Grapevines

ALL INSTRUCTIONS MUST BE FOLLOWED TO INSURE SUCCESS

Dormant Bare Root Vines

The best time to plant dormant vines is late March through the end of April. On sites with no irrigation, we recommend planting in February.

Pre-Planting Essentials

Vines need to be planted in a field with adequate moisture. If the field is dry, pre-irrigate several days before beginning planting. Success on non-irrigated sites is not assured.

Vines should be allowed to warm up 4 – 5 days in a barn or garage (out of direct sun) prior to planting. When planting late in the season with daytime temperatures exceeding 65 degrees F, it is essential that plants be held at ambient temperatures until the buds swell. Protect vines from direct sun and prevent them from drying.

When planting in very rocky sites and sites without irrigation, vine roots should be soaked for 24 hours in water (free of pathogens!). Biological preparations such as kelp or humic / fulvic acids may be added to the soak solution. Many growers report very good results.

Planting Essentials

1. Dig a hole with a shovel 12" to 14" deep and wider than the roots when they are spread out. Score the sides of the hole, especially in soils with high clay content.
2. Place the vine in the hole, spreading the roots over a cone of soil at the bottom of the hole. Backfill the hole with original soil free of herbicide residue, large clods or rocks. If soil amendments are used, mix them thoroughly into the backfill soil.
3. Tap down the soil gently as you proceed, while keeping the plant straight and upright.
4. When the hole is filled and tamped down, the graft union should be 4" above the soil line.
5. Loose soil (free of herbicides) must be mounded over the vine. This soil mound should extend about 1" above the tip of the plant so none of the plant is showing. This is essential since the soil protects the buds from temperature extremes as the vine comes out of dormancy.
6. Irrigate right after planting to help settle the roots and remove air pockets around them.
7. When growth appears, remove the soil mound from around the vine so the graft union is well above the soil line and install a paper vine shelter such as a 1/2 gallon milk carton.
8. Water weekly, keeping roots moderately moist in well-drained soil.

Questions? Please feel free to give us a call.
1-800-765-4717 or 707-539-5678

Green Potted Vines

The best time to plant green potted vines is from May to June.

Pre-Planting Essentials

Planting field must be pre-irrigated. Pre-irrigate the exact locations where vines will be planted at least 24 hours prior to starting planting, to a depth of 24”or more. Make certain drippers are located above vines or spaghetti tubing is used to direct water to the root-zone.

If vines are to be held for any length of time on-site, be sure the vines receive filtered shade and adequate irrigation. Their root-zones are small, so watering will likely be needed daily. Note: Plants on the edge dry out faster and will need spot watering. Wind is very drying so plants should be held in sheltered areas.

Planting Essentials

Make sure the root-zone is moist at planting time. It should not be dry, nor should it be dripping wet from having just been watered. Plants will come out of the cells most easily when entire column of soil in the plastic cells is moist, and excess water has drained away.

The plastic cells must be removed at planting time. Squeeze the sides of the plastic cell to break the adhesion of soil and roots to the cell walls. At this point the root-zone should easily dislodge when the plant is pulled from the cell. There should be no tearing or ripping of the roots as the plants are removed from the cells. (If you experience tearing or ripping, the root-zone is probably too wet or too dry.) Planters should carry a piece of dowel to push out difficult plants.

Place plant and backfill the hole. (Keep the cell & return it to the Novavine.)

Holes should be dug wider and deeper than the root-zone. Backfill to establish proper height of the plant. The graft union or primary shoot must be 3” to 4” above the soil line after firming the soil around the plant. Remember, the soil will settle and the vines may sink some.

When firming soil around vines do not compact soil excessively. Stepping on the backfill is excessive and is likely to result in breakage of young roots from the vine.

Post Planting Essentials

Place a vine shelter (such as a 1/2 gallon milk carton or grow tube) over the newly planted vines and secure them to the vine stake.

Secure dripper tube so water is delivered to the root-zone of each plant. Irrigate the planting block as soon as vines are planted in order to settle roots, remove air pockets in the root zone, and allow plants to take up moisture and recover from transplant shock.

Watering of newly planted green vines throughout the first growing season is extremely critical. How well it is carried out will be a huge determining factor in the success of the planting. Soils in the integral root-zone of the new vines must be kept moist at all times. The root-zone should not be kept saturated for long periods of time, nor should it be allowed to dry out. Water to field capacity and allow for some drying. Because soil textures and water holding capacities vary widely it is not possible for us to provide exact watering recommendations, however, 1/2 to 1 gallon of water per vine every 3 to 5 days is a very general guideline.

Remember, as plants grow and daytime temperatures increase, plants will transpire more than they will at planting time. Do not make assumptions about moisture in the root-zone by examining the soil's surface. The best way to check root-zone moisture is by digging down to the root-zone and feeling the soil.

Keep green vines growing vigorously by ascertaining that soils contain adequate Nitrogen levels or a fertilization program is in place.

If you have any questions or need additional information to insure success of your new planting, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-765-4717 or 707-539-5678.