How to Grow Grapevines from Cuttings? A Detailed Guide to the Cutting Method
Potted grapes are mostly propagated by cuttings. This method is not only efficient, but also allows the young plants to inherit the fine qualities of the mother plant. Based on my experience growing potted grapes, I will now share some grape cutting propagation methods, hoping this method will be helpful to everyone and bring some enjoyment to your potted grape growing.
Grape Cutting Propagation Methods
1. Small plastic bag cutting with plastic film mulching method. When cutting in spring when the soil temperature is 10-15°C, mix chicken manure, sawdust, river sand and garden soil in a ratio of 1:1:1:2 to make the growing medium, put it into a small plastic bag with a small hole at the bottom, making the growing medium about 15 cm deep, then soak a grape branch segment with three buds in clean water overnight, gently insert it into the growing medium, leaving one bud at the upper end outside the plastic bag. Then bury the plastic bag in the soil, water thoroughly, and cover with film on top until the plant is established. Compared with open-air cutting propagation, this method has the following advantages: earlier plant establishment, nearly a month earlier than open-air cutting; a high survival rate of over 95%, while open-air cutting is generally only about 80%; saves labor on watering; takes up less space.
2. Green branch cutting. In June, take semi-lignified branches 2-3 nodes long from the new shoots or lateral shoots of the current year and carry out green branch cutting. Except that the top end of the cutting retains 1 green leaf (a larger leaf can be cut in half) while other nodes retain a section of leaf stalk, the cutting and management are the same as for hardwood cuttings.
3. Water rooting. In June, cut a current-year vine (with one or two nodes of two-year-old vine at the lower end); insert it into a jar filled more than half with water, cut kraft paper or plastic film into a circle the size of the jar mouth, and cut a slit to the center, then clamp the grape vine in the slit, and seal it with adhesive tape or the like; move the jar with the inserted grape vine into a warmer room or kitchen, roots will appear in about 15 days, and then it can be moved into fertile, loose soil. Generally, rooting can be done 2-3 times a year, about 15 days each time, and one jar can hold 8-10 cuttings; using shelves, one room can hold 2000-3000 jars, which can propagate 16,000-20,000 plants.
4. Cutting propagation in the same year, and layering in the same year to propagate plants from plants. This is a new technique for increasing the grape propagation coefficient. After cutting, strengthen fertilizer and water management to make the plants strong. When the plant grows to 50 cm, pinch off the growing tip to strengthen the plant, promote the growth of lateral shoots, and keep 3-5 lateral shoots per plant. In mid-July, when the lateral shoots are about 10 cm long, carry out layering, pressing the main shoot into the soil 5-10 cm, with the lateral shoots growing upright above the ground. After “White Dew” and before “Autumn Equinox”, pinch off the growing tips of the lateral shoots again to concentrate nutrients for growing the plants, and by this point one lateral shoot has grown into a robust grape plant. That is to say, one cutting can cultivate 3-5 grape plants with well-developed roots, substantial branches and plump buds in the same year, and the propagation coefficient is increased by 4-5 times compared with ordinary propagation methods.