All about watering grapes

Grapes can withstand dryness without problems and sometimes it is allowed to cultivate it without watering, but still the plant will not refuse water, especially when grown in arid 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 watering and feeding. After each irrigation procedure, a sharp increase in fruit becomes noticeable. In addition to increasing growth, an improvement in taste can be noted. The berries become more colorful and appetizing. The quality of watering is influenced by many factors that experienced gardeners must take into account.

Given a moderate temperature in summer, there are several irrigation methods, let's dwell on the most popular.

• Rare watering scheme provides for irrigation of grapes no more than 5 times a year;
• According to more frequent scheme, watering should be done at least once every 14 days.

Let's consider them in more detail.

Watering the grapes must be done at a specific 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 watering:

• weather;
• the rate of evaporation of the liquid;
• ripening rate of berries;
• the age of the grapes.

Pipe irrigation is often done because it delivers water to the heel roots. In addition, it takes much longer to evaporate.

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

1. The first time a fruit crop is watered during the tie. Then the plant especially needs moisture during the budding period.
2. The next time the soil is moistened immediately after the end of flowering, exactly when the fruit ovary is formed, and the period of development begins. Without the right amount of water and nutrients, the crop will be scarce. Experienced gardeners point out that you cannot water the plant during flowering. This can damage the grapes.
3. As soon as the berries begin to grow, you also need to water. It significantly affects not only the size of the berries, but also their color and taste.
4. Although grapes love moisture, it is very important maintain its optimal level. For this, the water must be dosed. Excessive irrigation will negatively affect the health of the plant and can damage the roots.

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 moisture charging, which occurs in the spring. At this time, the size of the berries is more like a pea.

• Varieties that belong to early ripening, watered once before winter and two or three times in June-July;
• Mid-season the grapes are watered once before winter and three times during the summer - in early June, July and early August;
• Varieties that ripen late (around 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 budding and the last time - before the berries ripen.

Irrigation is carried out before the start of coloring the berries.

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

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.

• If grapes grow on sandy soil, you need to increase the amount of water 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 specified rate (about 30 liters).

Regular watering is essential at all stages of horticultural development. On the territory of regions where heavy rains often occur, 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 moisture in the soil.

In general, the 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 soil condition.

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

Bunches of early varieties will not be able to gain maximum weight 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 does not make it possible to make a fractional top dressing.

Thus, moisturizing is recommended 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.

In general, the schedule and amount of irrigation can be adjusted. under individual rules. For this, the condition of the plants should be monitored. The following recommendations will help:

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

Use a few extra tips for frequent watering.

• Do not wet the soil during flowering, as this will lead to the fact that the flowers begin to crumble, as a result of which pollination problems are possible;
• 2-3 weeks before the berries ripen it is also undesirable to water the plant, since the fruits may crack and begin to rot;
• Don't take long, long breaks between waterings to avoid coarsening of the skin of the fruit;
• Consider feature of the variety. 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.

At the start of the growing season, there is a rapid growth of leaves and shoots. The root system is also actively developing. Until the buds swell, the grapes are thoroughly watered. If the spring was dry, irrigation is mandatory in April. With the help of the water temperature, you can influence the process of awakening the plant. Warm water promotes bud break, while cold water works the other way around. This feature should be taken into account if the frost returns.

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.

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 grow 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 summer month damages the crop. Watering should be done carefully until the soil becomes soft. In August, late varieties are watered, the harvest from which is harvested in the fall (from September to October).

With the arrival 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, which causes the root system to suffer. If it rains frequently during the fall, 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. This procedure is performed immediately after the foliage has fallen. In northern regions with harsh winters, grapes are first sheltered and then irrigated. The procedure is performed from late October to early November. Late-ripening varieties stop watering about a month before harvesting.

There are several ways to water the grapes. The appropriate method is chosen depending on the weather conditions, the characteristics of the variety and other characteristics. Some species are moistened at the root, pouring into the soil, for others, special systems and other options are used. Mechanized watering is considered more effective. This method doubles the productivity of the crop.

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

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

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 the water flows are made of special pipes. Water is distributed under low pressure. This is a very profitable method that saves money and helps to improve the quality of the crop. This method delivers moisture to the lower layers of the earth.

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;
• it is imperative to drill a small hole in the pipe on one side - it is necessary for water supply;
• before lowering the pipe into the pit, a layer of crushed stone drainage should be drawn up - they cover the bottom, this will prevent soil erosion.

Underground irrigation with a horizontal pipe:

• work begins with the design of the trench, which runs along the vine row, its depth is 0.5 meters;
• the bottom of the drainage is covered with fine 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 agrofiber - it is necessary so that the soil does not clog the holes;
• the last step is to install a tank for heating water.

The drain pipe irrigation method is popular with both experienced gardeners and beginners.

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 it is allowed to create two furrows, and in the case of 2.5-3 m - three. When using light soil, the gap between the furrows should be about 60 cm, with medium density soil - 80 cm, for heavy soils one meter is left.

First, the water is supplied under high pressure, and when the furrow is moistened, the pressure is weakened. 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. Solid flooding leads not only to uneconomical water consumption, but also to the flooding of the land, 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.

This method involves spraying with special systems. The closest method to natural irrigation, which allows the surface layer to be moistened.Moisture settles on the leaves and refreshes them. At the same time, it is important to avoid the formation of puddles.

Water is sprayed in a volume equal to the irrigation rate, or it is distributed into several "receptions". There are fixed and mobile systems.

There are several things to consider to form a rain cloud:

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

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

The aerosol humidification method also has its advantages:

• physiological processes are activated;
• water is saved.

Among the minuses it is worth noting:

• fast passing effect;
• the need for intricate devices.

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

Grapes are among the plants that adapt well 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, to obtain a rich and full-fledged harvest, a standard precipitation rate is quite enough. However, when growing 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.

There are a number of factors to consider when caring for a plant.

• If you are not sure of the required amount of water, it is better to underfill than to overmoisten the ground. Excessive moisture will cause superficial roots to grow.
• The soil will dry out if you take too long intervals between irrigation procedures.
• If increased shoot growth has been noticed, the volume of water must 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. It is necessary to increase the amount of moisture when the berries acquire a characteristic color.
• In the warm season, you should 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 high pressure irrigation. This is especially dangerous when watering young plants.
• Experienced gardeners recommend using rainwater. In the season of heavy rains, it is collected in barrels and other containers, and then used throughout the year.
• It is important to choose the right watering method. Some options are preferable to use after planting the plant by cuttings, others are great for growing grapes in a greenhouse or newly planted crops.
• In order for the root system to receive the required amount of oxygen, it is recommended to loosen the moist soil. And also this process is needed to prevent root rotting, and so that excess moisture evaporates faster.
• Remember to water the plant after opening for the warm season. Moisture will help the plant to wake up and give it strength.

Along with watering, nutrients are often added. 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, it will not be difficult to get large and tasty fruits 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 feeding 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. They use organic compounds and other fertilizers rich in trace elements. When introducing organic matter, you need to correctly calculate their amount, otherwise the effect will be negative.

Experienced gardeners advise once a year in the spring to use nitrogen fertilizers, which are necessary for the full development of fruit crops 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.

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

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