Q. I have two grape vines, one white and one red. When
and how should I fertilize these grape plants?
and how should I fertilize these grape plants?
A. All grapes whether they are red, white or black are
fertilized a couple of weeks before new growth begins. Your visual key to apply
fertilizer is the swelling of buds for new growth. This gets the fertilizer in
place and ready to be pulled into the plant by the plant roots when the plant
is ready to grow. If you haven’t already done it, fertilize it now.
fertilized a couple of weeks before new growth begins. Your visual key to apply
fertilizer is the swelling of buds for new growth. This gets the fertilizer in
place and ready to be pulled into the plant by the plant roots when the plant
is ready to grow. If you haven’t already done it, fertilize it now.
 |
| This is a wine grape just showing new growth in mid spring, about the first or second week of March in the Las Vegas Valley. It is not too late to apply fertilizer…if it needs it. |
The
fertilizer, whether you are using conventional granular, compost or organic types
like fish emulsion should be in contact with wet soil after it is applied. This
means if your fertilizer is “fluffy”, like compost, any surface mulch is raked back,
and the compost applied to the soil surface where the soil will get wet. Then rake
the woodchips back and cover the soil again. Granular or liquid fertilizers
like fish emulsion may be applied to the surface of mulch and washed through it to the irrigated
area of the soil using a hose. Granular or liquid fertilizers are a little
easier to apply than compost.
fertilizer, whether you are using conventional granular, compost or organic types
like fish emulsion should be in contact with wet soil after it is applied. This
means if your fertilizer is “fluffy”, like compost, any surface mulch is raked back,
and the compost applied to the soil surface where the soil will get wet. Then rake
the woodchips back and cover the soil again. Granular or liquid fertilizers
like fish emulsion may be applied to the surface of mulch and washed through it to the irrigated
area of the soil using a hose. Granular or liquid fertilizers are a little
easier to apply than compost.
Granular
fertilizers used for established lawns work well on young vines if the soil is
covered with woodchips. Fertilizers used for tomatoes or roses work well on
mature vines. If you planted your grapevine with a good quality compost mixed
in the backfill you may not need any fertilizer the first two or three years.
Look at the grapevine and judge for yourself. If it had strong growth last year
then apply a half application of fertilizer. If the vine is weak and not
growing well, apply a full amount of fertilizer.
fertilizers used for established lawns work well on young vines if the soil is
covered with woodchips. Fertilizers used for tomatoes or roses work well on
mature vines. If you planted your grapevine with a good quality compost mixed
in the backfill you may not need any fertilizer the first two or three years.
Look at the grapevine and judge for yourself. If it had strong growth last year
then apply a half application of fertilizer. If the vine is weak and not
growing well, apply a full amount of fertilizer.
 |
| Grapes perform much better with a surface layer of woodchip mulch applied to the soil surface in the desert. |
Grapes
don’t grow well when surrounded by rock. Your grapes will perform better with
less stress. In our desert soils, grapes prefer soil covered with woodchips. If
your grapes are surrounded by rock, I would strongly encourage you to rake it
back, spread an inch of compost on the soil surface and cover the soil, at
least six feet in diameter around the vine, with 4 inches of woodchips. Grapes
struggle enough in our hot deserts without adding the extra stress from surface
rock.
don’t grow well when surrounded by rock. Your grapes will perform better with
less stress. In our desert soils, grapes prefer soil covered with woodchips. If
your grapes are surrounded by rock, I would strongly encourage you to rake it
back, spread an inch of compost on the soil surface and cover the soil, at
least six feet in diameter around the vine, with 4 inches of woodchips. Grapes
struggle enough in our hot deserts without adding the extra stress from surface
rock.
Apply
fertilizers about 18 inches from the trunk or main stem of established vines so
they don’t do any damage.