Storage of grape cuttings in winter. How to store grape cuttings in winter?

One of the most common ways of breeding grapes at home is breeding with chibouks. It can be carried out by planting rooted sprouts in the ground or by inoculation in the spring. Here, beginner gardeners raise the question of how to properly store cuttings of grapes in winter.

What is a chibouk?

To multiply favorite or like a variety from the vine, cuts with a thickness of a pencil (exception - a thin trunk in some varieties of grapes) and a length of about 60-70 cm are cut. A prerequisite for obtaining a quality seedlings is the presence of at least 3-4 strong knot-kidneys .

Why do you need to cut the stalk in the fall?

Among people who do not have experience in the cultivation of grapes, there is an opinion that it is easier to cultivate it in the spring. The main argument is that there is no need to fear that during the winter the stalk will wither or rot (which very often happens when grapes are grown). In fact, with this approach, you can waste time: cut in spring and planted in poorly warmed earth, the chibouk will most likely wither away without having enough time to start the roots. Another disadvantage in this situation is that there will be a fresh wound on the "revived" vine, and the plant will be "sick" for a long time. Thus, it is more rational to store grape cuttings in winter.

How to choose the material suitable for reproduction?

The chubouc is cut from the middle or lower part of the fruit-bearing (this is a prerequisite) healthy vine, which is first checked for maturity. The easiest way is to try to bend the branch a little: if it has reached the necessary level of development, there will be a slight crackling. Additionally, it is possible to lubricate the cutoff site with a solution of iodine: in the mature vine it blackens. Very thin or thick shoots are not suitable for seedlings, since they will not produce good planting material.

How to properly prepare future seedlings?

The main question, which is asked experienced grape growers about grape cuttings: "How to store the planting material for a long winter, in order to get a healthy escape in the spring?"

Here you need to consider several points. It is best to harvest the chibouk at the end of September or early October (adjustments are made depending on the weather). At this time, the vital activity of plants is reduced, and pruning will cause less damage to the grapes. Since the twigs preparing for winter lose most of the moisture, before storing it is necessary to partially fill up its reserves. This is done quite simply: from the cut off cuttings all leaves and tendrils are removed, a fresh cut is made in the lower part of it, and the chibouk is put into the water (preferably rain or thawed, but necessarily clean) for about a day. This procedure will protect the branch from drying, and it will safely survive the winter. You can additionally dip the slices from both sides into warm paraffin - this will prevent the rapid evaporation of moisture from the stem.

Someone additionally makes on the bottom of the chibouks several light longitudinal furrows up to 3 cm long to provide additional development of the roots in the spring.

Prepared cuttings are recommended to moisten in iron sulfate (a few seconds), and in its absence - in a slightly colored solution of potassium permanganate, quinazole, or base, then dry well. Such treatment will help fight mold and various diseases.

Storage of grape cuttings in winter

During the autumn laying of the chibouks, several conditions must be observed that will allow us to get strong shoots that are ready for rooting and growth in spring.

It is very important to create the necessary thermal conditions for the cuttings: at least 0 degrees and not higher than +4. When the temperature drops to a negative one, it can freeze, and a higher one threatens that the buds begin to swell and roots grow. Or the stalk will be covered with mold and simply rot.

The next important point is to ensure the necessary humidity (the optimum option is 60%), so that the chibouk does not dry out, and regular airing of the room.

If the cuttings are stored in the basement, rodents become a threat to them, for which they will turn into excellent food.

Where can I keep chibouks?

There are three ways to save grape cuttings in winter. At home, it's a refrigerator, a trench, a cellar. The choice of location depends on the amount of material. Several cuttings can be placed in the refrigerator, but when preparing them for sale or for planting on a large area, the second option will be more successful. The storage method influences the care of cuttings during the winter.

For a few seedlings, ordinary plastic bottles without a bottom of one and a half liters are suitable. In the first a little sand is poured and two cuttings are installed, the second plays the role of a lid: in order to be more comfortable to put on, small cuts are made on the walls. Cork on the bottle-lid is periodically opened for ventilation of the chibouks.

Cold storage

It is better to use a chamber for vegetables and fruits, since there is the most favorable temperature for chibouk. In its absence, it is possible to provide winter storage of cuttings (of course, in small quantities) on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. To establish the necessary humidity level, experienced people advise to wrap the lower part of the chibouks dipped in water and wrung out cloth, then place them in a cellophane bag and tie it well with a rope. The only caveat - you can not wrap the seedling completely, as this will lead to its decay. Then it will remain to check the condition of the cuttings on a monthly basis and, if necessary, carry out their processing: wipe the place of appearance of mildew moistened with pink marbling solution. Before you place the chibouk again in the refrigerator, it will need to be dried.

Creating conditions for seedlings in the basement

More common is the storage of grape cuttings in winter in the cellar. The first option: pour in a suitable container (box, old bath, with a small number of cuttings - a bucket) slightly cleaned with water clean sand layer of up to 10 cm. Then set the prepared chibouks so that they do not come in contact with each other and slightly deepen. The advantages of such storage are that the upper part of the chibouks remains free from sand, and this allows them to visually determine their condition in winter. Saplings should be placed in accordance with their natural growth, i.e. The root part of the stem must be at the bottom. Further - a mandatory regular inspection of planting material and maintaining the required level of moisture.

The second way: in a container with sand stack the cuttings of grapes (how to store, for example, carrots) and fall asleep (the layer between them should be about 4-5 cm). During the winter, it is necessary to constantly moisten the contents of the box, and it is also necessary to inspect the chibouks and change the lower and upper rows in places. If necessary, the basement is ventilated, which will help to avoid a rise in temperature, especially as spring approaches.

Instead of sand, sawdust, moss, the main thing is that they are always wet. The helper in this case can be polyethylene, which is covered with a container.

Using a trench or pit

This method is more suitable when you need to save a lot of seedlings, or there is no cellar. On the elevated site, a trench is digging about a meter deep and 5-10 cm wider than the length of the cuttings (if they are located vertically). After processing the bottom and walls with a calcareous solution, sand is poured into it - up to 10 cm. The chibouks are laid horizontally or vertically, can be bunched, the space between them is filled with sand, and the soil is poured on top. If the device is properly constructed, the ground should slightly rise above the trench, which will protect the storage from moisture, especially in the spring. With the same purpose it can be covered with a film. Next to the elevation, additional grooves are made for water drainage.

Unfortunately, such storage of grape cuttings in winter does not allow monitoring their condition, besides, an unsuccessfully prepared trench can be flooded. And for rodents, such a repository is open.

When harvesting chibouks of several varieties of grapes, each batch should be placed separately from the others.

Checking the condition of the seedlings before planting

In the spring, control is taken of how the storage of seedlings and cuttings has passed in the winter. Chubuk, ready for development, should have a fresh, healthy appearance, under its bark a green layer will be found, and a bud will appear in the eyes. You can put a few twigs in the water - successfully overwintered after a couple of days buds swell.

How to grow grapes from cuttings: ways of rooting

The overwintering chibouks begin to prepare for planting in February. The best option - put in a bag of water-soaked polyurethane foam, put cuttings on it, knead it well and put it in a dark place. Days after ten check them for the appearance of root buds. "Revived" cuttings should be dropped into a glass from under a plastic bottle, filled with a mixture of soil and humus, cover with the top of the bottle without a lid and put on a window sill or other illuminated place. When the roots fill the bottle and there are 4-5 leaves, the bottle can be removed.

Compliance with simple recommendations on how to harvest cuttings (chibouks) of grapes in the fall and keep them in the winter, will help in the near future to get a strong, well-developed vine.