Grape planting management methods in August

In August, the climate in the north was still hot, and the management of the vineyards entered a critical period of the year: the early-maturing varieties had been successfully put on the market, and the sales season came to an end. The mid-ripening varieties are in the color change period, gradually showing mature colors, and are about to enter the countdown to harvest. Late-maturing varieties are in the critical stage of secondary fruit expansion, laying the foundation for final maturity. Vineyard management this month is crucial as it will directly affect the yield and quality of mid- and late-ripening grapes. Let’s learn the key points of grape planting and management in August.

1. Early-maturing variety management

As the harvest of early-ripening grape varieties such as Summer Black and Kyoho comes to an end, now is a critical time to strengthen management and restore tree vigor.

1. Tree vigor recovery and nutritional supplementation

After harvesting, the grape vines need to supplement nutrition. It is recommended to apply a combination of organic fertilizer , compound fertilizer and medium and trace element fertilizer. For plants with vigorous growth, reduce the amount of fertilizer appropriately to avoid excessive growth of new shoots and reduce unnecessary consumption of tree nutrients.

2. Garden cleaning and pest and disease prevention

After the harvest, thoroughly clean up the fallen, diseased and cracked fruits in the orchard to keep the orchard clean. Use Bordeaux liquid or mineral oil for comprehensive spraying to reduce the breeding of pests and diseases.

3. Special care for newly planted grapes

August is the budding stage of newly planted grapes. We should strengthen the prevention of downy mildew and increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to lay the foundation for a good harvest next year. Strictly prevent downy mildew, ensure normal leaf photosynthesis, and promote basal metabolic functions. Adequate supply of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers is essential for flower bud differentiation and new shoot maturation.

4. Adjustment of fertilization strategy

Increase the use of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, while controlling the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied to avoid excessive vegetative growth. Use potassium humate fertilizer to promote the maturity of branches and leaves, improve the disease resistance of plants, and prepare for next year's production.

5. Integrated pest control

Brown spot disease: Use cypermethrin, propiconazole, and propineb to spray the entire garden. Protective agents can be carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl.

Anthracnose and white rot: spray tebuconazole + myclobutanil for prevention and control.

Gray mold: Use pyrimethanil and boscalid for treatment.

Rust: Use triadimefon and flusilazole for comprehensive sterilization.

Red spider mites: Use spiroclofonate and propamifloc to carry out insect control in the whole garden.

2. Management of mid-ripening varieties

Mid-ripening grapes such as Sunshine Rose, Fujiminori, and Beauty Finger are moving towards maturity. Management in August is crucial, as it not only affects the quality of the fruit, but also the final harvest.

1. Promote fruit coloring

The coloring stage is key to the formation of grape quality, marking the gradual softening of the flesh, the decrease in acidity and the increase in sugar content. In terms of fertilization strategy, it is recommended to use high-potassium water-soluble fertilizer or potassium dihydrogen phosphate foliar fertilizer to promote fruit coloring and sweetness.

2. Orchard lighting management

Remove the dense leaves and old leaves under the fruit clusters in time, remove the fruit bags, increase the light exposure of the fruit, and promote uniform coloring. For plants that grow too vigorously, measures such as ring barking can be taken to regulate nutrient distribution and accelerate the coloring process.

3. Physical means to assist coloring

For varieties that are difficult to color, avoid using chemical coloring agents immediately. You can try physical means, such as laying reflective film to increase the amount of light and promote photosynthesis.

4. Bird pest control

Take effective bird control measures, such as setting up bird-proof nets, to prevent birds from damaging ripening fruits. For food safety reasons, the use of pesticides should be stopped 20 days before the fruit ripens.

5. Safe harvesting

Ensure that safe intervals for pesticide use are followed during the fruit ripening period to avoid pesticide residues and ensure the food safety of grapes.

3. Late-maturing variety management

Late-maturing varieties such as Crescent are in the critical secondary expansion period, and the management strategy in August is crucial to their final quality.

1. Nutrient supply and tree vigor recovery

Late-maturing varieties need to be supplemented with adequate nutrients at this time, which can be done through foliar fertilization or foliar spraying, especially the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, to support the healthy development of the tree and fruit.

2. Soil moisture monitoring

Although August is the beginning of autumn, the weather is still hot. The high temperature and heavy rainfall during the "dog days" have a significant impact on the growth of grapes. It is necessary to pay close attention to the soil moisture conditions to avoid too much or too little water, which will affect fruit enlargement and plant growth.

3. Orchard water management

In response to hot and rainy weather, such as the recent continuous rainfall in Yunnan, appropriate measures should be taken, such as covering the roots with crop straw, to maintain soil moisture balance and reduce the risk of fruit cracking.

4. Natural disaster prevention in the southern region

The southern region is vulnerable to natural disasters such as typhoons and heavy rains. Fruit farmers need to strengthen their awareness of prevention and take measures such as reinforcing trellises and appropriate pruning to reduce the potential damage to grape vines from natural disasters.

The above is an introduction to the key technical points of grape planting and management in August. We should pay attention to the management focus for grape varieties with different tree vigor and different maturity stages.