The first question that any prospective grower needs to ask himself before he chooses a crop to grow is; “can grapes grow successfully in my locality?”
In my previous post, titled growing grapes in Kenya, I tackled the issue of appropriate environmental requirements for grape growing.
In this post, I will discuss
To establish a grape orchard, you need the right planting material. Grapes happen to be propagated vegetatively; this means, parts of the plant are cut, rooted and used to generate other plants. The most common method used in the vegetative production of grapes is stem cuttings.
If you are growing grapes for the first time you can obtain the cuttings from other grape farmers in Kenya or the Kenya Agricultural research institute (KARI). But if you already grow some grape vines in your farm in Kenya all you need to expand your farm is the vegetative propagation of the vines.
Other grape vegetative propagation methods include; layering, budding, grafting and tissue culture.
Layering is used in cultivars that are difficult to root while budding is used to rejuvenate old vines
On the other hand, grafting is done on rootstocks resistant to the grape louse, nematodes and other soil conditions like drought and low PH.
When you need clean planting materials in large quantities such that it is impossible sufficient grape stem cuttings, Tissue culture becomes handy.
Grapes can also be grown from seeds; this method is mainly use by plant breeders to grow grapes with the intention of creating new varieties or improving the existing ones.
Hormone treated cuttings are then stuck in a nursery to root and develop leaves. After rooting and leafing takes place, they are ready for transplanting to the main farm.
The top soil is mixed with 120 grams DSP and put back into each trench. The soil is then irrigated thoroughly and excess water is allowed to drain out before the cuttings are stuck in the trenches.
Spacing of 15 cm apart should is observed the trench is filled leaving the top buds of each cutting exposed.
Sprouting will occur after 4 weeks, afterwards top dress using CAN to promote vegetative growth.
The cuttings should be left to grow for one year after which they will be ready for transplanting to the main field. The best time is between, August to October, so as to reduce transplanting shock.
If the cuttings are directly stuck in the field, the same procedure used in the nursery should be followed, but the spacing in the field should be the recommended spacing.
Holes should be at least 60 cm deep; each hole should receive 120 grams of DSP fertilizer, soil mixed with it, followed by irrigation.
The whole cutting should be covered with soil; one bud should be left projecting above the soil. The soil around the cutting or transplant should be firmed and irrigated weekly.
Shoots that sprout through soil are the best; those that are vigorous should be allowed to grow and trained towards a trellis.
There are other methods of trellising; they include Veranda, Double veranda and Table trellis. Training is determined more by trellis system than by the rootstock.
Spacing of vines is usually about 2 to 2.5 Meters intra row spacing and 3 Meters inter row spacing. The combination of training and pruning gives the vines the shape for bearing fruits.
The shape should maximize the number of bearing canes and their exposure to the sun, as this improves the quantity and quality of grapes respectively. On the other hand, disease control is easier.
One year after planting, vines, go dormant. When environmental conditions improve, the main shoot starts growing. When it reaches the top wire of the trellis it is pinched to encourage branching.
New shoots emerge from the pinched point. If you are using a T-trellis select only 2 shoots. Train them to follow the wire in opposite directions.
Laterals that grow from the trained shoots are allowed to hang below the wires. They should also be pinched to discontinue excessive growth once they have grown sufficiently.
Pinching of grapes is important as it conserves nutrients, removes apical dominance, prevents the growth of small berries at the top of the vines and encourages good bud break and berry development.
If they don’t go dormant naturally, all leaves must be stripped of from the vine to allow them to go dormant forcefully.
A Powdery mildew attack or withholding irrigation can promote defoliation.
In my previous post, titled growing grapes in Kenya, I tackled the issue of appropriate environmental requirements for grape growing.
In this post, I will discuss
How to Establish a Grape Orchard.
If you are growing grapes for the first time you can obtain the cuttings from other grape farmers in Kenya or the Kenya Agricultural research institute (KARI). But if you already grow some grape vines in your farm in Kenya all you need to expand your farm is the vegetative propagation of the vines.
Other grape vegetative propagation methods include; layering, budding, grafting and tissue culture.
Layering is used in cultivars that are difficult to root while budding is used to rejuvenate old vines
On the other hand, grafting is done on rootstocks resistant to the grape louse, nematodes and other soil conditions like drought and low PH.
When you need clean planting materials in large quantities such that it is impossible sufficient grape stem cuttings, Tissue culture becomes handy.
Grapes can also be grown from seeds; this method is mainly use by plant breeders to grow grapes with the intention of creating new varieties or improving the existing ones.
How To Obtain Suitable Grape Cuttings For Propagation.
The best time to get cuttings from grapes for propagation is when the plant is dormant. You harvest cuttings from the dormant annual fruiting vines or canes. Hardwood cuttings of 30 cm long, each with 3-4 buds are selected from the mother-plant and treated with a rooting hormone.Hormone treated cuttings are then stuck in a nursery to root and develop leaves. After rooting and leafing takes place, they are ready for transplanting to the main farm.
Planting Grapes
The Land is ploughed thoroughly and deeply to a fine tilth. Trenches measuring 30 cm deep by 20 cm wide and 1.5 M long are prepared for insertion of the cuttings.The top soil is mixed with 120 grams DSP and put back into each trench. The soil is then irrigated thoroughly and excess water is allowed to drain out before the cuttings are stuck in the trenches.
Spacing of 15 cm apart should is observed the trench is filled leaving the top buds of each cutting exposed.
Sprouting will occur after 4 weeks, afterwards top dress using CAN to promote vegetative growth.
The cuttings should be left to grow for one year after which they will be ready for transplanting to the main field. The best time is between, August to October, so as to reduce transplanting shock.
If the cuttings are directly stuck in the field, the same procedure used in the nursery should be followed, but the spacing in the field should be the recommended spacing.
Holes should be at least 60 cm deep; each hole should receive 120 grams of DSP fertilizer, soil mixed with it, followed by irrigation.
The whole cutting should be covered with soil; one bud should be left projecting above the soil. The soil around the cutting or transplant should be firmed and irrigated weekly.
Shoots that sprout through soil are the best; those that are vigorous should be allowed to grow and trained towards a trellis.
Training And Pruning Of Grape Vines
Before grapes are planted a trellis system should be set up. The most suitable trellis is the T trellis as it is easy to construct and maintain.There are other methods of trellising; they include Veranda, Double veranda and Table trellis. Training is determined more by trellis system than by the rootstock.
Spacing of vines is usually about 2 to 2.5 Meters intra row spacing and 3 Meters inter row spacing. The combination of training and pruning gives the vines the shape for bearing fruits.
The shape should maximize the number of bearing canes and their exposure to the sun, as this improves the quantity and quality of grapes respectively. On the other hand, disease control is easier.
One year after planting, vines, go dormant. When environmental conditions improve, the main shoot starts growing. When it reaches the top wire of the trellis it is pinched to encourage branching.
New shoots emerge from the pinched point. If you are using a T-trellis select only 2 shoots. Train them to follow the wire in opposite directions.
Laterals that grow from the trained shoots are allowed to hang below the wires. They should also be pinched to discontinue excessive growth once they have grown sufficiently.
Pinching of grapes is important as it conserves nutrients, removes apical dominance, prevents the growth of small berries at the top of the vines and encourages good bud break and berry development.
Harvesting, Handling And After Care Of The Vines
Ripe berries are cut off from the laterals during harvesting. After harvesting, grape vines go dormant.If they don’t go dormant naturally, all leaves must be stripped of from the vine to allow them to go dormant forcefully.
A Powdery mildew attack or withholding irrigation can promote defoliation.
Kindly call me or email if there is anyone with seedlings. Email:eliteschool@gmail.com or Tel 0721700544
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