How to keep the vine in the cold: the vine shelter for the winter

Grapes are a heat-loving plant that needs good warming in the cold. Shelter for winter is practiced even in the southern regions, taking care of the preservation of high-quality varieties, and in the middle and black-earth strip this method is mandatory.

The first frosts occur when the vegetation has not yet ended, so there is no natural loss of foliage on the grapes.

By the time of shelter overgrown shoots over the summer, it is necessary to accumulate the necessary amount of plastic substances, fully ripen. The bark should be lignified, acquire a characteristic light brown color.

Before you make a shelter of grapes for the winter, you need to start preparing the bushes for the winter. Unexplored shoots die even with slight frost. There are special techniques for accelerating the ripening of the vine, especially this is true in the conditions of a cool and humid summer. For successful wintering, it is necessary that a minimum of 3-4 internodes are well ripened.

When to make a shelter for grapes for the winter?

Sending grapes to winter apartments starts depending on the weather conditions. The approximate period for the middle band is October-early November. By the time of shelter, the first frost must pass. The vine, which has been hardened by cold, acquires a light brown color.

The higher the winter hardiness of the variety, the lower the threshold temperature for shelter. For bushes of European selection with winter hardiness of the vine at 15-18 ⁰ C, the maximum allowable limit for shelter is a temperature of -4 ⁰ C. Modern hybrids withstand lower temperatures (-5-8 ⁰ C).

A few days at a temperature of -10 ⁰ C can lead to loss of the eye. Winter hardiness can fluctuate. So, if the bush yielded a rich harvest, its resistance to frost is reduced.

Young plants are sheltered first of all, before the onset of cold weather. Gardeners noted that the shelter before the scheduled time on the vine has no negative impact. If there is no possibility to visit the site at a later date, you can prune and shelter in early October.

Ways of sheltering grapes for the winter

• The simplest method is the earthen shelter. The soil should be light and loose, and cover with a cover of 30-40 cm. The earth should be taken away from the plant to prevent exposure of the roots.
• In areas with a harsh climate, where there is little snow, it is possible to freeze the roots. There, the shelter of the grapes for the winter is carried out layer by layer: a lapnik or straw is laid on a 15-centimeter earth layer, then they are again sprinkled with earth.

• Air-dry shelter is recommended to use in the middle band. Lapnik or roofing material is placed under the vine, then it is bent by staples, lapnik or straw is again placed on top. Above the shelter is a frame and covered with a film or roofing material. It can be replaced by a structure of wooden shields.
• Tunnel film shelter: the vine is pinned to the ground, over it arches are established and tightened with black polyethylene film. Due to the cheapness and availability of materials used widely, but has the disadvantage - the risk of damping. To prevent this, you can first put a layer of corrugated cardboard on the arc, which will absorb excess moisture.

• Snow cover - a simple effective way to save the vine. The bushes are bent to the ground and fall asleep for 40-50 cm. Under the snow blanket, even European varieties perfectly winter, but the weather is unpredictable, and there are no guarantees that a lot of snow will fall out.

• The shelter of grapes for the winter with agrofiber prevents the development of necrosis. This breathable material does not allow condensation to accumulate. It protects well from autumn and spring frosts, but in regions with severe winters as the main means of shelter is not like. It can be used as the first layer of tunnel shelters.

Foliage, sawdust, manure, domestic garbage can not cover the grapes.