When to prune grapes: the berries will be large and sweet

The pruning stage is perhaps the most important in caring for grapes. Summer pruning should be carried out to keep the fruit juicy and full of nutrients.

Every year, vineyards grow, producing more and more shoots, buds and clusters. The root system becomes overloaded and cannot provide sufficient nutrition. Without pruning, the fruits will become small and sour. OBOZREVATEL has gathered the most important information about the proper pruning of grapes.

Time for pruning

In June, you should tie up the fruiting vine and cut off the fresh growth a little.

When flowering is complete, you need to remove the stepsons and start feeding. And in August, young shoots are cut off with a minting procedure. To improve the development of the lower part of the rhizome at the end of summer, it is recommended to remove a few of the upper roots.

Stages of summer pruning

Pinching stage

Pinching is aimed at improving fruit growth. It will ensure an active ovary and facilitate the supply of nutrients. Remove about 2 cm from the tops of the branches.

Stepsoning stage

Pinching is a method of cutting stepsons. In July, experts advise cutting off the side shoots - they grow from the axillary buds. It is better to break off thin branches by hand, gently pressing the base with your thumb. Please note that you do not need to remove the shoots completely.

Minting

In the last step, you should remove the upper parts of the shoots at a height of 2.2 - 2.3 metres. This is best done in August. Prune with secateurs or a sharp knife to the level of the first leaf.

The difference between stamping and pinching is that after this procedure, the apical shoot is shortened to 40 cm.

By the way, grapes have long been known for their beneficial properties: they lower cholesterol, help with kidney disease and digestive system disorders, boost immunity due to the content of vitamins and minerals, are an effective prevention of cardiovascular disease, normalise blood pressure, and improve swelling.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL talked about popular fertilisers that can actually harm plants.

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