Learning how to grow grape vines successfully takes 80% knowledge, 19% skill, and 1% luck. Knowing exactly how to choose the correct soil for your vines is key to your overall success with your crop. If you are growing grapes professionally, know that it's your soil that gives your grapes, and your wine, that hardy, unique flavor that many connoisseurs crave.
Here are the 3 key factors of your soil that will make your grapes healthy, rich tasting and productive, and they are Content, Minerals, and the Conditions of the environment.
CONTENT
Before you start anything, it is critical you have your soil analyzed. If the ground lacks minerals, your crop could be doomed from the start. Either way, it is imperative that the nutrients in the soil be balanced as to not affect the growth or overgrowth of your vines and leaves. Testing the soil will reveal the pH balance. If you're located in an area where water drains freely through the soil, you may find your soil to be higher in acid content. A typical level of pH should be between 6 - 6.5 so your grape vines can ingest the nutrients. Having a pH below 6 in your soil, means that your soil is higher in acid content. You'll have to bring the balance up by adding lime. To adjust your pH down, because the level is 7 or higher, use rootstock to saturate high lime conditions.
MINERALS
After the first season, your crop extracted almost all the minerals from the soils. Prepare your soil for next year by adding those minerals back in with the use of organically grown fertilizers. Organically grown fertilizers are a natural source of nitrogen, so after you test your soil again, you'll need to determine how much of the potassium, phosphorus or nitrogen was depleted to know what type of fertilizer to use. It's good practice to take sample tests of your soil in various locations in your vineyard year after year. It's the only real safe way of knowing the average pH levels and how to adjust them appropriately.
ENVIRONMENT
Depending on the environment you're in, your soil may be dryer or more moist. In order to grow the healthiest grape possible, you must have the best drainage, while offering your vines a strong foundation with which to grow through the soil. Vines trying to grow in an environment of high moisture will lull themselves into a catatonic-like state which will stunt their growth and they won't produce fruit. In other words, the high moisture will put your vines in a state of hibernation. You want damp but firm soil that satisfies both criteria for the best results.
Think of vineyards in California, USA or in Chili. Many are created on slopes to allow for consistent drainage, where the soil also holds planting steadily. This soil also needs to hold your trellis system upright and hold the weight of your vines once they start creeping up the posts and cables. Remember to keep in mind that your vines will need more than 3 feet of soil to grow, as will the posted to stay anchored. In the end, you want to take note of the design, layout, and landscape of some of the most successful vineyards and create an environment similar to theirs, and when the time comes, you too will be producing luscious, healthy grapes that you can profit from.
Here are the 3 key factors of your soil that will make your grapes healthy, rich tasting and productive, and they are Content, Minerals, and the Conditions of the environment.
CONTENT
Before you start anything, it is critical you have your soil analyzed. If the ground lacks minerals, your crop could be doomed from the start. Either way, it is imperative that the nutrients in the soil be balanced as to not affect the growth or overgrowth of your vines and leaves. Testing the soil will reveal the pH balance. If you're located in an area where water drains freely through the soil, you may find your soil to be higher in acid content. A typical level of pH should be between 6 - 6.5 so your grape vines can ingest the nutrients. Having a pH below 6 in your soil, means that your soil is higher in acid content. You'll have to bring the balance up by adding lime. To adjust your pH down, because the level is 7 or higher, use rootstock to saturate high lime conditions.
MINERALS
After the first season, your crop extracted almost all the minerals from the soils. Prepare your soil for next year by adding those minerals back in with the use of organically grown fertilizers. Organically grown fertilizers are a natural source of nitrogen, so after you test your soil again, you'll need to determine how much of the potassium, phosphorus or nitrogen was depleted to know what type of fertilizer to use. It's good practice to take sample tests of your soil in various locations in your vineyard year after year. It's the only real safe way of knowing the average pH levels and how to adjust them appropriately.
ENVIRONMENT
Depending on the environment you're in, your soil may be dryer or more moist. In order to grow the healthiest grape possible, you must have the best drainage, while offering your vines a strong foundation with which to grow through the soil. Vines trying to grow in an environment of high moisture will lull themselves into a catatonic-like state which will stunt their growth and they won't produce fruit. In other words, the high moisture will put your vines in a state of hibernation. You want damp but firm soil that satisfies both criteria for the best results.
Think of vineyards in California, USA or in Chili. Many are created on slopes to allow for consistent drainage, where the soil also holds planting steadily. This soil also needs to hold your trellis system upright and hold the weight of your vines once they start creeping up the posts and cables. Remember to keep in mind that your vines will need more than 3 feet of soil to grow, as will the posted to stay anchored. In the end, you want to take note of the design, layout, and landscape of some of the most successful vineyards and create an environment similar to theirs, and when the time comes, you too will be producing luscious, healthy grapes that you can profit from.
For more on how to grow grape vines, visit our website below.
Roberto (Robert) Batch is a successful grape grower and entrepreneur who teaches how to grow grape vines in the right soil on his website. To learn more, visit http://www.newestgrapegrowingsecrets.com.
Roberto (Robert) Batch is a successful grape grower and entrepreneur who teaches how to grow grape vines in the right soil on his website. To learn more, visit http://www.newestgrapegrowingsecrets.com.
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