As your grape vine grows, you need to make sure to tend to it properly so that it can grow healthily and produce abundant fruits. Here are some dos and don’ts to caring for a grape vine to ensure a thriving vineyard.
1. Do prune your grape vines to remove excess growth and to ensure that the energy is directed to the growing fruits, not the shoots and leaves. Removing unwanted shoots is important so that there is healthy growth of the vine.
2. Don’t overwater your vines as excessive water will make the growth vegetative, meaning the vines will grow leaves, not fruits. Do ensure that your soil is well-drained and that there is no standing water around your planted vines.
3. Do build a trellis system before the vines grow so you can train the vines immediately on them. This also ensures that you won’t disturb the growth of your growing vines and that there is a ready support system as they grow heavier and start to bear fruit. Don’t wait until there is already growth as this will cause problems later on.
4. Do initiate preventive measures so that your growing grapes don’t develop diseases. This includes ensuring good row spacing and adequate air circulation in your vineyard. Also, make sure to disinfect the tools you use on your vines.
5. Don’t wait until your grape vines are riddled with diseases before starting control measures. Diseases can devastate your whole vineyard if you ignore them. Do make sure you know how to identify the common diseases your vines can develop so you can immediately control them.
6. Do put up pest repellents to prevent pests from getting to your vines. You can make use of visual, auditory or even odor repellents. For grape vine insects, it’s a good idea to make use of other predatory insects that prey on them and not the grape vine. Don’t immediately use insecticides as grapes are made for consumption. Only use this as a last resort.
7. Do ensure that your plants get enough sunlight to grow and undergo photosynthesis. This is needed for your vines to bear fruit. You can also do vine canopy management to expose the vines to as much direct sunlight as possible.
Following these dos and don’ts in caring for your grape vine will ensure that you have a healthy, thriving vineyard that will be able to withstand the test of weather and time. Soon, you will be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor and see your thriving vineyard producing healthy, juicy and delicious grapes.
