The Latest Methods and Precautions for Winter Pruning of Grapes Explained in Detail

Winter pruning of grapes is mainly done to maintain the tree shape, regulate tree growth and fruiting, improve the ventilation and air permeability of the plant, adjust the position of the fruiting canes, and also renew and rejuvenate the fruiting canes. So when should winter pruning of grapes be done? How should it be carried out in winter? Let's take a look together.

1. Winter pruning time

Winter pruning of grapes requires cutting off one-third to two-thirds of the canes, so winter pruning must take into account the nutrient loss of the pruned canes. Pruning too early or too late will both cause loss of the nutrients stored in the grapevine, which is not conducive to the next year's bud break, flower bud differentiation, and new shoot growth. The best pruning time is from when the tree fully enters dormancy to one month before the bleeding period, and for greenhouse cultivation, winter pruning should be completed before film covering. The southern region is relatively warm, so it should be carried out from late December to January of the following year; while the northern region has lower temperatures, so the best pruning time should be from late October to mid-to-late November.

2. Winter pruning methods

Winter pruning should be based on the plant's yield and the growth vigor of the canes to decide which fruiting canes to retain, and the number of fruiting canes per square meter should be well controlled; when pruning, it should be carried out in the order from trunk to cane, from main to side, then fruiting canes, and then thinning, renewal pruning, and heading back. Specifically, for cane selection and retention, strong one-year-old canes with a thickness of more than 0.8 cm should be selected as fruiting canes. For renewal pruning of perennial branches, weak branches should be renewed by leaving a strong branch below the cut; while strong branches should be renewed by leaving a moderate branch below the cut. Thinning should be done by cutting completely from the base, and during pruning care should be taken not to make too many wounds, so as not to affect the growth and development of the bearing canes.

3. Pruning precautions

First, the fruiting canes must be identified. Only high-quality fruiting canes can have a high bud break rate, strong branching ability, and good flower bud differentiation in the second year, laying a solid foundation for high yield and high quality in the coming year. Therefore, the fruiting canes should be selected with a deep color and luster, fully mature canes, and a basal stem node thickness of more than 0.8-1.2 cm. When pruning, the pruning length should be determined based on growth vigor, fruiting cane rate, and the height of flower bud positions. The pruning cut should be 2-4 cm away from the bud eye, which can prevent water evaporation at the bud eye from causing dried and dead branches, and the cut should also be made on the side opposite the cut bud as much as possible.

  The above is an introduction to the methods and precautions for winter pruning of grapes. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please follow us.