To obtain a high-quality and high yield, the period of flowering and setting of berries is extremely important. In order to grow a culture in adverse conditions, special feeding and care are required. Gibberellin for grapes is used as a growth activator, which stimulates flowering and prevents the ovary from falling.
What is gibberellin?
The drug gibberellin is a derivative of the parasitic fungus Fusarium. In 1938, its unique properties were discovered and gibberellic acid was created - white crystals soluble in alcohols, acetone, kerosene and insoluble in water.
If you use gibberellin for grapes, then know that it is able to accumulate in plants and activate cell division and stretching, which is why growth occurs. In this case, the drug in the recommended concentration does not affect the root system, but if exceeded, it can cause irreparable harm.
When the plant goes into the flowering phase, growth hormone prevents the decay of peduncles and provokes the formation of fruits. In this case, the drug also affects the final size of the berries in a ripe state. Gibberellins are of great help in long daylight crops that suffer from a lack of lighting.
The results of processing grapes with the drug
Gibberellin for grapes is used quite often, not only at home, but also on an industrial scale.
Results and benefits of using the hormone:
- adverse weather conditions do not affect the formation of berries;
- peduncles under the influence of the drug attract nutrients, which gives more ovary, which does not crumble;
- bunches for a long time retain their presentation and are suitable for long transportation;
- many gardeners note an increase in the amount of sugar in the berries;
- actively developing new shoots of plants, as well as foliage.
The use of gibberellin on grapes shows good results on such cultivars as Rusbol, Muscat Rusbol, raisins Zaporizhzhya, Polinka, Talisman, Tairovsky pink, Radiant raisins, Moldavian raisins. On these varieties, the effect of increasing the mass of berries and increasing their juiciness was observed, especially on the seedless varieties.
Instructions for use of the drug
The treatment of grapes with gibberellin is carried out with a preparation diluted in water. For seedless varieties of culture, 100-150 mg of gibberellin is taken per 1 liter of water, for varieties with a female type of flower less - 25-30 mg per liter. The nuance is that the drug is difficult to dissolve in water, so before processing it must be diluted with a small amount of 90% alcohol, and only then mixed with water.
Gibberellin for grapes, the instructions for which are attached to the package of the drug, are used as follows:
- The first spraying with a solution of inflorescences occurs during the flowering period. It is carried out using a spray gun.
- The second in a similar way after the formation of the ovary - after about 8-10 days.
- Third - control spraying is carried out after 10 days. But already with a reduced dosage of the drug.
The Australian technology for processing grapes with gibberellin is that the first spraying is carried out not at the beginning of flowering, but at the end - when the formation of the ovary is in progress.
The drug gibberellin (instructions for use on grapes which states that the norms may vary depending on the grape variety) must be used in compliance with all safety rules. It is also important to study the features of this variety of berries before processing. Also, a feature of the hormone is that when processing plants with flowers of both sexes, the result may not be at all.
The nuances of storing gibberellin
In order not to lose the beneficial properties of the drug, the storage recommendations indicated on the package should be followed - avoidance of direct sunlight and an excess of moisture.
Water for stirring the drug is taken purified, with a minimum of harmful impurities. In addition, it is advisable to dissolve gibberellin before each use and not leave it in a bottle for storage. With prolonged periods, a simple solution may deteriorate - flakes form at the bottom of the container, which can clog the atomizer tube. Also, in dissolved form, the drug quickly loses its beneficial properties.
Alternative plant treatments
Gibberellin for grapes is used not only by standard spraying from a spray bottle, there are also alternative methods:
- injection of a 2% solution of the drug into the comb of the grape (the place where the vine branches and forms a bunch);
- applying a hormonal adhesive patch (it can be made independently, for this you will need to mix 15% gibberellin with 75% powdered sugar and apply the composition to the patch);
- dipping a bunch in a container with a solution for a few seconds.
Despite the fact that some methods seem unnatural, they give excellent results - the number of berries increases by 2-3 times, weight by 9-10 grams, and size by 1.5 times. Gardeners also note an extremely laborious treatment process, compared to traditional spraying.
The disadvantages of using the drug
The abundance of advantages does not exclude the presence of disadvantages of the drug. These include the following factors:
- The lack of a clear dosage of the substance, as well as expenditure standards - some grape varieties require different concentrations, on some it is completely undesirable to use the drug.
- It takes a lot of time in order to calculate the dosage and prepare a working solution of the substance. At the same time, an incorrect amount of gibberellin can harm the plant.
- In addition to spraying with a product, all the necessary conditions for the growth of a berry culture should be created, otherwise the work will go down the drain. Therefore, the drug is often used in industrial cultivation or by experienced gardeners.
- When spraying, gloves and a face shield should be used to avoid inhalation of the vapor.
- It is not a substitute for fertilizers. The substance only provokes growth, while plants still require additional nutrition and good growing conditions.
Despite these difficulties of working with the substance, it is one of the most effective stimulants for the growth of fruit crops. In addition, the drug is non-toxic and harmless to humans and animals.
Seed Impact
This drug has an effect on the growth of Kishmish grapes, which are distinguished by the absence of seeds. However, when trying to grow a culture from seeds, gibberellin shows good results.
In order to accelerate the germination of seeds, soak them in a solution of the drug for 24 hours. Then the seeds are placed in a warm, moist place until the first shoots appear, while gardeners note increased germination.
The effectiveness of gibberellin is also proven when applied to old seeds, which are considered non-viable.
Compatibility of the drug with other acids
To obtain a good result in a short time, gardeners often combine several drugs - growth activators. How to apply gibberellin for grapes in combination with other hormones? The substance can be mixed with preparations based on butyric or naphthalene-acetic acid. With this combination, not only shoot growth and fruit increase are increased, but also active root formation. This helps the newly planted plants to take root.
Post-crop crop care
Despite the fact that the drug provides an impetus for the active growth of the berry culture, one should not forget about the necessary care, which is the key to a good harvest. The traditional set of measures for growing grapes consists of the following actions:
- Watering. The plant is considered one of the largest water lovers among all vines. Therefore, in hot weather, watering should be especially plentiful. An interesting feature is the fact that the greatest need of grapes for moisture during the growth of shoots (early spring), flowering, formation and ripening of berries (in summer). At the same time, at least 2 buckets of water should be poured out under the bush 4-5 times a week. This is best done in the evening.
- Mulching of the soil is carried out to maintain moisture in the root zone to prevent drying out and cracking of the soil. Mowed grass, hay or straw can be used for this.
- Top dressing plays an important role in the development of berry culture. To obtain a guaranteed good harvest, chemical and organic fertilizers must be applied during the period of active growth and the formation of berries.
- Timely harvesting prevents breakage of vines under the weight of bunches.
- Preparing for winter is as follows: the vines are cut to a height of 30-40 cm, then the root zone is covered with sand, and the cuttings are covered with a dense burlap or film. This is important to do so that the plant does not die in winter with a temperature mark of -30 degrees. In the spring, it is important to carefully free the vines from shelters, while sand or soil is evened out or removed from the hole.
In addition, experienced gardeners know when to process gibberellin grapes. During this period, they recommend abundantly watering the plants in order to make up for the lack of moisture - thus the drug is better absorbed. Also, before using phytohormone, it is important to remember that gibberellin is a rather insidious substance that does not tolerate errors in dosage.