Young Grape Care

When you receive your new grape plants it is best to acclimate them to the sun for a week. Keep them in shade - not direct sun, and gradually give them full sun for increasing time. 1st day 15 min., 2nd 20-25, 3rd 30, 4th 45 until they can handle the full sun. About every 3rd day before planting, lightly water and add a small amount of miracle grow (fertilizer) once or twice before planting. Thoroughly water at planting and watch the weather. Young vines need 1/2 inch of water per week early season. Hot weather 1 inch per week. When dry for 7 days in mid summer I watered mine with about a gallon per plant around the base. When rains come again stop watering and let the roots go deep. In the fall I would not water unless it was an extended time without rain.

I like to have the soil well tilled and broken up 18-24 inches in depth to allow for quick root establishment. Plant with a shallow dish shape in the dirt to collect rain water if you have sandy soil. Use of growth tubes is highly recommended. Cover the tube the grapes are in completely. For pre-emergent herbicide, I would only use surflan, (Orzyalayn), for the plant. Wait until the soil is settled well after a rain and no cracks in the soil to allow direct runoff to the root. Surflan needs a 1/2 inch of rain to incorporate it into the active zone to prevent weed germination. Keep the soil black 18 inches both sides of the vines until late August. Fall weeds can be left to grow to help the plant harden off. Next spring spray a combination Roundup and Surflan before bud swell and that should control most weeds for the entire season. Occasional Roundup touch up spraying is needed for resistant weeds. The grow tubes are great to protect the young vines from herbicide drift when controlling weeds.

Fertilize with only a sprinkle of 10/10/10 in early June only. Following years follow directions from soil testing. I only fertilize with granular 10/10/10 once a year in early June. I use a potassium leaf spray just after verasian.

I believe grow tubes are critical to the success of the young vines. The added heat they give will push the growth out of the tubes by late June. I also like the tubes for rabbit and especially deer protection. Mid July or when the growth is 6-8 strong leaves above the tube they can be removed and used again for another season. Do not leave tubes on past early August because the vines need to start the hardening off process. Following is a number and address for grow tubes.

MDT and Associates 3527 Morgan Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55412 888-530-7082. Contact: Mary Jo

I will be happy to answer any questions.

Cheers, John