How and what to feed grapes in August: the best feedings and useful tips from winegrowers
Fertilizers are as important to garden plants as food is to humans. Meals should be balanced and regular. Garden grapes require organic and mineral fertilizers, which alternate with each other. They are applied throughout the entire ripening period, including August. Pre-autumn feeding is mandatory: it prepares the crop for cold weather. Let's look at what to feed grapes in August and what advice experienced gardeners give.
Do grapes need fertilizing in August?
In August, gardeners fertilize mature grape vines, preparing them for winter. Mineral and organic components strengthen the plant’s immunity and restore it after harvest. If for some reason it was not possible to feed the grapes in August, the procedure is postponed to the beginning of September, but no later than the 10th day of the month.
Is this necessary?
Top dressing in August is optional if the grapes were planted only this year. The seedling is fed only when planting and 4 weeks after. If you do not fertilize an adult plant, there is a high probability of shoots freezing in winter. Then next year's harvest will be sour and small.
What fertilizing do grapes need in August?
The more time passes from the moment the grapes are planted, the less nutritional components remain in the soil. Therefore, in August they focus on mineral fertilizers, which compensate for the deficiency of microelements and extend the life of the plant.With a lack of microelements, grapes often get sick, and yields decrease every year.
Symptoms of deficiency
At the end of summer, grapes need phosphorus, potassium, zinc and boron. They are responsible for preparing the plant for winter and restoring healthy metabolism. With a lack of microelements, the following symptoms are observed:
- depressed growth, short and thin shoots, dry and limp leaves - lack of phosphorus;
- blue-gray color of leaves and curling - potassium deficiency;
- twisted yellow leaves and highly branched roots - lack of calcium;
- chlorosis, red and purple color of foliage, dying of lower leaves - low magnesium;
- development of side shoots and pale green color of leaves - not enough boron;
- yellow-green leaves with curved edges - zinc deficiency.
A common mistake many gardeners make is adding nitrogen-containing fertilizers to the soil. It's better to do this in early spring, because nitrogen is responsible for the development of green mass. In the fall it will do more harm to the grapes than good.
When to feed grapes in August
The timing of fertilizing depends on the timing of crop ripening. The optimal date is 10–15 days after. You should not apply fertilizer immediately after harvesting the grapes: the vines should “rest” a little.
Reference. Sometimes fertilizers are applied in August to stimulate the ripening of late-ripening varieties. Potassium-phosphorus complexes are used.
Experienced summer residents advise applying fertilizers to damp soil. The weather should be calm and cloudy. The optimal time is early morning, when the sun has not yet risen.
Frequency and abundance of fertilizers
In total, grapes are fed 2-3 times during the summer: in mid-June, 2 weeks before harvest and in August. The abundance depends on the type of fertilizer and variety.If symptoms of deficiency of a certain microelement are noticeable, emphasis is placed on those substances that will eliminate the deficiency.
What to feed
Summer residents choose mineral, organic or folk fertilizers. It is important to follow the dosage of the products applied and the preparation recommendations.
Mineral fertilizers
In August, emphasis is placed on potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. Use potassium chloride, potassium salt, potassium sulfate, superphosphate.
If such fertilizers are not at hand, use dry wood ash: it does not contain chlorine, which is harmful to grapevines. Ash is used on all types of soils, even the most acidic. On average, 150–200 g of ash is added per 1 m². Seal it to a depth of no more than 8 cm, otherwise a soil crust will form, which harms the plant and soil microflora. Ash-based sprays are also used: 100 g of the substance is dissolved in 5 liters of water.
Phosphate rock is used for pre-autumn feeding: it strengthens the root system, increases frost resistance, and increases yield for the next year. Use the product once every 3-4 years, first water the soil. 300 g of phosphate rock is required per 1 m².
Organic compounds
Organic materials include compost, manure, green manure and even food waste. These products nourish the soil and saturate it with useful components. Popular organic fertilizers for grapes:
- Cow dung is used on sandy soils. Under each bush, 10–15 kg of rotted manure is applied. It is convenient to place it in the tree trunk grooves - they are placed at a distance of 15 cm from the grapes.
- For soils with neutral acidity, bird droppings are used. Prepare a concentrate from 1 liter of litter and 4 liters of water, dilute it at a rate of 1:2.Used for watering grapes: about 0.5 liters are applied to each bush.
- Bone meal is suitable for any type of soil. It is biodegradable, costs little, strengthens the roots and increases the grapes' resistance to frost. 110 g of product is required per 1 m².
Folk remedies
Folk remedies are harmless to the environment, they can be used 4-5 times during the summer and even used during fruiting of grapes. An infusion of nettle is effective: 5 kg of the plant is crushed, placed in a bucket, filled with water to the very top and left in a dark and cool place. After 5 days, dilute at the rate of 1:5. The infusion is used to strengthen plant immunity and protect against diseases and pests.
Experienced gardeners recommend using yeast. Dissolve 50 g of dry yeast in 1 liter of water, add 10 g of sugar and leave in a warm place for 3 hours. Dilute with water at a rate of 1:10 and use for spraying. Yeast infusion stimulates the metabolism in the plant and strengthens the vines.
How to feed grapes to speed up the ripening of berries
The ripening of berries is stimulated by urea. It dissolves well in water, is easily digestible and does not provoke the accumulation of nitrates in fruits. The solution protects grapes from bacterial and viral diseases, improves the taste and marketability of the bunches. Urea is added in dry or liquid form. Dissolve 500 g of the substance in 10 liters of water and spray the plant.
Attention! Ready-made mineral complexes are popular among summer residents. For young grapes, use “Gumi-Omi”, for adult plants - “Biovit”. They are enriched with phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen, are easy to prepare and do not affect the taste of the berries.
How to feed two-year and three-year-old grapes
In the second year after planting, the grapes are fertilized with organic infusion. For preparation you will need tansy and calendula flowers, compost and bird droppings in a 1:1 ratio. All components are mixed and diluted with warm water. Use the infusion for spraying or watering. The soil is first loosened, and after applying fertilizer it is mulched.
For three-year-old vines, Zircon is used. It prevents the ovaries from shedding and stimulates the ripening of fruits. To prepare the working solution, take 5 liters of water and 5 drops of the drug. Stir and apply as a watering to the tree trunk grooves.
Choosing feeding in the middle zone
Fertilizers for the middle zone are aimed at strengthening the immunity of grapes. Balanced fertilizers increase resistance to diseases and insect pests. Summer residents use:
- urea solution - 30 g of substance is required per 1 liter of water, use a solution for spraying;
- potassium permanganate solution - dissolve 5 g of potassium permanganate in 10 liters of water, water the bush so that the liquid does not get on the leaves;
- 15 g of superphosphate is applied under each bush.
In the Urals
The Urals is a region with short, humid and cool summers, so the vines must be strong, with a large number of ovaries, and the root system must be powerful and well developed.
In addition to rotted manure and chicken droppings, summer residents add 20 g of superphosphate and 15 g of urea to the soil (consumption per 1 m²). This mineral complex increases yield and improves the taste of grapes.
In Siberia and other regions
Universal fertilizer for grapes - mineral complex Florovit. It contains magnesium, sulfur, zinc, boron, iron, potassium, phosphorus. For 1 plant it takes 45 g; dry fertilizer is applied directly under the bush.
Florovit is compatible with other fertilizers, non-toxic to the environment, and increases the frost resistance of vines. The composition maintains favorable soil acidity.
How to feed grapes
Grapes are fertilized using root and foliar methods. Summer residents recommend alternating them with each other so that the plant is protected not only outside, but also inside.
The root way
In this case, fertilizers are applied at the root - nutrients enter the soil through watering or applying the substance in dry form. Plants are watered with nettle or ash infusion, urea, phosphate rock, and superphosphate are added. This method solves the problem of micronutrient deficiency, strengthens the root system, and improves the microflora of plantings.
Foliar
Foliar method (leaf) - spraying grapevines with infusion or solution. This protects plants from diseases and pests, improves the taste and appearance of the berries. Bordeaux mixture, urea, bird droppings, and yeast infusion are used as fertilizers. It is recommended to process bushes in calm and dry weather.
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Advice from experienced winegrowers
Russian winegrowers recommend taking precautions: when preparing working solutions, take into account the dosage of components, especially when it comes to mineral products. An excess of microelements is just as dangerous as a deficiency. It is important to follow personal safety rules: work with solutions wearing gloves, goggles and a respirator.
Attention! To prepare fertilizers, use clean garden tools: buckets, basins, barrels, shovels.Dirty dishes can cause grapes to become infected with fungal diseases.
Most working solutions cannot be stored, so they are used immediately after preparation. Summer residents are advised to think about the amount of fertilizing in advance so as not to throw away too much. If the products can be stored for several more days, they are placed out of the reach of children and animals.
Conclusion
A quick way to feed grapes in August is to add a mineral complex under each bush. If such feeding is not at hand, use folk remedies: nettle, yeast, ash. In August, emphasis is placed on phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, nitrogen fertilizers fade into the background.
Phosphate rock, potassium salt, and double superphosphate are effective and cheap to use. Organic materials used include bone meal, rotted manure and chicken droppings.