Preservation of cuttings is a very responsible and difficult task not only for young gardeners, but also for experienced ones. After all, the future harvest depends on the correct harvesting and storage of grape branches. What rules must be followed to make the seedlings survive the winter?
Preparation of cuttings
Cuttings are demanding for careful handling. The quality of the workpiece directly affects their safety in the winter. Late autumn is considered the best time to cut the vine. The main thing is to be in time before the onset of frost in December.
It is important to choose the right branches. For this purpose, the fruit vine is best suited. She will tolerate storage better and give good kidneys. The thickness of the branch should be from 5 to 8 mm. But a thicker one will do. The main thing is that the core of the plant is not loose.
You should choose a vine without any damage. It should be cut at a distance of 2-3 cm from the internode. It is recommended to cut branches, the length of which varies from 70 to 140 cm. Such blanks are better stored.
Preparing for storage
Key factorsuccessful conservation of vine branches is the water content. After all, during storage, they gradually lose moisture, which reduces the chances of further use. Therefore, it is advisable to prepare the vine immediately after the cut.
Before laying branches, they must be treated with a 3% solution of copper sulfate. This will help prevent mold and fungal diseases. After the procedure, the branches must be dried well to exclude the possibility of decay.
Methods of storage
There are several effective ways to keep grape branches in the cellar. The goal of each of them is to keep the seedlings moist.
The first one is quite simple and suitable for storing a small number of cuttings. After cutting the branches, they should be wrapped in a damp cloth made of natural material. The workpiece must be wrapped in a plastic bag with several holes for ventilation. About once a month they should be inspected for mold.
The second option helps to save a large number of vines. For its implementation, it is necessary to dig a hole 0.5 m deep, on the bottom of which a layer of sand is poured. The connected branches are placed in a trench and sprinkled with wet sand. The thickness of the layer should be approximately 7 cm, and on top another 25 cm of earth.
The latter method is also quite popular. Before laying in the cellar, future seedlings are placed in bags filled with wet sawdust. This allows you to reduce the consumption of carbohydrates and keep the branches of the grapes moist.
