Growing grapes by cutting cuttings is gaining more and more popularity. Harvesting in the fall and storing them until spring will be discussed in this article.
Why harvest grape cuttings in the fall for the winter
How to cut grapes in the fall? In spring or autumn, seedlings of the selected grape variety are planted in the plots at home. To obtain seedlings, cuttings are pre-prepared. They are pruned from a well-developed vine that has matured over the summer. Bush maintenance includes pruning in the fall to form the plant and remove excess shoots, thus preventing crop overload.
In spring, it will not work to cut chubuki from grapes peeled in autumn, in winter it is hibernation time, the development of shoots does not occur. In addition, a large number of eyes and vines die during the winter due to frost. For this reason, cuttings are stocked at the end of the season. This must be done before the onset of frost.
The process of harvesting the shanks is combined with the autumn pruning of the vine, aimed at forming a bush and removing unnecessary branches. The presence of cuttings makes it possible to preserve the cultivated variety, since no one will undertake to predict weather moods and the survival rate of a heat-loving plant in the harsh conditions.
How to prepare seedlings in the fall
In order for the cuttings to tolerate storage conditions well and begin to develop quickly after planting, it is necessary to take into account the rules for harvesting.
How to select a vine for harvesting cuttings
Healthy fertile bushes are selected for cutting the shanks. The vine from which the shoot selection is planned must be of a uniform color (dark straw) with no signs of disease or insect damage. The diameter is 5-8 mm. Thin and thick shoots are not recommended to be harvested; preference should be given not to an old, but well-ripened branch.
You can check maturity with iodine. In a 1% solution, you need to lower the cut and see how its color changes. Unripe specimens will remain light green, and a suitable option will acquire a purple-black hue. For the cutting, the middle part of the branch is chosen, since the top is too young and underdeveloped. Chubuki are made from the 4th eye, strong and fertile shoots grow from such blanks.
Experienced growers are advised to choose for pruning the vine that developed on the sunny side, branches sprouting in the shade grow worse. It is not recommended to use fatty and coarse shoots for cuttings.
Pruning is carried out after the foliage has fallen in about 2-3 weeks (end of September - October).
Ways to cut grape cuttings
You can cut off a long branch for storage with 6-8 eyes, from which they make pruning for germination in the spring. You can also prepare one of the following options:
- shortened shoot for 1-2 eyes (used more often for vaccination);
- medium-sized pruning for 3-4 eyes (this method is the most popular);
- long cuttings with 5 or more eyes.
Use a disinfected garden pruner for pruning.
Disinfection of seedlings
Before sending the shafts for storage, you need to disinfect. Scraps can contain microorganisms and bacteria, which will begin to multiply intensively in conditions of moisture and heat. This will destroy all planting material.
Processing should be carried out immediately after cutting the shoot. If this is not possible, it is recommended to wrap the workpiece in foil or a dry, clean cloth.
To prepare a disinfectant solution, dissolve a teaspoon of copper sulfate in a glass of water. Spray the shafts generously with the liquid poured into the spray bottle and let them dry naturally. Disinfection will protect the planting material from the formation of mold and mildew during storage.
Preparing for storage in a cellar or refrigerator
The preparatory process involves saturating the shanks with moisture so that they do not dry out during the wintering period. To do this, cut off shoots are immersed in a container with water and kept in it for 24 hours. After that, the planting material is disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes.
Instead of potassium permanganate, you can use a 3% composition of copper sulfate. Cuttings treated in this way are dipped in a paper towel and laid out on paper to dry.
Proper preparation increases the chances of preserving the planting material. Store the workpieces in a tightly wrapped film in a cool place.
How to keep grape cuttings in winter until spring
The cuttings are stored in cellars or refrigerators at temperatures ranging from 2 to 6 degrees. Some gardeners use a storage method in which prepared shafts are buried in the ground. It is important to choose the right place so that in the fall the soil remains dry there, and after the snow melts, it does not turn into a swamp. The immersion depth of the planting material is at least 25 cm.
Cuttings stored in basements or refrigerators are periodically checked (about once a month). If mold or drying of the workpieces is detected, it is necessary to urgently take measures to save them. If there is not enough moisture, the cuttings should be immersed in a container of water for 6 hours and dried as in preparing the material. And in case of mold formation, the shoots are thoroughly washed and disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate or copper sulfate.
There is a popular method for storing cuttings, described in the book on growing grapes. For reproduction, annual shoots with healthy buds are selected (the distance between them should be 20 cm or more), the diameter of the branch is 5-6 mm. After disinfection and drying, the cuttings are wrapped in a roll using polyethylene and an interlayer of steamed sawdust. A tightly tied roll is placed in a bag and stored in a refrigerator (temperature 2-6 ° C). During periodic monitoring, you should pay attention to the color of the shoot, it should remain light green.
Germination of shanks at home
Radchevsky's method
This method is characterized by the simplicity of the technology and the production of a fast-growing bush with a high level of survival. The essence of the method is as follows.
- In the fall, cuttings 60-90 cm long are harvested. After processing, they are wrapped in a film and sent to storage in a trench with sand.
- In the spring, shoots are taken and cut 30-40 cm each, while removing the lower eyes is not at all necessary.
- The cuttings are soaked for about 2 days in water. The container with them is installed in a cool place (temperature regime 15-18 °).
- After moistening, the cuttings are dipped into liter jarsfilled with water by 2-3 cm. Up to 10 shoots are placed in one container. Containers with cuttings are exposed on the windowsill from the sunny side. In case of a lack of light, it is recommended to use a backlight with fluorescent lamps.
- After 10-12 days, young shoots are formed from the shanks, and the roots appear in another week.
- After the roots appear, the cuttings are transplanted into bags with soil mixture (soil, sand, humus). Before planting, you need to prune, leaving only one, but the strongest sprout (if there is a short internode, two sprouts can be preserved). Sprinkling with earth is done so that 10-15 cm of the cutting remains on top.
Further, moderate watering and loosening of the soil is carried out. In the first decade of May, the plant is planted in open ground.
How to germinate shanks using the Pusenko method
This method is also called a wardrobe, since the prepared cuttings are folded on the closet. The preparatory process involves moistening a dense fabric and wrapping the handle with it (each is wrapped separately).
The lower part of the package is placed in a film, after which all the blanks are placed on the cabinet in a horizontal position. The tops of the shanks are directed towards the wall or window, this will create an optimal temperature for them. Excessive heat will provoke intensive blooming of the upper part of the shoot. Features methods:
- periodic moistening of the tissue;
- temperature regime up to 25 °.
Roots appear after 3-4 weeks. Upon reaching their length of 1-2 mm, transplantation into open ground or a separate container will be required. This method is suitable for cuttings that are at least 0.7 cm thick.
Method of correct germination in the litter
This method is simple and favorable for the plant, which is not stressed during transplantation.
The essence of the method is to immerse the cutting in a container filled with sawdust with hydrogel / sand or other alternative material.
The components used for filling the container need preparation:
- sand is cleaned of debris, washed and filled with boiling water;
- sawdust is also poured with boiling water and squeezed.
The cooled sawdust is mixed with sand or hydrogel and the prepared container is filled with the resulting mixture. In the center, the cutting is immersed in the filler and periodically moistened. The roots appear after 2 weeks, after which the plant is transplanted to a permanent place.
Other rooting methods
The rooting method is also available and simple. The bottom line is the effect on the shoot simultaneously of two different temperatures. This is achieved by immersing most of the cutting into the ground, sprinkle the rest with sawdust or sand, and then cover it with a film.
The root system forms on the surface, while the submerged fragment does not develop due to the cool temperature. As soon as the antennae of the root appear on the surface of the cutting, rooting has occurred and the stem is transplanted into the ground.
What and when to do with sprouted cuttings
The sprouted shafts are planted in the spring, when 2-3 true leaves are formed on the seedling. Previously, the container with grapes is watered with water and the shoot is taken out. Before being buried, the roots are immersed in a clay mash. Also, honey water is used for processing, which is prepared from 1 liter of water and 1 spoon of honey. The planting process is completed by burying the cutting and placing the peg as a support. It is recommended to mulch the soil around the bush.
Planting shanks in spring is characterized by high survival rate of the material (up to 95%). Such a plant can bear fruit the next year. The timing is determined by weather conditions, night temperatures should not fall below 0 ° C.
There are many ways of harvesting and storing cuttings, of which you can easily choose the most suitable one. Then you will not need to worry about the loss of the variety as a result of freezing of the vine. During the warm period, the seedling will gain strength and become stronger, which will help it survive the harsh winter under reliable shelter. And then it can be germinated and propagated.