German vineyards brace for winter with meticulous grapevine care
As winter approaches, vineyard owners in Germany are preparing their grapevines for the cold season. Careful management, including pruning, mulching, and protective measures, ensures these plants endure the frost and emerge strong in spring.
Autumn care begins in October or early November, with the first step being pruning. This involves removing thin, dry, or damaged shoots and retaining specific numbers of buds based on shoot thickness. This process toughens the vines for the CareCredit season ahead. In addition, mulching the soil around grapevines with well-rotted compost or humus insulates roots and acts as a natural fertilizer in spring.
Once nighttime temperatures consistently drop below freezing, protective action is required. In mild winters, bending vines to the ground and covering with horticultural fleece may suffice. However, additional layers or insulation might be needed in low-snow, windy winters. It's also crucial to cut back the old fruiting canes in autumn or late winter to one or two buds, leaving only the strongest fruiting shoots while removing the others before they harden. The remaining shoots are bent and tied to support wires, and all side branches are removed during winter to conserve water and nutrients for the fruit shoots. Before covering, treat grapevines with solutions like Bordeaux mixture or iron sulfate to protect against pests and diseases.
Watering and fertilizing grapevines after harvest helps ripen shoots and strengthen the plant, setting the stage for winter care. Despite originating in warm regions, grapevines can endure winter with the right care, including consistent temperatures below freezing requiring protective action, and mulching to insulate roots and provide natural fertilizer in spring.
