When is the best time to prune grapes?

Best time to prune grapes

Grape pruning is usually done after the leaves fall, which is around November to December every autumn and winter. The temperature is suitable during this period, and the grapes can heal better after pruning.

Grapes are perennial vine plants that need to renew their branches and vines, and regulate the relationship between vegetative growth and reproductive growth. This will enable the plant to grow strong and maintain vigorous fruit-bearing ability. Thus, the plant life and fruit-bearing years can be extended, achieving the goal of high yield and high quality .

In fact, grapes are suitable for pruning all year round, especially dormant pruning. Four-season pruning includes spring bud removal , summer pinching and side shoot treatment , and autumn thinning of weak and useless branches to solve the problem of trellis closure. Winter pruning is the largest to solve the problem of branch renewal and adjust the strength of the tree and the yield.

How to master the timing of grapevine pruning

From a physiological point of view of grapes, after the leaves fall and as the temperature drops, the nutrients on the upper part of the branches slowly flow back to the lower part of the branches, and the grapes officially enter the wintering state. This is the time for winter pruning.

The actual situation is that our country has such a large north-south span. Therefore, the temperature drops at different times and speeds in each place, making it difficult to have a unified pruning time. So in some places, it is half a month after the leaves fall, while in other places, it is necessary to prune the branches one month after the leaves fall.

How to prune grapevines

In the specific operation, the north needs to bury the soil to prevent cold. Therefore, winter pruning and removal from the shelves should be completed before burying the soil . If it is a warm winter, sometimes winter pruning will start without caring whether the leaves fall.

In recent years, fully enclosed rain shelters have become popular, and there is no need to worry about burying the soil to prevent cold. Winter pruning is usually done before the 39th day of winter or after the 49th day of winter . The most direct reason is that the 39th day of winter and the 49th day of winter are too cold, and it is painful to work, so it is better to wait until it is warmer.

The pruning method should be adjusted according to the growth and growth stage of the plant . If the top of the grapevine is 1.2 cm thick, the pruning position should be 1.5 meters. If the growth of the grapevine is poor, the pruning position can be shortened to 1.2 meters.

Weaker grape branches should be pruned heavily , which can promote the plant's growth. In addition, when pruning, diseased and yellow branches should be pruned to avoid unnecessary consumption of plant nutrients and improve fruit yield and quality.