10 secrets to growing vines
December 18, 2020 12 Comments
Traditionally, in the Greek area, each family had its own vineyard to make its own wine and its own bed to eat fresh grapes. The vine is a fruit-bearing shrub that gives us grapes for several decades after it is planted. The vine plant is called a vine, but we will also hear it called premno.
Originally from Middle East Asia, the vine has been cultivated since ancient times, where it was associated with the god Dionysus. Nowadays, the grapevine is a very widespread crop with the consumption of wine showing an ever-increasing demand worldwide.
The vine is cultivated mainly for its grapes which are eaten fresh as fruit or can be made into wine, tsipouro, raki and even liqueur. From the grapes of the vine we make sweet spoon and from the boiling of the must we make the nutritious petimezi. Grapes are very nutritious even dried as a raisin. From the leaves of the vine, we make the traditional dolmadakia, one of the most famous dishes of Greek cuisine. Grapes have a high nutritional value, as they contain many vitamins, fiber and antioxidants and are used in detoxification diets.
Cultivating the vine requires a lot of knowledge and experience from the viticulturist. For all new growers as well as the most experienced, in today’s article we will briefly refer to the basic tips for growing vines from planting and the main varieties to watering, fertilizing, pruning, harvesting, as well as biological control diseases and insects that attack it. So let’s see what are the suitable growing conditions for the vine and what we need to know to enjoy a rich and quality production of wonderful grapes.
1. Which grape varieties are cultivated in Greece?
The grape varieties cultivated in Greece are divided into wine-making, which are for the production of wine, and table grapes, which are for the consumption of fresh grapes. Below, we list the main white and red varieties, domestic and foreign, intended for either wine production or table grape production.
- Grape varieties for wine: The most important Greek white wine-making grape varieties are Savvatiano, Assyrtiko, Moschato alexanderia, Ntembina, Athiri, while the foreign white wine-making varieties are Sauvignon Blank and Chardonay. Among the Greek red wine-making grape varieties, Agiorgitiko, Limnio, Mavrodafni, Moschofilero and Xinomavro stand out, while among the foreign red varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah are especially popular.
- Table grape varieties: The most notable Greek white table grape varieties are Sultanina, late Edessis and Razaki, while the foreign white grape varieties include Italia, Superior, Thompson and Victoria. Of the red and black table grape varieties, the best known are Attiki, Fraula, Sideritis, Heptakilo, while foreign varieties include Cardinal and Crimson.
2. What conditions does the vine crop need to thrive?
Vine cultivation thrives in sunny areas that have hot and dry summers combined with relatively cold winters. We avoid planting the vine in areas with high humidity, especially during the summer because the vine is easily affected by fungal diseases that cause significant damage. That is why, traditionally, the vines are planted in semi-mountainous areas that are sloping to allow for good ventilation.
Regarding the soil, the vine can thrive in most soils, dry and barren, even in calcareous ones, as long as the appropriate vine substrate is chosen. In any case, the soil should have good drainage to allow the root system of the vine to develop. We must note that in fertile soils, the vine has richer vegetation and greater fruiting although this is not necessarily accompanied by high quality in production, especially in wine grape varieties.
3. What are the steps of setting up a vineyard?
The vine is planted in late winter or early spring. The process of establishing a vineyard requires careful planning and includes the following stages:
- Selection of the appropriate grape variety for wine or for table use depending on the soil and climate of the area.
- Soil analysis to determine the nutrients found in the soil.
- Selection of suitable subjects depending on the variety we choose and the content of the soil in calcium carbonate.
- Deep plowing of the soil, removal of stones and leveling of the soil.
- Enriching and improving the soil by adding organic matter in the form of manure and compost, as well as the required fertilizer.
- Determining the appropriate planting distances according to the formation system of the vine.
- Opening the vine planting pits and planting the vine plants.
- Placement of support stakes for the vine support system according to the configuration system
- Planting of the vine plants and start of the first irrigations.
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4. How often does the vine crop need watering?
Vine plants have a very durable root system and are resistant to lack of water. However, the lack of water causes reduced vine growth and reduced grape production. Especially in the first 1-2 years after planting the vine, watering is necessary from spring to autumn. Winegrowers usually install automatic drip irrigation for more efficient watering and water conservation.
Watering the vine at specific stages during the growing season helps increase production and improve the quality of the grapes produced. In particular, soil moisture is necessary during the spring period during the vegetative growth stage of the vine. The vine must be irrigated from the stage of fruit setting to the beginning of ripening to ensure a large size of the grape raceme. During the ripening period of the grapes, excessive watering can cause a degradation of the vine’s production.
5. What fertilizer do we put in the vine cultivation?
Cultivation of the vine for both wine and table grape varieties has increased nutrient requirements and needs fertilizer every year. We must know that the cultivation of the vine is balanced in two basic functions, on the one hand the creation of vegetation for the growth of the vine and on the other the fruiting with the production of grapes.
The fertilization of the vine, i.e. the type and amount of fertilizer we will apply, is shaped by 5 main factors: the soil where the cultivation takes place, the variety of the vine, the age of the vine, the watering of the vine and the pruning of the vine. The fertilization of the vine is done every year and its main goal is to cover the nutritional needs from the initial stages of shoot growth, the creation of inflorescences to the stages of fruiting, growth and ripening of the grapes. It is important to do a soil analysis on our vineyard in the fall season to determine the nutrients in the soil and apply the appropriate fertilizer.
The vines are fertilized in the period of December — January, while in slightly sandy soils we fertilize later, during the period of February — March. We choose a complete fertilizer for the vine with a high content of the three main fertilization elements: Nitrogen (N) for the growth of vegetation and foliage, phosphorus (P) for flowering and potassium (K) for the quality of the production. In addition, it is important for the vine fertilizer to contain amounts of magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn).
5 secrets to fertilizing the vine
6. At what time do we prune the vine and in what way?
Pruning is one of the most important cultivation operations that we carry out every year in the cultivation of the vine and is the first step to have a rich production of grapes. Vine pruning is divided into winter pruning and green pruning.
The winter pruning of the vine is divided into shaping pruning and fruiting pruning. The right time to prune the vine is from mid-January to early March. The shaping pruning is done in the first three years after planting and aims to shape the shape of the vine either in a cup-shaped, linear or in a bed.
With the fruiting pruning of the vine, we aim both to maintain the shape we have given to the vine, and to balance between production and vegetation, two processes that compete with each other. In addition to ensuring a high yield, the main aim is to improve the quality of the production, both in terms of size and density of the grapes, as well as in sugar and acid content.
Green pruning is done at the end of spring and in the middle of summer and has as its main objective the balance of vegetation and fruiting in order to improve the quality of the grapes produced. They include cultivation operations such as budding, corping, defoliation and fruit thinning.
What season and how to prune the vine
7. What are the main ways of propagation for grapevine?
If we want to create new vine plants, we should know that the vine is propagated mainly: a) by the method of propagation by cuttings and b) by the method of inoculation (vaccination).
a) Propagation of the vine by cuttings : The propagation of the vine is done quite easily and efficiently using cuttings. After the winter pruning, we take a 30-40 cm long part of the vine stem (clematis), with eyes and plant it in a pot or nursery bag. We use a mixture of loose topsoil, manure and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1. The use of rooting hormone at the base of the vine increases the degree of propagation success. After a few weeks the vine takes root in the pot and we can transplant it directly into the field.
b) Propagation of the vine by grafting : Propagation of the vine is also done by the grafting method, by grafting the desired variety of vine onto the appropriate rootstocks. Grafting the vine is quite a demanding process that needs experience to be effective. The main grafting methods for vine grafting are the following:
– Split grafting: Applied in early spring to young vine plants planted the previous year. It can also be applied to established vine plantations for renewal or change of variety.
– Semi-major vaccination: It is done in late summer or early autumn with dormant buds and is applied to established vineyards for renewal or change of variety.
– Pot or table grafting: It is mainly done in the nurseries at the end of winter where the grafting is done with cuttings of both the rootstock and the rootstock that are joined by selecting both the desired variety and the suitable rootstock.
5 grafting methods for grafting trees
8. Which diseases and which insects affect the cultivation of the vine?
The vine is affected by several fungal diseases such as downy mildew, downy mildew and botrytis, with the most serious damage being done to the foliage and grapes. For the biological control of fungal diseases of the vine, we spray with wet copper and wet sulfur and dust using sulfur and thiochalcine.
How we use sulfur in plants (+video)
Of the insects that attack the vine, the bollworm, also known as the grape worm, causes the most significant damage to both wine and table grape varieties every year. The greatest damage to grapes is observed between July and September. For the biological treatment of the blight on the vine, dust or spray with a preparation of Thuringia bacillus or with natural pyrethrin.
Combating the eudemida in the vine
9. When is the grape harvest and when do we pick the grapes?
One of the most critical stages in grape growing is determining the right time to harvest, so that we harvest the grapes when they are ripe enough and have a high sugar content. The grape harvest time depends on the variety, climatic conditions, soil characteristics and cultivation techniques such as watering and fertilizing. In general, the grapes of the early grape varieties ripen in July – August, while those of the later varieties ripen in September – October.
To check the condition of our grapes and their degree of ripeness in the vine, we can empirically observe the coloring of the grapes, as well as taste them. Especially in the case of wine-making grape varieties, maturity is determined with special devices that measure the sugar content by taking appropriate grape samples.
The grapes are harvested using special grape shears or special knives called chaprazia, while the grapes are collected in plastic crates or in traditional crates for transport. Table grapes can be kept in the refrigerator for a few days before eating. Grapes intended for wine go to wine presses or mills. The must that is produced goes into the barrels to be fermented and turned into wine.
Vine harvest, when do we pick the grapes
10. And one last secret about growing the vine
Although many growers overlook it, it is very important that our vine is in good condition after harvest and until its leaves begin to fall, so that it has good vegetative growth and yield the following year. That is why it is important to apply a foliar spray with copper and sulfur after harvest, as well as a foliar fertilizer, so that it has nutrients for the following year.
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