Growing and caring for grapes in the Moscow region without a greenhouse in the open field for beginners
Grapes are among the thermophilic plants. At the same time, it is possible to grow a crop in the Moscow region. Moreover, the last option, for certain reasons, is more convenient. When planting grapes in the Moscow region and growing without a greenhouse, the plant is not exposed to pathogenic microorganisms characteristic of heat-loving regions.
Features of growing grapes in the Moscow region
To achieve the ripening of grapes, it is necessary to follow several rules on how the plant should be grown. The berry is recommended to be planted on the southern side of the site, near buildings or any structures along which the vine will curl.Varieties with berries with a dark tint make higher demands on the growing area.
Planting culture in the Moscow region is carried out according to several rules:
- depending on the type of soil, a hole is dug 25-50 centimeters;
- before planting, the bottom of the pit is trampled down, after which it is filled with pre-heated water;
- a mixture of organic matter, ash, potassium, nitrate and superphosphate is used as fertilizer.
For the Moscow region, varieties are chosen that have time to mature before the ambient temperature drops to minus indicators. The culture is planted in open and heated ground.
Observing all the features of cultivation, you can achieve a constant and high yield. It is also important to cover the grapes before the onset of cold weather.
Tips for choosing a variety
The list of the best grape varieties includes early, frost-resistant and non-covering plants. Suitable for growing in the Moscow region:
- Aleshenkin. This grape, after planting in the Moscow region, yields a harvest in 118 days. The brushes are very large (up to 1.5 kilograms). This variety differs in that the berries do not contain seeds. Aleshenkin remains viable at a temperature of -26 degrees. However, this variety has poor resistance to fungi.
- Victoria. Harvesting from grapes of this variety is carried out after 4 months. The berries are dark pink in color, large in size and have a sweet taste. The weight of the hand reaches 1 kilogram.
- Lydia. The berries are dark in color and have a sweet and sour taste. Lydia well tolerates waterlogged soil and the effects of mildew and oidium. The crop appears 5 months after flowering. Lydia forms small brushes weighing about 100 grams.
- Kuderka. Despite the fact that the grapes bear fruit late, the vine has time to ripen in the Moscow region.This is explained by the fact that the variety can withstand frosts down to -30 degrees and has few requirements for the growing area. Kuderka is considered a technical variety of grapes, as it is used mainly for making wine.
- Jupiter. The crop can be harvested after 4 months. The weight of Jupiter's bunches reaches 500 grams. The berries are purple in color, with a sweet and slightly nutmeg flavor. Jupiter can withstand frosts down to -27 degrees.
- Sovering Tiara. The plant produces crops by mid-August. The weight of the bunch is small and is about 200 grams. A three-year-old vine can withstand frosts down to -30 degrees. The berries have a sweet and sour taste.
- Valiant. The grape is distinguished by a powerful vine, the length of which reaches 10 meters. The crop can be harvested closer to the beginning of autumn. An adult vine can withstand frosts down to -10 degrees.
- Phenomenon. White-yellow berries are mainly suitable for making wine. The weight of the bunch reaches 1 kilogram. This variety yields a harvest by early autumn.
- Alpha. The variety is well suited for planting in the Moscow region, as it can withstand frosts down to -35 degrees. Alpha is harvesting by the end of August. Up to 10 kilograms can be harvested from one vine.
- Buffalo. In the Moscow region, such grapes yield in the middle of September. The plant has time to ripen before the onset of autumn cold weather.
For the Moscow region, it is recommended to select self-pollinating crops. The best choice would be a culture that can withstand the effects of pathogenic fungi.
Landing dates
In order for the culture in the Moscow region to take root, it is necessary to observe the terms when to plant the vine. Moreover, the type of variety influences the choice of the period. Planting of culture in the Moscow region is carried out in spring or autumn. If the first option is chosen, it is necessary to wait for the soil to warm up to a temperature of +10 degrees.
It is important not to miss this moment. Seedlings at a later date take root poorly.
For the fall, it is recommended to leave annual plants. These grapes should be carefully removed from the storage container. In young shoots, the roots are damaged due to minor loads. Planting must be completed by mid-October.
Selection of seedlings and plot
The choice of a planting site for a culture in the Moscow region must be carried out with special diligence. Despite the fact that the plant loves an abundance of light rays, it is not recommended to grow the vine in open areas. Such a planting in the Moscow region will lead to rapid freezing of seedlings.
For grapes, plots that meet the following requirements are suitable:
- south or southwest side;
- during the day it is illuminated by the sun for a long time;
- there is wind protection;
- there are no natural slopes;
- in the spring the earth warms up quickly.
Grapes can grow in different types of soil. Chernozem or sandstone are considered optimal for planting. Can also be grown in loam. Moreover, the last option is the most suitable, since this type of soil is looser, thanks to which it warms up faster in spring. It is not recommended to plant a crop in wetlands. Most varieties do not tolerate an abundance of moisture, due to which fungal diseases develop.
Saplings are recommended to be purchased in the spring, before the first days of April. For planting in the suburbs, sprouts with lush roots of a light shade are suitable. When working with seedlings, it is necessary to prepare planting material. To do this, the roots are trimmed so that the length in the end is about 18 centimeters. Before planting, the lower part of the seedling is dipped in a solution of clay (2 parts) and fermented mullein (1 part), and the upper part in molten wax or paraffin.
Landing procedure
For planting crops in the Moscow region, it is recommended to choose zones with multilayer soil and acidity in the range of 6.5-7. You should not grow grapes in soil with a high content of limestone.
The soil is prepared by mixing in equal proportions:
- loam;
- crushed brick (gravel);
- sand;
- humus.
Ash and superphosphates are also added to the composition at the rate of 500 grams and 50 grams, respectively, per 1 square meter. Such soil freely passes water and air, providing normal nutrition to the vine. The optimal time for planting a crop with a closed root system is May-June, with an open one - April-May or October.
If you plan to grow several plants on the site, holes should be dug at a distance of more than 1.5 meters.
Regardless of the selected variety, the culture in the Moscow region is planted to a depth of 25 centimeters. Before burying the plant, you must:
- straighten the roots, thereby preventing wringing;
- place the upper kidney at a depth of 5-8 centimeters;
- tilt the vine towards the north.
After planting, the seedling must be tied to a support, along which it will curl. At the end, the grapes are poured abundantly with warm water and closed for a while with a dark film.
Grape care
Regardless of the type of variety grown in the Moscow region, the grapes need care. By following certain recommendations, you can get a large harvest every year. There are several rules on how to care for grapes growing in the Moscow region. Starting in early spring, it is necessary to apply mineral fertilizers. The soil around the vine is mulched by means of decayed foliage, which is laid to a depth of more than three centimeters.
When growing a plant in the Moscow Region, it is important to avoid magnesium deficiency in the soil. The lack of this trace element leads to the death of the vine. To prevent the development of diseases, the plant should be sprayed every two weeks. For this, a special agent is used, which is prepared by mixing 250 grams of a mixture of magnesium and sulfur and a bucket of water.
In the spring, mineral fertilizers with a liquid composition are also applied every week (until the berries ripen). As top dressing use:
- for soil with a high alkali content - compounds that acidify the soil;
- for acidic soil - alkalizing compounds.
During the period when the growing season has begun, humus from the leaves should be applied, at the same time treating the trunk with fugicides. Timely important water the grapes, avoiding waterlogging of the area. When growing a plant in the suburbs, you should ensure that the water penetrates to a depth of 50 centimeters. Usually 10 liters are enough for the vine, applied every week. Watering is carried out in grooves that break near the trunk. At the end of August, water is stopped, as during this period the berries are gaining flavor.
When caring for the vine, agricultural technology is usually not used. The need for mechanized installations arises when several plants are simultaneously grown on the site.
Shaping and pruning
The formation of the crown avoids the appearance of shoots that will not yield a crop. But for this you need to know how to prune grapes... When growing a plant in the Moscow region, they begin to form a crown in the fall, from the second year. In the first season, experienced gardeners recommend not touching the seedlings. Within a year after planting, the vine should get stronger and gain the necessary strength.
Starting from the second season, they begin to form shoots. Pruning is done in two stages:
- Autumn. Before the cold weather, cut to 2/3 of the vine requiring removal.
- In the spring. Frozen or defective appendages are removed.
It is recommended to track the development of shoots from the beginning of the appearance of shoots. Large branches should not be allowed to appear. In this case, the yield of grapes will decrease.
The simplest method of circumcision is the Guino method, which involves performing the following manipulations:
- In the first year after planting, cut in the fall, leaving two "eyes" above the soil surface.
- In the second year, 2 regrown annual shoots are cut off. The first is left long for the formation of clusters, the second is shortened to three "eyes".
In the third year, a strong vine will appear from the second "eye", which will yield a harvest.
How to shelter grapes for the winter?
Preparation for the cold season begins in autumn. Covering grapes growing in the suburbs for the winter should be in the period when persistent night frosts appear with a temperature of -2 degrees. In the process of preparing a plant for cold weather, either land or peat is used. For shelter for the winter, cut off shoots are covered with soil by 10-15 centimeters.
If necessary, the vine, with the help of improvised means or branches, is fixed on the surface of the earth. From above, the plant is closed with spruce branches. If the vine grows along the wall, boards are laid on top of the cut off shoots, which will protect the grapes from water flowing from the roof.
In order for the vine to retain its ability to produce crops, it is recommended to collect as much snow as possible and put it in the place where the crop grows. Do not use plastic wrap to insulate the plant. In the absence of spruce branches, straw or leaves are used.
Taking shelter in spring
In the spring, the culture is freed from its shelter. The earth layer is removed, and the organic insulation is removed only for a day. At night, it is recommended to re-lay the leaves or spruce branches. During the period from March to May, sticks or other means of fixing the crop to the ground should not be removed. It is allowed to completely free the plant from insulation when constant warm weather is established. From this point on, the culture can be tied up.
Harvesting procedure
Most varieties produce crops either in late August or early September. Some types of grapes ripen in the Moscow region for one month. At the same time, it is important to harvest on time. Overripe berries have an unpleasant taste and are suitable for making homemade wine. In addition, late harvest attracts pests.
The berries are picked by hand. The bunches are pruned with a garden pruner. Care should be taken when harvesting to avoid damaging the berries. Defective fruits quickly rot, which causes the whole bunch to suffer.
