Successfully Managing A Grape Vineyard

By Author: Prashant Manne
Total Articles: 7
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People have been cultivating grapes for around 800 years. They come in a range of colors and types and can be turned into jams and jellies and made into wine. Grapes are relatively easier to grow than other plants. They can be grown in most climates and come in a variety of types that suit different regions. This is the reason that one can find their presence almost all over the world.

Maintaining a vineyard requires a lot of resources for its effective maintenance. There are many ways to approach grape growing. Dry farmed, irrigated, till, minimum till, no-till, conventional, sustainable, organic and biodynamic are some of the few approaches.

Grapes are mainly categorized into two types- table and wine grapes. Both of these types have a unique texture, sweetness, and flavor. Table grapes are seedless and can be consumed fresh. They can also be used in salads and recipes. Their color varies from green to black, red, or purple. This change in color is due to the production of anthocyanin which is a type of flavonoid that results in a change of pigment. Wine grapes are thick, crunchy, seeded and have ...
... a sweet flavor. They can be found in many regions and are high in antioxidants.

Some of the main yearly vineyard work activities are:

• Pruning

Pruning is the first yearly activity that is done in a vineyard. Grapes produce fruit on shoot growing off of one-year-old canes. If the canes are too old due to no pruning, or if you prune, you’re your vines completely each year, you will get very less grapes.

Pruning is usually done in late winter when the plant is dormant between the months of December and March. The goal is to create a strong root system and trunk.

• Managing vines

Several canopy management practices have to be done each year to keep the crop on the proper level. It also helps in harvesting grapes of the highest quality. After bud break, the shoots grow rapidly and by May it is time to tie them up between the wires. If grapevines have a strong support like a mesh wall, the plant will not sag and develop to its full potential.

• Fertilization

Although fertilization is an important vineyard work activity, it does not need to be carried out every year. If you manage you have a solid vineyard management strategy and use the right fertilizer for grapevine plant health by Jivagro, then the frequency of fertilization can be reduced. The fertilizers used must depend on the soil and leaf analysis results to provide the optimal conditions of growth of the grapevine.

• Vineyard Soil Management

When grape berries start to develop, they need more water, since this happens in the summer, farmers have to implement floor management or soil management practices to prevent weeds. This includes loosening the soil, mulching, wedding and so on.

• Disease and Pest Control

One of the main problems throughout the whole growing season is diseases and pests that can do great damage to the vines. For the prevention of damage, the constant monitoring of the plants in the vineyard is crucial. The most vital times for grape disease and pest control are in spring and summer. Thus, it is important to use the best insecticides for grapevines in India for the prevention of insects and pests like flea beetle, berry moth, root borer, rootworm, and so on. Using good grapevine fungicide in India can help in the prevention of powdery mildew caused by the fungus Uncinulanecator that can affect all green tissue of the grapevine.

• Harvest

The harvest time of grapes depends on the climate, variety, and weather conditions of the year of harvest. In the Northern hemisphere, grapes are harvested between August and October. The harvest time is also dependent on the amount of sugar and acid in the grapes and the pH of the grape.

Although vineyard management styles might vary widely, the fundamentals of consistently successful grape growing are focused on these sic elements. By paying attention to details, applying the appropriate practice or material on time, year after the other, and continually striving for excellence, one can get a great yield from their plants.

About Author

I have been writing informative and high-quality article on Crop Protection and Nourishment. In the above articles have covered topics such as best insecticides for grapevines in India, grapevine fungicide in India, grapevine plant health by Jivagro