Content
Sometimes summer residents who have plots in the Moscow region do not plant grapes. This is explained by the harsh climatic conditions for a heat-loving plant and the difficulties hiding. But in reality, it's not all that complicated. Growing grapes in the Moscow region is quite possible and affordable. Let's dwell on the important points.
Preliminary activities
A very significant stage. The gardener faces the following tasks:
- Choose the grape variety wisely. Every culture has species that are ideal for a particular region. So, for the Moscow region, you need to select grape varieties that can easily withstand lower temperatures. For example, “Lora”, “Vostorg”, “Kuban” or “Kodryanka” are considered resistant to cold weather.
- Choose the right place for the vineyard and plant it. The plant does not like areas that are heavily blown by the wind. In a quiet place, you won’t need a powerful shelter.
- Maintain the depth of planting grapes in the Moscow region. The planting must be deep enough. Of course, it is unrealistic to bury the seedling below the soil freezing level, but it is better to stop at the maximum permissible level.
- Do not forget feed grapes in autumn potash fertilizers. In addition to nutrition, they also perform a warming function.
- Take care in advance about the option of covering the vine. Winters in the Moscow region are snowy, which will make the autumn work of insulating the vines much easier for the gardener. And the snow cover will save the grapes from freezing. But you need to think about materials and design even before planting grapes on the site.
If each point is carried out 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 before covering
You need to start preparing the grapevine for wintering at a certain time. Hiding too early is just as harmful as hiding too late. If the grapevine is covered ahead of schedule, it will:
- will not have time to stock up on enough nutrients for wintering;
- may become infected with a fungal infection or fume due to excessively warm temperatures under the shelter.
Late protection of grapes is not able to prevent freezing of the vine, especially young ones. 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 young grapes can only be opened if the indicators are positive. Old vines are more resistant to frost, but it’s not worth the risk here either.
What is the preparation of the plant before covering? After the leaves fall, the grapes are removed from the support and the vine is bent to the ground. To secure the shoots, metal staples are used. Will be a good help correct planting of grapes. If the angle of inclination of the vine is maintained when planting, then bending down cannot injure the plant.
Before bending the vine down, be sure to do proper pruning.
At the same time, certain shoots are selected for wintering, treated with iron sulfate, and the rest are cut off.
This contact due to moisture will lead to 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 condensation.
Types of covering material for grapevines
How to cover grapes for the winter in the Moscow region? The technique depends on the choice of covering material. And the main methods of covering grapes are divided into three types:
- Hilling. It is carried out for young seedlings using a mound up to 25 cm high.
- Half-cover. Only the part of the grapes located above the ground is covered. Agrofibre or straw are considered optimal materials.
- The cover is complete. It is with this method that the shoots are removed from the supports, trimmed, processed, bent to the ground and covered.
The third method is considered the most reliable for the Moscow region climate. What materials are used?
Natural - soil and snow. If you plan to cover the vine with earth, then you need to dig a ditch, insulate it with spruce branches and lay the vine down.
Then carefully sprinkle with soil. The layer of embankment depends on the type and topography of the site. As plants mature, they 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 install snow retention shields or manually add snow.
What other material is used to cover grapes in the Moscow region? There are several possible options, you just have to choose the most suitable one:
- Wooden shields. They are installed on both sides of the shoots, laid on stands. The result is a small house, which many gardeners additionally line the inside with roofing felt.
Suitable for small vineyards. For mass plantings, this method requires a large consumption of wood. - Agrofibre or film. With this method, spruce branches are also placed on top of the vine to improve thermal insulation. If you take film, you will have to remove it at a positive temperature. Therefore, choose which material is more convenient for you to work with.
- Home remedies at hand. They are not used as independent shelter, only in combination with soil. This could be waste slate sheets, plastic containers, or leftover construction supplies or burlap. Here you will have to monitor the weight of the applied cover so as not to overload and damage the vine.
Useful tips
Do not take soil for shelter next to the bush. This leads to exposure of the roots, their freezing and death of the plant. It is optimal to step back half a meter from the head of the bush.
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 soil 25 cm thick.
Provide additional protection to roots, especially in winters with little snow.
Be sure to dig the soil twice a year - in spring and autumn. This way, 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 plants, just take it from the paths and put it on the bushes.
