Growing grapes in your own garden is an exciting and useful activity, but it requires a lot of effort and attention. In addition, from time to time it is necessary to carry out a procedure such as vaccination, which is used to restore the bush or replace one variety with another. In this article we will look at how grapes are grafted in the fall and winter.
What is vaccination?
Vaccination is a method of propagation of grapes, in which part of one plant is transferred to the shoot or trunk of another. The part that is being vaccinated is called the scion. The plant on which the vaccination is made is a stock.
The old variety with its qualities always remains at the bottom, and on top - a new variety that retains its own characteristics. The result is a single organism with the characteristics inherent in different varieties. Often several grape varieties are grafted onto one bush, which have different ripening dates and the color of the berries. The resulting bush is called a bouquet.
Why grapes are planted
This question is of interest to many beginner growers. Some advantages of grape grafting can be noted:
- Grafted plants bear fruit much earlier. Thanks to this procedure, the first bunch of a new grape variety appears the very next year after planting.
- The grafted bushes increased productivity. Sometimes such grapes give larger clusters and fruits.
- Vaccination allows you to accelerate the ripening time of some grape varieties.
- Another plus of this operation: this is a great way to quickly propagate difficult to grow, rare and scarce varieties.
In addition, much depends on the region in which the purchased seedling will grow.
In the south, grapes are grafted so that the root system is resistant to phylloxera. This aphid that lives on the roots of grapes and feeds on its juice, while it can damage not only the root system, but also the leaves. Because of this, the bush withers and dies. Grape grafting in the southern regions is also used to increase the fruitfulness and drought tolerance of the plant.
In the middle lane, where the soil is poorly drained, this procedure is necessary to combat high humidity and acidity.
Grapes are grafted in the north to increase the period of its active growth and development.
Preparation of cuttings for vaccination
In order for the grape vaccination in autumn or winter to be successful, it is necessary to take care of the preparation of cuttings. For their cutting, only the ripened vine is used, which has a yellow-brown color. The bark must be hard and dry. The most suitable for harvesting cuttings are shoots that have grown on a fruit vine.
The diameter and length of the cuttings are very important. The standard is considered to be a length of about 55 cm, a diameter of 6-12 mm. Cuttings must be cleaned of antennae and stepsons, while trying not to damage the kidneys. Then two sections are made - the first 0.5 cm below the knot, the second 2-3 cm higher. The vine, sprinkled with sand, is stored in a pit, which has a depth of about 60 cm. With the advent of frost, it must be insulated.
What is needed for grafting in autumn
Vaccination of grapes in autumn begins with the preparation of the instrument. Care must be taken to ensure that the pruning shears and knife are sharpened. To prevent tools from becoming dull, it is best to store them in cases. Before vaccination, they must be disinfected with alcohol and not put on the ground during operation.
The grapevine is removed from the store a week before the procedure. Cuttings for autumn grape grafting are not cut in advance in advance; this is done immediately before the operation itself. They are brought to the place of the procedure wrapped in wet burlap.
How does vaccination work?
Autumn grape grafting occurs in this way. First, a hole is dug around the old root. Then it is necessary to cut off its entire aerial part, a cut is made at a distance of 10 cm from the ground. The cut should be flat, not damaged by pests and diseases. The stamp is cleaned of the old bark and treated with a three percent solution of copper sulfate.
Then it is necessary to split it and insert a stalk pointed by a wedge into the hole. Better to use cuttings with two buds. After the scion is inserted into the incision, the connection must be wrapped with strips cut from a plastic film and secured with twine. Then you need to loosen the place around the stem, moisten and cover with earth, cover with a film with one hole on top. To preserve moisture and protect against frost, you can additionally overlay the grafting site with clay. Vaccination of grapes in autumn from spring or summer differs in that the plant during this period should be sheltered from the cold.
Winter grape grafting
Winter, or desktop, grafting is carried out in the period from February to April. A similar operation can be carried out right at the desktop, hence the name.
First you need to get seedlings from the store and update the cuts on the roots. Cuttings need to be soaked in water at room temperature. They are soaked in this way: rootstock - for three days, privately - for a day. After soaking, the cuttings are disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate. In order to activate vital processes, it is necessary to warm the upper parts of the stock in water for 1 minute, which has a temperature of 50-60 degrees.
For vaccination, it is necessary to select a stock and scion of the same diameter and make oblique sections on them. With the help of reeds cut into them, the scion is connected to the stock. At the vaccination site, the plant must be tied with a film, then place the seedling in moist sawdust. Capacity put in a warm place. If the winter grafting of grapes was carried out correctly, then after 15-20 days you can transplant a seedling.
If for some reason you do not like the grape variety growing on your site or the plant is damaged, do not rush to uproot it. Winter or autumn grafting carried out according to the technology will allow you to replace one variety with another, restore the damaged plant, and quickly reproduce valuable, but rare species.