Should winter fertilizer be applied to grapes, and how should it be done correctly?

Should grapes be given winter fertilizer? Many friends do not pay much attention to this, or even dismiss it, but Science Xingnong believes that winter fertilizer is still very necessary. From the time the grape leaves fall in autumn to the time they sprout the following year, this is basically the stage when the grapevines lie dormant and accumulate energy. You may have seen peonies: if they are planted too late or the soil fertility is poor, they may not even bloom, and this phenomenon is also very obvious in grapes, typically showing few flowers and few fruits. Therefore, supplementing with winter fertilizer in winter can effectively improve the quality and yield of grapes the following year.

Timing of topdressing

Fertilizer can be applied before winter sets in, roughly around November, and topdressing should not be done too early or too late. If done too early, the fertility may be consumed in advance, and grapes generally receive sufficient topdressing between summer and autumn, so when the leaves have just fallen the fertility is still fairly adequate, making early topdressing unnecessary. If done too late, the grapes will be unable to accumulate enough nutrients. Moreover, if there is a lack of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, their resistance will decline and they may not survive the harsh winter.

What fertilizer to apply

In winter, grapes are in a dormant state and have very little demand for nutrients, but very little does not mean none, since plants still need to maintain life activities. Because they are not growing leaves, the demand for nitrogen fertilizer is very low, and excessive nitrogen fertilizer can also cause excessive growth the following year. However, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer is still needed, as it can improve the disease resistance of grapes.

Generally, farmyard manure is best, and of course it should be decomposed farmyard manure. It contains the three major elements nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as well as many mineral elements, and can meet the growth needs of the plants. Of course, you can also choose to consider organic fertilizer sold on the market. However, relatively speaking, the cost is somewhat higher.

If you choose chemical fertilizer, then it is recommended to consider only phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate, or a scheme of superphosphate + potassium chloride (potassium sulfate). At the very least, calcium fertilizer should also be applied, as the general demand for calcium is still relatively high, and applying some superphosphate at this time is also very beneficial.

How to apply fertilizer?

For organic fertilizer or farmyard manure, it is best to apply it by deep plowing. If applied on the surface, the nutrients are very difficult for the plants to absorb, and applying organic fertilizer or farmyard manure by deep plowing can also further decompose it, accelerate the release of its nutrient elements, and improve utilization efficiency. Grape roots are relatively deep, so it is recommended to apply fertilizer somewhat deeper, which will be better.