irrigate the bushes only in cloudy weather.
In order for moisture to linger well in the ground, the ground next to the trunk must be mulched. This will also help keep the soil warm.
When growing grapes, the soil must not be too wet. This can lead to root rot. If it often rains in summer, care must be taken to ensure that the soil under the grapes does not erode. For prevention, small grooves can be dug near the bushes to drain water.
Watering of early varieties of grapes is stopped in the second half of July, late – in the fall. In the process of preparing the vineyard for winter, the site is well watered again. This procedure helps protect the roots of the plant from freezing.
An important role is played by the timely feeding of the bushes. When planting plants, a large amount of fertilizer is usually placed in the pit. Therefore, in the first year after planting, the grapes, as a rule, do not feed additionally. But gardeners are still advised to carefully monitor the seedlings.
If they look weak, they may need summer feeding. At the end of August, potassium and superphosphate, mixed in a ratio of 1 to 2, are usually added to the soil. This top dressing allows the grapes to better prepare for the winter.
Soil loosening and rolling
Grape care also involves the timely loosening of the soil. It is necessary to destroy the drying crust very carefully. After all, young seedlings are quite fragile, so they are very easy to break. In the process of loosening, it is important to remove all weeds. Indeed, for the cultivation of grapes, it is important that he receives a sufficient amount of nutrients.
It is also necessary to carry out the planting of the plant in a timely manner. This is the name of the process of removing the surface roots of grapes. This procedure allows the rest of the roots to go deeper into the ground. Because of this, the plant adapts better to the winter cold.
To carry out this procedure around the trunk, you need to dig a small hole. After that, all superficial roots are cut off. After that, the hole must be covered with fertile soil. This procedure is usually carried out at the end of the first summer month.
Features of trimming
In the first year after planting, the gardener should begin to form a bush. Young grapes should have two main shoots. All other branches must be removed. Otherwise, the main shoots will lack nutrients. In addition, if the vineyard is too thick, the bushes will be more likely to get sick and be attacked by pests.
In order for the plant to give a good harvest in the future, in the first years after planting, a large number of fruits should not be allowed to appear on the branches. Part of the inflorescences must be removed during the flowering of grapes.
In the first year of the life of a young bush, chasing shoots is also important. It is recommended to carry it out in the fall, after the crowns of the tops are completely straightened. It is at this time that the process of active growth of young shoots ends. Noticing such changes, the upper part of the branch must be removed. Usually gardeners remove 30-35 centimeters of the shoot. At the same time, all stepchildren must be removed.
To protect the plant from the wind, it must be additionally tied up. As a rule, the shoots are attached to a special trellis using a soft material. The use of twine or fishing line for this purpose is not recommended. Over time, they will crash into the vine, thus injuring the plant.
If you do not tie up young grapes, it will be much more difficult to deal with its formation in the future.
Protection against diseases and pests
In order for plants to always remain healthy, it is important to protect them from pests. Young shoots are most often attacked by insects such as grape moth, flea or thin tick. To combat these pests, you can use proven chemicals. Most often, Chlorophos is used for this purpose.
Instead, a soap solution can also be used to treat plants. They are sprayed with young shoots in the morning or evening. For the complete destruction of pests, the site will have to be processed 2-3 times.
Another safe way to control pests is to plant herbs next to the grapes. There you can arrange dill, spinach or sorrel. But lemon balm and mint should not be planted next to each other. Bushes next to them do not grow very well.
In addition to pests, fungal diseases also pose a danger to young grapes. To combat them, the bushes are treated with pesticides or ordinary Bordeaux liquid.
Young bushes are also important to protect from the scorching sun. If the grapes grow on the sunny side of the site, you need to build a simple shelter from improvised means. Such an awning will also be an excellent protection from the rain.
Preparation for winter
Young grapes are sensitive to cold. Therefore, a heat-loving plant in the first year of its life must be properly prepared for winter. This process consists of several important steps.
In September, the soil next to the bushes must be dug up well. In the process, all weeds and fallen leaves will be destroyed.
Next, the earth must be watered abundantly. This should be done in the first half of autumn.
A couple of days after watering under the grapes, you need to dig a deep ditch.
Young shoots must be carefully tied with twine, and then bent to the ground and laid in a ditch.
From above it must be covered with earth. The thickness of the soil layer depends on how cold winters are in the region.
Some gardeners prefer to additionally cover young shoots with tarps or plastic bags. They must be used very carefully. If such a shelter is not removed in time in the spring, young shoots may be banned. Instead of such dense materials, gardeners can also use spruce branches or dry straw. But in this case, traps or high-quality poison for rodents will need to be placed next to the bushes.
When the first snow falls on the site, it must be carefully thrown on top of the shelter. Such additional protection will help save the roots from freezing.
Caring for grapes in the first year after planting is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. You just need to follow all the rules and not ignore any of the important procedures for the plant.
