The action of autumn dressing ends, and grapes need strength for the new harvest season. The time has come for spring feeding - important events for bushes and gardeners.
The need for spring feeding of grapes
At the end of the sleep phase, in early spring the grapes take their nourishment from the soil. If it is depleted, then the lack of nutrients will affect the growth and growing season of the bushes. To obtain a good harvest, plant nutrition is needed.
Reasons for spring fertilizing:
- upon receipt of the optimal quantity and quality of nutrition, grapes are formed large and tasty;
- inflorescences and formed bunches of grapes are preserved as much as possible;
- after difficulties in the winter, the preservation and fruiting of weak vines is possible;
- feeding is a preventive measure against diseases and parasites;
- the cumulative effect lasts for 1-2 years.
You can determine the need for a trace element by the state of the green part of the grapes. This makes it possible to adjust the fertilizer.
Signs of component deficiency:
- pale green leaves and slow growth - nitrogen is needed;
- brown edging of leaves - there is not enough potassium;
- leaves of saturated green color with brownish-brown spots - phosphorus deficiency;
- green veins against the background of yellow leaves - you need iron;
- rotting of the base of the vine - sulfur is required.
As a top dressing, instead of chemical fertilizers, you can take organic, or try alternative methods of preparing nutrient solutions.
Young grapes do not need additional fertilizing for 3 years, provided that they are introduced during planting. This is due to the fact that frequent feeding of the plant does not give fruit. It spends its strength only on the formation of the vine and root system.
Fertilization dates
The timing of fertilization is determined by the climate of the region, so you should focus on the stage of plant growth:
- The first application - the plant is still in the sleep phase, late March-early April.
- The second introduction - when the embryos of the brushes appear, 10-14 days before the formation of inflorescences, the second decade of May.
- The third application - after the formation of ovaries, the first days of June.
If you do not adhere to such a schedule, the grapes will receive a deficiency of substances and microelements or an excess of them. In each of these cases, it makes no sense to count on the harvest. But following the rules of fertilizing you can get a good harvest.
Feeding methods
Consider two popular methods.
Foliar dressing of grapes
Foliar dressing can only be used in addition to root dressing. 40-60 g of sugar or glycerin are added to the spray solution along with fertilizers. When carrying out work, it is important to consider:
- Times of Day. The evening will be optimal when the dew has not settled yet, and the rays of the sun are no longer dangerous.
- Weather within 24 hours after processing. Spraying grapes with top dressing should be on a dry leaf, and at least a day there should be no precipitation so that the nutrient components can be absorbed.
- Shrub condition. Primary fungicidal treatment or spraying of grapes may be necessary in order to destroy pests. If the bush is very weak, then it will be more useful to fertilize with the root method.
With a satisfactory condition of the plant, foliar top dressing, if necessary, can be combined with disease prevention. Then the grapes will receive both nutrients and medicinal substances at a time.
The first spraying with phosphorus is carried out two weeks before the beginning of the flowering phase to replenish the grapes at the time of fruit formation. This element, quickly absorbed by the leaf mass of the shrub, has a positive effect within a month. The liquid flow rate per 1 sq. Km. m of the plot is 150-200 g.
Foliar feeding mixture may contain: potassium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, zinc, boric acid, calcium sulfate and molybdate.
In addition to the main ones, foliar treatments with nutrient mixtures are done 3 more times, but the amount of phosphorus in them is reduced:
- after the formation of inflorescences;
- before ripening berries;
- when preparing grapes for winter cold.
See in the presented video about foliar feeding of grapes in spring before flowering:
Root dressing
Root dressings are liquid - all kinds of nutrient solutions and infusions, and dry - these are practically the same fertilizers, not diluted with water.
Dry fertilizers are applied during the process of digging or by spreading over the vineyard. After such work, watering is required so that the beneficial substances dissolve and get to the root system.
For wet root feeding, an asbestos or plastic pipe is instilled at a distance of 50-70 cm from the base of the bush. The pipe should be 100-150 mm in diameter, and dug to a depth of at least 40 cm. All nutrient solutions are poured into it, therefore they quickly reach the roots. Instead of pipes, you can dig a ditch 40-50 cm deep along the perimeter of the shrub. Pour fertilizer solution into it and fill it with soil from above.
Green dressing is very useful - peas are sown along the aisles, and after ripening they are dug up.
How to fertilize grapes in spring? Fertilizers and their specificity
Fertilizers saturate the soil with nutrition necessary for the growth and development of grapes. For each fertilizer application in the soil, a certain fertilizer composition is needed. All of them are subject to a special seasonal schedule in order to get the maximum effect in the form of a rich harvest and not harm the bushes.
In the spring, they use one-component, complex and complex fertilizers.
Potash fertilizers
The main active ingredient is potassium - a vital element for grapes. Knowing that it is washed out by rains and watering, it is difficult to overestimate the role of potash dressings. They are chloride and sulfate.
The leaves of the bush contain a huge amount of chlorine, but with the growth of green mass, and heavy rainfall, its concentration decreases. Chloride dressings restore and maintain the balance of this element. They must be added carefully, since an excess of chlorine is dangerous for grapes.
Potassium chloride is 40-60% rich in potassium. To reduce acidity, lime should be added to it. It can be used in combination with any elements, but is not suitable for a mixture with potassium chloride urea.
Sulfuric acid dressings are responsible not only for the healthy development of the bush, but also affect the sugar content of grape fruits. They penetrate well to the root system with rains, so it is advisable to use them not in spring, but in autumn.
Phosphate fertilizers
Phosphorus is an essential element for grapes during the growth and flowering stage, especially for young plants. Thanks to its balance, large healthy fruits are formed.
You can use the following tools:
- Superphosphate it is 20% phosphoric acid. Compatible with various soils, but with their increased acidity, lime is added to the fertilizer. Another option is liming the soil before fertilizing. The positive effect of superphosphate is characterized by an increase in productivity and immunity to diseases. For top dressing, the fertilizer is diluted with water in a proportion of 1:10 and watered with 0.5-0.7 liters for each bush.
- Dual superphosphate consists of a double dose of phosphorus. When diluted with water, the fertilizer rate is reduced by half. In spring and summer it is used as liquid top dressing, and before wintering it is sprinkled around grape bushes.
- Precipitate rich in phosphorus by 35%. It is practically insoluble in water, so the powder is scattered over the vineyard when loosening or weeding. Most compatible with acidic soils and gray soils.
- Defluorinated phosphatesuitable for chernozems, sod and podzolic soils. Contains 32% phosphate.
fertilizer "Superphosphate"
fertilizer "Double superphosphate"
fertilizer "precipitate"
Fertilizer "Defluorinated Phosphate"
Complex and complex fertilizers
Complex fertilizers combine at least 2 elements. They are produced in 2 ways:
- One-component fertilizers are mixed together.
- Through chemical reactions of various components.
Such dressings include:
- Nitrofoska. Nitrogen content - 16%, phosphorus - 16%, potassium - 16%. It is produced in a classic form - only from these components and with the addition of elements (copper, cobalt, boron, zinc, etc.).
- Azofoska based on three main elements - N, P and K. Available in the form of a solution and a dry mixture. Dry fertilizer is applied to the groove around the grapes, and the liquid form of top dressing is poured under the root.
- Bischofite consists of more than a dozen elements - magnesium, boron, iodine and bromine, etc. It is used for foliar feeding. The dilution rate is 100 ml of fertilizer per 10 liters of water.
- Florovit - fertilizer created for grapes. It is used for planting plants and as the main root top dressing. Fertilizer consumption is 50 g per plant.
- Agro-Nova - this Ukrainian fertilizer, in addition to micronutrients, contains supplements to stimulate the growth of grapes. In the spring, it is used as a liquid root dressing. For this, 90 g of fertilizer is dissolved in 10 l of water. For the sheet version, the application is diluted in water in a ratio of 1: 100.
fertilizer "Nitrofoska"
fertilizer "Azofoska"
fertilizer "Bishofit"
fertilizer "Florovit"
fertilizer "Agro-Nova"
Organic fertilizer
The waste products of animals and plant waste, decomposing, form substances that are useful and readily available for plants. Organic fertilizers have their pros and cons.
Organic benefits:
- There is no material cost in their production, because these are natural free feeding in agriculture.
- They contain a balance of essential nutrients and trace elements needed for grapes.
- The vital activity of bacteria during the decomposition of organic matter has a beneficial effect on the soil. Increases air permeability, the ability to retain moisture, which has a beneficial effect on the development of the vineyard.
Disadvantages of organic:
- The composition of organic fertilizers is not exactly known to the gardener. This makes it difficult to determine the deficiency or excess of substances in plants. The composition of mineral fertilizers is indicated on the packaging or instructions for use.
- When organics are added, grapes can become infected with diseases, or the transfer of larvae and adult pests, as well as weed seeds.
- Hygiene and the aesthetic side make it difficult to work with such dressings.
The most popular organic fertilizers are compost, manure and poultry manure.
Manure - waste products of animals, their excrement. When fresh it contains a large amount of nitrogen. This makes it impossible to use it in a concentrated form when planting young grape bushes due to the possibility of scalding the root system.
For application, the manure is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. Humus is used in the spring. Manure, rotted for at least 2-3 years, fertilize planting pits and already growing bushes, digging the soil.
You should not uncontrollably introduce manure into the soil, as an excess of nitrates in it is possible. Especially often, such a negative result appears on black soil. Lighter and more porous types of soil, they pass water well and are washed with precipitation and irrigation. Therefore, in order to receive only indisputable advantages from the use of manure on the ground, you need to carefully and responsibly approach the process of feeding grapes.
Compostare prepared by mixing cut grass, household organic waste, foliage of trees and shrubs with soil or peat. The mixture is moistened and stirred periodically to saturate with oxygen. After a year or two, a valuable fertilizer is obtained containing a rich nutrient composition for plants.
If healthy plant residues were used in the preparation of fertilizing and manure was not added, the absence of pathogens and pest larvae is almost 100%. Humus is suitable for root fertilization of grapes and for the preparation of planting holes.
Bird droppingsused dry or in dissolved form. It is poured in a small amount into the recesses along the perimeter of the bush, sprinkling with soil. To prepare the solution, dilute 5 l of water with a handful of chicken manure. Insist in a warm place for 7-10 days, stirring occasionally. Dilute this infusion again with water in a ratio of 1:10. Pour the fertilizer between the rows, taking into account that 1 bush takes 500 ml of liquid.
The video below will discuss the introduction of bird droppings for grapes:
Do not add a solution of chicken manure under the bush. This is fraught with root burns.
Before feeding and after its completion, carry out measures to water the site.
Folk remedies
One of the most popular and effective folk dressings is yeast. It is prepared in several steps:
- Dissolve dry baker's yeast in warm water in a ratio of 1: 1000.
- For each liter of solution add 1 tsp. granulated sugar.
- Let it brew for 2-3 hours.
- Dilute 1: 5 with clean water before use.
This solution can also be prepared using live yeast, but then do not add sugar. The consumption rate of such dressing is 2 liters per 1 bush.
Ash - the most suitable organic mineral fertilizer for grapes. It nourishes the plant and prevents diseases of grapes and their pests. It is especially important on acidic soils, as it perfectly reduces their acidity. When hardwood is burned, potassium-rich ash is formed. Coniferous fertilizer contains mainly phosphorus.
In dry form, ash is used in unlimited quantities when digging and loosening areas. For root dressing, prepare an ash solution:
- add 250-300 g of ash to 10 liters of water;
- let it brew for a week;
- water the grapes by making grooves around the bush;
- liquid consumption - 5 liters per bush;
- a solution of ash is also used to spray the aerial parts of the plant.
An experienced gardener in his video talks about feeding grapes with ash:
Eggshellrich in potassium, magnesium, phosphorus. But 95% of its composition is occupied by calcium compounds. All components, getting into the soil, quickly transform into a form that is quickly absorbed by grapes. To save the shell, you need to thoroughly wash and dry it. Before applying to the soil, grind such fertilizing to obtain a powder.
More about egg shell feeding is written here.
Green manureprepared from weeds, the remains of garden plants after thinning and weeding, etc. For this:
- Fold the mass of greens into a container, filling it 3/4 full.
- Pour in water to completely cover the plant mixture.
- Cover the container with plastic, punching a few small holes on top.
- Let it brew until the smell of fermentation appears (10-14 days).
- Dilute with water to fertilize the grapes with the root method - divide the entire volume into 10 top dressings.
By adding wood ash to the solution and filtering, you can use it to spray bushes.
Features of the first feeding
After opening, the bush needs a good portion of complex feeding. It must contain all the components that will restore strength and give an impetus to the active growth of grapes. It is not necessary to buy a complex fertilizer, you can use organic matter. Humus and solutions based on organic mixtures are suitable.
How to feed grapes to increase yields?
It is important to carry out fertilization measures taking into account their characteristics.In order for the substances to reach the main root system as soon as possible, a recess is made around the bush in the form of a circle with a radius of 25-80 cm (depending on the size of the bush) and a depth of about 40 cm.All dressing solutions are poured onto the area of the dug circle.
Humus and slurry are distributed over the surface of the circle, and then they are digging 15 cm deep. After such loosening, top dressing should be covered with a soil layer.
Popular bugs
Novice gardeners often make mistakes in spring feeding due to inexperience. Most popular oversights:
- Spreading dry dressings over the soil surface. In such cases, nitrogen evaporation is inevitable, and potassium and phosphorus do not have the ability to break through to the root system of the grapes.
- Uncontrolled fertilizer application. This leads to soreness of the bushes and a decrease in yield.
- Fertilization only on areas with young grapes. Provided that planting pits were formed with top dressing, up to 3 years of other fertilizers are not required for grapes. Adult bushes, on the contrary, with growth experience a deficiency of trace elements and nutrients.
Useful Tips
In order for the grapes to bring a rich and tasty harvest, it is worth listening to the following recommendations:
- Water the grapes before and after root fertilization. This will dissolve the bait components and make the roots easier to access.
- Dry forms of fertilizers and nutrient solutions for irrigation should not be applied to the surface of the earth, but into the recesses made along the perimeter of the bushes or in the aisles.
- If necessary, in combination with the root method of fertilization, use spraying.
- Carefully follow the schedule and the rules for applying fertilizing.
Methods of applying dressings depend on their composition, weather and condition of the bushes. Rational responsible fertilization of the vineyard will help to get a rich harvest even on seemingly hopeless land.