Shelter rules for grapes for the winter in Central Russia

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Shelter of grapes for the winter period is a mandatory and final stage of the planned work of the season. In central Russia, these works should be carried out in mid-November, as persistent frosts set in. How to properly cover grapes for the winter, read this article.

Too early shelter can cause the appearance of delight, and later will lead to the freezing of the root system. But just before the insulation itself, you will have to carry out a set of preparatory measures that will help the plants prepare for the approach of cold weather and transfer this period without problems.

Preparation for insulation

3 weeks before hiding the grapes, you need to feed it with mineral fertilizers (superphosphate has proven itself well) or organic, in the form of ash or humus. This will help strengthen the root system and give strength to young branches so that they survive the cold without damage and unnecessary stress.

Immediately after the leaves fall, it is necessary to prune the bushes, removing non-viable branches and shoots, since they will not be able to survive the winter and will only pull forces. The number of new branches of the current year should not exceed 7 pieces, and last year's vines can have up to 15 buds. It is necessary to carry out this work only in dry and calm weather, using a sharp pruner.

Places that have received damage will have to be covered with pitch so that decay does not form or microbes begin to multiply, which could remain after working with the tool.

Timely treatment against diseases or pests can increase the chances of a full wintering of grapes. To do this, soon after pruning, you can spray all the bushes with a solution of ferrous sulfate or Bordeaux mixture. Baking soda also has a pronounced antibacterial property, for this you can dilute 100 grams of baking soda in 10 liters of water. Some growers prefer ready-made plant protection products purchased in specialized stores.

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Knowing how to cover grapes for the winter in central Russia, how to do the processing correctly and how to cover, it will be possible to get an excellent harvest of berries next year.

Carefully need to be approached in the preparatory period for the watering procedure. Under the condition of dry autumn, the root system needs more moisture, so you need to add at least 15-20 liters of water under each bush. This must be done before the onset of frost, otherwise the risk of freezing of the root system and the death of the bush increases, even with the most careful insulation.

Removing the vine from the trellis should be carried out in dry weather, creating all the necessary conditions for the grapes. It is not recommended to lay branches on bare ground, this can negatively affect their condition and cause rot.

The correct solution would be to prepare a bedding layer of straw or covering material. It is enough to tie the laid parts of the plants with dense threads and fix them with staples. After that, you can already choose the best insulation option.

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Shelter for the winter

An airy type of shelter for central Russia implies warming the vine with the help of heating materials in the form of small pieces of foam, sawdust or expanded clay. How to cover grapes for the winter, read on. The insulation layer must reach 12 cm, otherwise there is a great risk of freezing during severe winters.

After that, the structure can be covered with a dense film, pressing its parts to the ground with bricks. At the same time, it is important to carry out the entire range of works without leaving uncovered areas.

This type of shelter is good because it does not pose an additional threat to the grapes. But first, it is worth creating a protective barrier against a possible attack by rodents. To do this, you will have to decompose the poison from the mice, creating additional protection for the plant. Wormwood and tansy also have a deterrent effect, so you can spread them out in a shelter, after drying them.

For a warm winter, you can use a cover made of thick film or agrofibre, which are stretched over arcs. With this option, it is possible not to close the end part, due to which good ventilation of the grapes will be ensured. Such a shelter closes as stable cold weather approaches.

But this option carries a danger under the condition of cold and snowy winters, therefore it is more suitable for the southern strip of the country, in the middle one it is worth considering a more reliable and safe insulation.

The most common option for warming grapes is hilling in the soil. For this, a special trench up to 30 cm deep is being prepared along the entire bed. After insulating material in the form of sawdust or small pieces of wood is laid on the bottom, a vine is laid out on it. After that, it should be covered with insulation and dug in with earth, creating a hill of at least 30 cm. This method will save the grapes from the cold, but it is quite laborious.

In addition to the classic insulation, it is important to ensure proper ventilation, otherwise the plant may suffocate. Throughout the entire trench, funnels can be made using small diameter pipes through which air will flow in winter. The video shows how to properly cover grapes for the winter in central Russia.

For large vineyards, building a tent is suitable as a shelter. It consists in installing arcs on which a dense film is stretched, and on top an additional layer of shelter in the form of agrofibre or foil material.

Spruce branches have a good warming effect, which can be used to cover the vine, having previously placed it on the ground. Such a shelter can easily withstand frosts of up to 15 degrees, and for complete safety, you can fix branches so that they do not scatter from gusts of wind. The layer of spruce branches must be large enough to avoid the risk of freezing.

Real experimenters can use used car tires as insulation. To do this, you need to put each vine into the tire, doing it carefully and without harming the branches. After that, the structure is covered with a dense film or roofing felt and left until spring.

With any version of the description of how to cover grapes for the winter in central Russia, it is important to do as shown in the photo. You should also open it in a timely manner in the spring so that it grows and does not succumb to unnecessary stress due to the prolonged lack of air and a large amount of moisture.

Bonus

1. Before covering the grapes, it is necessary to prune and disinfect.
2. Cuttings after autumn pruning can be used for reproduction in the spring.
3. Shelter grapes in central Russia should be dealt with not earlier than November.