Grape cultivation is a company in which anyone with some land can participate. At the beginning of your company, you are all happy and excited. You can’t wait to see those juicy grapes growing in your vineyard! But as time goes by, you start to run into a host of problems, and you just don’t know what to do! And then you get frustrated and wonder if you should give up … If you’re thinking about it … don’t do it! There are solutions to your problems. Here are some common problems winegrowers encounter and how to solve them to guide you in growing grapes at last.
Help! My vines are growing leaves, not fruit!
Are you overwatering your plants? If your vines are growing leaves, not fruit, this is called “vegetative growth.” This is because the vines absorb too much water. Although their vines need water to grow, they don’t like it too much. So don’t over water your plants and don’t let them sit in the water! That is why it is very, very important to have good drainage in the soil; the best vineyards are known for their excellent drainage system, so the vines absorb just the right amount of water they need.
Help! The leaves of my vines are wilting and why are the fruits so few?
If you run into this problem, your vines may have developed diseases. Identifying the disease is the first step in finding a solution. You need to know the identifying marks for common grape diseases so they can be easily diagnosed and treated. Always remember that prevention is still the best cure! Diseases, especially those that are fungal in origin, thrive in warm, humid areas. So make sure your vines have enough air flow. A good trellis system would ensure this, as well as good canopy management.
Help! My grapes are being eaten by pests!
Pests can really be a problem, so it is best to take control measures as soon as possible to prevent them from devastating your vineyard. For insects, in general, their vines tolerate a moderate amount of insect damage. But once its fruits are threatened, action must be taken. If you want to avoid pesticides, there are other things you can do. You can use predatory insects that feed on these pests without eating your crops. Examples of these are lacewings and ladybugs. Another thing you can do is cut off the grape shoots that are heavily infested, so that other shoots can stay healthy.
For birds and deer, hearing, sight, and scent repellants are quite effective in scaring them away. You can also make use of a net to cover your vines so that birds cannot reach them.
These steps will help you solve your grape growing problems so that you can finally get on with growing grapes.