The best fertilizers for grapes in spring and the rules for their application
Grapes are a heat-loving crop, but many varieties are grown both in the south and in the middle zone of the country. They are characterized by strong immunity and resistance to weather conditions. In order for the grapes to bear fruit consistently and delight them with tasty and juicy berries, with the arrival of spring they are fed with organic and mineral fertilizers. Let's look at the procedures involved in fertilizing grapes in the spring and what to pay attention to when choosing nutrients.
Goals of spring feeding of grapes
Spring feeding stimulates the growth and development of shoots. After winter, the plant is weakened and lacks vitamins and microelements. To compensate for this deficiency, it is important, with the arrival of spring, to add organic matter to the soil for the growth of green mass and mineral components for the formation of fruits.
Grapes are fertilized to protect against pests and diseases that become more active with the onset of heat. Summer residents use foliar treatments: they spray the grapes with solutions and tinctures.
When to fertilize in spring
Fertilizers are first applied when the air warms up to +16°C. Month and date vary by region growing. In central Russia this is approximately mid-April or early May, in more southern and warmer regions - early April.
The second time the grapes are fertilized before flowering begins. As a rule, this occurs in the middle or end of May. Recommended time: morning or evening.To apply mineral fertilizers, choose dry, windless and cloudy days. Do not feed grapes in rainy and foggy weather.
How to feed grapes in spring
In order for the vineyard to grow healthy and productive, it is fertilized with mineral, organic and complex compounds. It is important to follow the dosage of fertilizers and recommendations for their preparation. The mistake many gardeners make is that they fertilize haphazardly, which results in an overabundance of nutrients. It is just as harmful to the plant as a deficiency.
Organic fertilizers
Organic food costs little or nothing at all and is easy to prepare. For spring feeding of grapes, manure is used. It contains phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium.
A layer of soil is removed between the rows, overripe manure is placed in the holes, and soil is sprinkled on top. This simple method is used once every 2-3 years; it helps the vines wake up after winter. An infusion of manure is also used: 2 kg are required for 10 liters of water. They are mixed, then diluted with water at the rate of 1:10. Water the plants not at the roots, but in the holes near the trunk.
Chicken manure or its solution is suitable for annual use. When preparing the solution, it is important to maintain the proportion: 1 part chicken manure to 15 parts water. The consumption rate is from 0.5 to 1 liter for each plant. If you add more manure, there is a high risk of burning the plants.
Attention! When decomposed, chicken manure releases large amounts of ammonia, which negatively affects plants. Therefore, in its pure form, litter is used mainly in the fall, and in the spring, a solution is preferred. To enrich it, sawdust, peat or chopped straw are added to the composition.
Fertilizer is applied to moist soil after rain or pre-watering. The solution should not get on the vines or leaves; it should only be applied to the ground.
Mineral fertilizers
One-component or two-component mineral mixtures help grapes develop and protect against diseases. Phosphorus is required for the formation of ovaries, potassium increases resistance to adverse weather conditions, boron activates flowering, and zinc improves yield.
For the first feeding, a mixture of 40 g of superphosphate and 20 g of potassium sulfate is suitable. The ingredients are mixed and added to the root holes, sprinkled with earth on top. Fertilizer increases the resistance of grapevines to drought and dehydration, and takes part in the processes of photosynthesis. Superphosphate strengthens the root system and stimulates fruit ripening. It is sold in powder or granular form.
Advice! It is not recommended to mix superphosphate with calcium nitrate and ammonium sulfate.
Some summer residents prefer nitrogen-containing subcortex: ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, urea. They are used both as a top dressing and as a means of protection against diseases and pests. Ammonium sulfate is especially popular - it is low-toxic. Sold in powder or granule form. About 15 g of the substance is required per 1 m² of vineyard. The product is suitable for use on acidic soils, increases productivity by 25–40%, and inhibits fungal and viral diseases.
Ready-made fertilizers
Ready-made fertilizers are in particular demand: there is no need to waste time and measure the amount of components; it is enough to dilute them with water or apply them dry to the grapes.
For feeding, summer residents use Zircon"It protects plants from shedding of ovaries, activates shoot growth, and stimulates fruit ripening. Thanks to the spring use of Zircon, productivity increases by 30–60%, and plants are less likely to get sick. Use the product for root or foliar feeding. To prepare the solution, 5 liters of water and 5 drops of Zircon are required. The finished mixture is stored for no more than 3 days. Apply in the early, windless morning. “Zircon” cannot be applied simultaneously with alkaline fertilizers.
Complex feeding “Kemira Lux” is also popular.. It contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Sold in granule form. The drug is applied dry or in the form of a solution. The second option is preferable, since in a humid environment nutrients are absorbed faster. Prepare a solution at the rate of 20 g of granules per 10 liters of water. For 1 bush use 1-2 liters of product. "Kemira Lux" prevents the appearance of insect pests, improves the nutrition of the vines, and increases resistance to winds and frosts.
In addition to Zircon and Kemira, the preparations Agricola, Novofert, and Aquarin are used for spring feeding.. The complexes contain nutritional components that ensure the healthy development of grapes.
Folk recipes
One of the simple and effective fertilizers for grapes is yeast infusion. They are inexpensive, safe and do not harm the environment. To prepare the product, dilute 200 g of yeast in 1 liter of warm water, leave for 5–7 hours, and mix thoroughly. The resulting solution is diluted in 5 liters of water, about 1 liter is used for each bush.
Advice! Experienced summer residents recommend using baker's yeast. They actively stimulate the growth of grape vines and enrich plants with vitamins.
Fertilizers based on plant residues are also used. Weeds, last year's tops and shoots are placed in a deep container, filled with water, and covered with a plastic bag or cling film. Make 2-3 holes in the bag for air ventilation and put it in a dark place for 15 days. Next, dilute with clean water in a ratio of 1:10, apply at the root at the rate of 0.5 liters per bush.
In spring and summer, vineyards are protected from spider mites. Insects live on the lower part of the leaf and become active with the arrival of spring. Regular spraying with folk remedies prevents their occurrence.
Choosing fertilizer for a good harvest
To ensure that grapes produce a tasty and sweet harvest, gardeners use ash-based fertilizer. To prepare it, you need 1 kg of ash, 20 liters of water, 5 liters of mullein and 2.5 liters of bird droppings. All ingredients are mixed in a deep container and left for a week in a dark place. After 1 liter of infusion, dilute it in a bucket of water and water the vineyard.
1 bush requires up to 1.5 liters of mixture. After the procedure, the plants are watered abundantly with warm water and the soil is mulched - this will delay the evaporation of moisture, the nutrients will penetrate deeper to the roots. Straw, grass, sawdust, and hay are used as mulch.
Attention! Ash actively protects grapes from diseases, so once a season about 1 kg of ash is scattered around the bush. It is rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.
For fast growth
Nitroammophoska fertilizer is used to stimulate inflorescences (50 g) and boric acid (0.4 g). The substances are dissolved in 10 liters of water and mixed. Fertilizer not only accelerates development, but also improves berry set. Before application, the soil near the bushes is loosened and cleared of weeds and debris.
Before flowering, some gardeners use foliar feeding. To prepare it, use 40 g of urea, 20 g of citric acid, 15 g of boric acid and 1 g copper sulfate. The substances are dissolved in a bucket of warm water. Treat grapes with a spray bottle in cloudy weather.
How to apply fertilizer correctly
Advice from experienced winegrowers:
- Adult plants need additional nutrition just as much as young ones. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to them and feed them with mineral or organic compounds as the weather warms up.
- Before the procedure, the soil is loosened, and then the grapes are generously watered with water at room temperature.
- Do not apply fertilizers in sunny weather - this can cause chemical burns of leaves and fruits.
- Complex fertilizers are used only once per season. Otherwise, the grapes will suffer due to an excess of vitamins and minerals.
- When introducing chemical or biological compounds, follow safety rules: wear a protective suit, goggles, gloves and a respirator. Apply fertilizer according to the directions on the package.
- The solution poured under the root should not be cold. Suitable temperature is about +25°C.
Features of fertilization depending on the growing region
For the Urals and Siberia complex fertilizers are suitable: “Kemira Universal” or “Kemira Lux”. They increase the resistance of plants to cold and frost, which characterize these regions. Mineral complexes are applied once per season - in early spring. Subsequently, organics or folk remedies are used.
In outskirts of Moscow use mineral mixtures based on potassium or phosphorus. The components penetrate deep into the soil, strengthen the root system, as a result the plant acquires strong immunity and gets sick less often.At the same time, it is important to loosen the soil and mulch so that the effect of fertilizing lasts as long as possible.
In Krasnodar region And other warm regions grapes grow well and rarely get sick, so summer residents pay attention to folk mixtures. For their preparation, ash, yeast, sugar, plant residues, and tobacco dust are used. The compositions are used as root and foliar fertilizers.
Conclusion
Fertilizing grapes in the spring is a simple procedure. For the first feeding, liquid mixtures are used: infusion of mullein or bird droppings, ash solution or slurry. Funds are applied in April or May, depending on the growing region. Among mineral fertilizers, grapes respond favorably to potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, magnesium, and from ready-made complex fertilizers - to Kemira or Novofert.
The interval between spring feedings is 2-3 weeks. Some beginning gardeners mistakenly believe that the more fertilizer they add, the better. This is not true: an excess of nutrients negatively affects the yield and condition of plants.