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Sometimes summer residents who have plots in the suburbs do not plant grapes. This is explained by the harsh climatic conditions for a heat-loving plant and the difficulties of sheltering. But in fact, not everything is so difficult. Growing grapes near Moscow is quite real and affordable. Let’s dwell on the important points.
Preliminary events
A very significant milestone. The task of the gardener is:
- Choosing the right grape variety. In every culture, there are species that are ideal for a particular region. So, for the Moscow region, you need to choose grape varieties that can easily withstand a drop in temperature. For example, “Laura”, “Rapture”, “Kuban” or “Kodryanka” are considered resistant to cold.
- Choosing the right place for the vineyard and planting. The plant does not like areas that are strongly blown by the wind. In a quiet place and a powerful shelter is not needed.
- Maintain the depth of planting grapes in the suburbs. The landing must be deep enough. Of course, it is unrealistic to deepen a seedling below the freezing level of the soil, but it is better to stop at the maximum allowable mark.
- Do not forget to feed the grapes with potash fertilizers in the fall. In addition to nutrition, they also perform a warming function.
- Take care in advance about the option of sheltering the vine. Winters in the Moscow region are snowy, which will greatly facilitate the gardener’s autumn work on warming the vines. And the snow cover will save the grapes from freezing. But you need to think about materials and construction even before planting grapes on the site.
If each item is completed responsibly, then already planted grapes in the Moscow region can be covered in various ways. In order for the shelter to fully fulfill its protective function, the plants are pre-prepared.
Preparing plants for shelter
It is necessary to start preparing the vine for wintering at a certain time. Too early shelter is just as harmful as too late. If the vine is covered ahead of time, then it:
- will not have time to stock up on enough nutrients for wintering;
- may contract a fungal infection or suffocate due to excessively warm temperatures under cover.
Late protection of grapes is not able to prevent freezing of the vine, especially the young. Young shoots are covered as soon as the night temperature drops to -2 ° C. It is with such a slight frost that the growth of shoots stops. But you can open young grapes only with positive indicators. Old vines are more resistant to frost, but it’s not worth the risk here either.
What is the preparation of the plant before shelter? After the leaves fall, the grapes are removed from the support and the vine is bent to the ground. To fix the shoots, metal staples are used. A good help will be the correct planting of grapes. If the angle of inclination of the vine during planting is maintained, then bending down will not be able to injure the plant.
Before bending down the vine, be sure to carry out a competent pruning.
At the same time, certain shoots are chosen for wintering, treated with vitriol, and the rest are cut off.
Such contact due to moisture will lead to the appearance of mold. To avoid this, it is recommended to place wooden planks under the vine.
Do not use plastic wrap or fallen leaves. These materials will not save you from dampness, but, on the contrary, will collect condensate.
Types of covering material for vines
How to cover grapes for the winter in the suburbs? The technique depends on the choice of covering material. And the main methods of sheltering grapes are divided into three types:
- Hilling. It is carried out for young seedlings using a mound up to 25 cm high.
- Half cover. They cover only the part of the grapes that is above the ground. Agrofibre or straw are considered optimal materials.
- The cover is complete. It is with this method that the shoots are removed from the supports, cut, processed, bent to the ground and covered.
The third method is considered the most reliable for the Moscow Region climate. What materials are used for this?
Natural – soil and snow. If you plan to cover the vine with earth, then you need to dig a groove, insulate it with spruce branches and lay the vine.
Then gently cover with earth. The layer of the embankment depends on the grade and topography of the site. When “growing up” plants will need more reliable protection. It is easier to cover with snow, but for this you must be sure that the thickness of the snow cover will provide protection to the grapes throughout the winter. Otherwise, summer residents have to put up shields for snow retention or manually add snow.
What other material is used to cover grapes in the Moscow region? There are several options, you just have to choose the most suitable:
- Wooden shields. They are installed on both sides of the shoots laid on stands. It turns out a house of small height, which many gardeners additionally upholster with roofing material from the inside.
Suitable for small vineyards. With mass plantings, this method requires a large consumption of wood.
- Agrofibre or film. With this method, spruce branches are still laid on top of the vine to improve thermal insulation. If you take a film, then it will have to be removed at a positive temperature. Therefore, choose which material is more convenient for you to work with.
- Improvised home remedies. They are not used as an independent shelter, only in combination with soil. It can be used slate sheets, plastic containers or the remains of construction supplies, burlap. Here you will have to monitor the weight of the cover applied so as not to overload and damage the vine.
helpful hints
Don’t take cover soil next to a bush. This leads to the exposure of the roots, their freezing and death of the plant. It is optimal to retreat from the head of the bush by half a meter.
Use a three-layer shelter in the Moscow region. For the first layer, take garden soil (from 5 to 15 cm), for the second – organic matter of the same thickness, for the third – loose earth 25 cm thick.
Provide additional protection to the roots, especially in winters with little snow.
Be sure to dig the soil twice a year – in spring and autumn. So, you will ensure good moisture absorption and reduce the risk of grapes freezing.
In a snowy winter, do not rush to make a powerful shelter. Snow will perfectly protect the plants, just take it from the paths and put it on the bushes.
