Detailed Explanation of Ice Grape Planting Methods and Cultivation Techniques
Ice grape is a new type of grape variety; after the fruit ripens, it can remain on the vine for a long time, and the harvest period can be delayed by about one month. Ice grape is also an important raw material for winemaking, and the wine produced has a mellow taste and good quality. Let's take a look below at the planting methods for ice grapes.
1. Seedling selection: The seedlings of ice grapes should have more than 7 lateral roots, with a length of no less than 18 cm, and plenty of fibrous roots. Then, before planting, do the land preparation well, control the planting density, and dig the planting trenches. The depth and width of the planting trenches should be controlled at about 50*50 cm. Then apply sufficient base fertilizer, mainly farmyard manure. If the soil has weak moisture-retention capacity, then during planting, water thoroughly and firm the soil by stepping on it. Then raise ridges of about 12 cm, cover with plastic film, and water thoroughly. The survival rate can approach 100 percent; if missing-plant gaps are found in summer, replant in time.
2. Water and fertilizer management: Grape growth has a relatively large demand for nutrients. Throughout the entire growth period, the demand for potassium and calcium is the greatest, followed by nitrogen and phosphorus. When fertilizing, apply more organic fertilizer. After the fruit ripens, apply a sufficient basal fertilizer once to promote growth the following year. Then, during the fruit expansion period, also apply a topdressing of decomposed farmyard manure once, mainly by trench application. Water is also very important for the growth of ice grapes. When the orchard's moisture content is below 60 percent, water in time, mainly by small-drip irrigation. Water should not be excessive either; when there is too much, pay attention to drainage to prevent waterlogging damage.
3. Bud removal and shoot thinning: When the new shoots of ice grapes grow to about 6-9 cm, promptly remove the buds about 45 cm from the ground. Then, when two new shoots appear on the trellis, keep the new shoot with more inflorescences, that is thick and strong, and in a good growing position, and remove the excess. Also, overly dense buds should not be kept; maintain the density of buds on each cane at about 10 cm. Control the timing and amount of bud removal according to tree vigor to avoid consuming too many nutrients. Then, when the new shoots grow to about 16-18 cm, observe the growth of the inflorescences on the new shoots. Keep about 9 per sq m and do the shoot thinning well.
4. Flower and fruit management: During periods such as the flower bud stage and early flowering of ice grapes, pay attention to spraying a fast-acting boron solution once to promote pollen growth and improve pollen fertilization rate. If water deficiency occurs during the flowering period, then spray water in time to increase field humidity, lower temperature, and prevent adverse climate from affecting the growth of ice grapes. The fruit set of ice grapes is related to tree age and tree vigor to some extent, and to ensure yield protection, then the leaf area of ice grapes needs to be increased. We should estimate the fruit set based on the nutritional level and tree age of the ice grape vines, and then do the fruit thinning well.
The planting methods for ice grapes are different from those for ordinary grapes. Ice grapes are a good choice whether eaten directly or used for winemaking, and currently the sales volume of ice grapes is also continuously increasing, so the prospects for planting ice grapes are still relatively promising.