One of the most beloved plants, both by professionals and amateur gardeners, has been grapes for many hundreds of years. It is of interest to people not only for its amazing taste, the ability to create the best varieties of wines, but also for its medicinal properties.
Humanity has come up with many ways to use the vine: weaving baskets, furniture, vases, fences, garden figurines and much more.
Symbolism of the vine
Each nation, which has its own faith and traditions, fills the vines with different meanings. For some it is a sign of fertility, passion, consciousness, life, for others it is a sign of greed, deceit and treachery, for others it is dedicated to the dying gods.
The vine has also found its reflection in Christianity. According to this belief, Christ symbolizes the main vine, and all his followers are similar to the branches of grapes. The same parallel in faith is drawn between the church and its believers.
In Catholicism grapewine symbolizes the blood of Christ, the sacrament of communion is connected with this, which means spiritual merging with God.
But there were cases in history when drinking wine was forbidden. For example, Muslims consider this drink a symbol of human sins.
The vine has also found its place on the coats of arms of many countries that are actively engaged in winemaking: Turkmenistan, Georgia, Moldova.
Structure of the vine
However, in no case should one neglect the fact that without knowledge of the structure of the grape bush, it is impossible to grow he althy sweet bunches.
To get a good harvest, it should be borne in mind that grapes must have support, as they are liana plants with unevenly growing branches.
The grape bush can be conditionally divided into two parts:
- Underground part. Consists of 2 types of roots. When propagated by seeds, the primordial embryos of the root are formed, while vegetative breeding - adventitious roots. Young roots are very sensitive to lack of moisture, and only after growth are covered with cork cloth for protection.
- Above-ground part. It grows quickly and requires mandatory pruning. It consists of fruit vines and replacement knots, which provide fruiting. Branches in the second year of life are covered with wood, in the first year they bear green leaves and tendrils. Inflorescence and flower are formed on the plant in spring.
There are three kinds of buds in leaf axils:
- Winterers.
- Stepsons.
- Sleeping buds that are located at the rootvine.
Propagation of grapes
When propagating grape varieties, several methods are used depending on the climate, variety and purpose of breeding.
- Reproduction by seeds. With it, the qualities of the mother grapes are not duplicated, which leads to a change in external and taste qualities. Fruiting occurs only after a few years. Often this breeding method is used by breeders to breed new varieties or give the plant a number of necessary qualities and characteristics.
- Vaccination method. More convenient for gardeners, allows you to propagate grapes in conditions of low temperatures and freezing of the soil. The second name of the method is budding. To carry it out, you need a scion, part of a cultivated plant, and a stock, grapes with a good root system. Before grafting, the graft is immersed in water for 4-5 hours to soak.
- Propagation by cuttings. The most common way. There are two main types depending on the growing season:
- growing in winter cuttings cut from the top of the vine in autumn;
- prepared vines are planted in open ground in spring.
Preparation of cuttings in glasses
Amateur gardeners often use the method of preparing seedlings in glasses. This growing pattern is very easy and easy even for first time growers.
In order to germinate vines in glasses, you will need: 2 glasses of different sizes, earth, river sand and sheethumus.
2 cm of leaf humus for fertilizer is poured into a larger glass with holes pre-made at the bottom. In a smaller glass (with a cut bottom), placed inside a large one, river sand is poured, and earth is around. After that, a small glass is removed, in the middle of the river sand a depression of 4 cm is made, in which a fragment of the vine is placed. The entire space up to the top of a large glass is covered with sand and watered abundantly. Sprouted vine planted in spring.
Growing seedlings in bottles
To grow vines in a bottle, cut off the neck from the vessel and make holes at the bottom. First, a drainage layer is created, 6-7 tablespoons of the soil mixture are poured on it, then a stalk is placed at an angle, and then the bottle is filled to the top with steamed sawdust. So that young leaves do not lose moisture, the plant is covered with a plastic cup from above.
Irrigation is preferably done through the pan.
The cuttings are ready for planting when the young roots of the vine are visible on the sides of the bottle.
Boarding rules
After successfully growing seedlings, you need to figure out how to plant a vine. This process requires a long period of preparation, which includes the choice of location, soil and the planting process itself.
The area for planting in the fall should be carefully dug up and fertilized. The soil on it should not be excessively moist and saline. Chernozems or loams are considered the best option. You should also pay attention to the illumination of the site, as a lack of light will lead to a deterioration in the taste of the grapes.
The most successful planting of vines will be in the spring, when the frosts have passed. Young seedlings are placed in holes, while taking them out of containers, you should try not to damage the delicate roots. Mulch with peat and water regularly every 2-3 days.
Vine formation steps
Before starting the formation of a bush, prepare a trellis. It should be oriented from south to north and consist of a support and wire up to 3 mm thick. Supports of any type, metal, wood or concrete, should preferably be placed at a distance of 3-4 meters from each other, and their height should not be less than 2.5 m. The wire is pulled every 50 cm.
Due to the fact that grapes begin to yield only in the third year after planting, the formation of the vine goes through the following stages:
- First growing season. During its period, two well-developed shoots should be grown. Extra branches must be removed when their length reaches 2-5 cm, otherwise the bush will be unproductive and depleted. At the beginning of autumn, the shoots are tied to a wire, and closer to the middle they are pruned, leaving 3 eyes on each branch. For the winter period, the plant is covered with henna, sawdust or peat to prevent freezing, and then with a film to rid the bush of excess moisture.
- Second growing season. The main task of this stage is the formation of 4 shoots, the thickness of which by autumn is at the level of the firstwire should be 7-8 mm. From these shoots, the sleeves of the bush will be formed in the future.
- The third growing season. On each of the 4 sleeves, two vines are formed. It is important at this stage to control the first fruiting, leaving only 1 bunch for 1-2 shoots.
- The fourth growing season. During its period, the bush takes on a formed appearance. It is necessary to carry out the removal of excess and garter of green shoots, as well as to regulate fruiting. The number of bunches per 1 shoot should be no more than with the first harvest.
Failure to follow the rules of cultivation will further lead to weakening of the bush and poor fruiting.
Healing properties of the vine
The reasons why vines are grown are not only due to the taste of the fruits themselves.
Cultivation of grapes began in the Stone Age, because each part of this plant can boast of its unique components:
- The skin of the berries is rich in waxes, essential oils and many colorants.
- Berries contain proteins, fiber, hemicellulose, citric, tartaric and malic acids.
- Fruits are rich in folic acid and vitamins B, C, R.
- Grape seeds contain fatty oils, lecithin, vanillin and even acetic acid.
Treatment with grapes got its name - ampelotherapy. It has been proven to have a positive effect on headaches, migraines, helps in the elimination of diarrhea and the fight against malignanttumors.
But, unfortunately, not everyone is shown not only such therapy, but generally eating these berries.
Vine weaving
For people with enough patience, the vine can bring a lot of profit or just become an interesting hobby.
The first material that humanity began to use for weaving was precisely the vine. When making various items from it, due to the good flexibility and elasticity of the branches, it is possible not to pre-process the material.
The most popular vine products are baskets. The branches of grapes can vary in color - from brown to gray, and wild grapes, in addition, also have an interesting structure that gives products uniqueness and inimitability.
