How do you maintain a vine stock? The steps to follow.
A vine has a lifespan of around thirty years. But to ensure its longevity, a certain number of operations need to be carried out throughout its life, while respecting its needs. At Actisol, we offer solutions in line with the principles of sustainable agriculture.
Find out below about the steps you need to take to look after your vines.
1 – Planting the vine: the basics.
In addition to the administrative requirements for obtaining authorisation to plant vines and the specifications specific to each grower, a number of factors need to be observed and applied in order to provide the best conditions for successful planting.
Study andpreparation of the plot
Each plot has its own characteristics. It is therefore essential to study them in order to choose the plants that are best suited to them. The results of these analyses will also help guide soil preparation and crop management.
Here are the things to look out for:
- Location: the geographical exposure and location of the plot provide important information on the next point.
- The climate: sunshine, rainfall and temperature affect the growth of the vine, the ripening of the grapes and the quality of the wine. The choice of grape variety will therefore depend on these initial factors.
- Soil type: a soil profile and physico-chemical analysis are essential to determine the condition of the soil and correct any factors that could cause problems for the next crop. (This will also guide the choice of variety according to soil type (clay, limestone, etc.).
- Previous crops: if the chosen plot has already been cultivated as a vineyard or orchard, you need to be aware of the risks of disease (short-nuke and rot). A rest period of 3 to 7 years should be observed for soil with a history of cases. Working the soil between 40 and 60 cm to extract the previous roots is strongly recommended to avoid any new infestation. A resting period of at least one year should be applied in the case of healthy soil. In addition, sowing plant cover during this period will help to aerate the horizons and encourage macro- and micro-fauna to return the soil to full health.
Working the soil beforehand is vital for successful root development. Loose, but firm and dry soil is ideal. A working depth of 30 cm is sufficient. Teeth tools are preferable, so as not to mix horizons and retain organic matter and soil life without creating a footing.
On sloping plots, the direction of work is crucial. If there is a risk of excess water, work should follow the slope. On the other hand, if there is a risk of aridity, it is better to work at right angles to the slope to balance run-off.
If necessary, this will be an ideal opportunity to install the appropriate irrigation system. Finally, if necessary, a final pass with a disc tool can be made over the first 15 centimetres.
Plantation
The vines are planted between February and June, depending on the region and climate. The density per hectare, pruning and trellising are governed by the production objectives of each grower (costs, mechanisation, etc.). However, there may be a decree in force for certain appellations. Generally, plants are spaced 1 m to 1.20 m apart.
Before starting to plant the vines, it is important for sloping plots to determine which row orientation will be most suitable. Depending on the degree of slope, it may be preferable to plant in the same direction, in a helix or on a terrace. The amount of sunlight should also be taken into account, so that the future vines catch the sun’s rays as effectively as possible.
Planting is carried out either manually or mechanically in well-drained soil. The mechanised method favours precision and saves time (GPS, automatic watering, planting of marker stakes, etc.). If the plants are more than 5 cm long, recutting the roots before planting will enable them to be positioned more easily in the soil.
The graft bead should be 3-4 cm above the soil. It is essential to ensure good root/soil contact to avoid creating air pockets. Watering the roots and compacting the soil will help the plants to take root. (Without excess)
Regular monitoring of the recovery of the plants will be essential over the following months. Protecting them against pests and replacing missing plants as soon as possible to ensure a uniform vine is essential.
2 – Pruning the vine cep : the fundamental stage
Depending on the region and climate, vines are pruned between November and March. Pruning can begin when the vine has lost its leaves and gone into dormancy.
1 to 3 years old
Pruning a 1st year plant is simple. Select the strongest, healthiest shoot on the plant. Then prune it back to 2 or 3 eyes long. There is a certain logic to this quantitative choice. Leaving more buds would weaken the plant unnecessarily. On the other hand, leaving fewer can be dangerous (mortality, risk of pests, etc.). The other shoots can be removed to allow the remaining one to develop more quickly.
An important stage not to be neglected during this first pruning is the ‘weaning’ stage. All you have to do is dig around the collar to free it from the soil to a depth of 8 to 10 cm. This action prevents the young vine from developing rootlets on the rootstock that could be pulled up during future tillage (leading to disease and weakening of the vine), but also allows the vine cep to develop deeper roots to capture nutrients and water. During this stage, if roots appear, pruning is carried out.
Pruning 2-year-old vines is similar to the previous method. The choice of the remaining shoot will be decisive, as it will become the definitive vine cep. Once chosen, it should be pruned to a height of around 60cm. Management of the remaining buds is then essential. As each bud that is left gives rise to a new shoot, it is important not to keep all of them (in the case of those at the bottom of the vine). They will tend to weaken the vine.
In the first few years, the grapes should be removed from the vines at the earliest possible stage to encourage root development and shoot growth.
On a 3-year-old vine, the operation of choosing the wood, known as the ‘baguette’, will be repeated with the aim of producing grapes for the first time. 7 to 10 eyes will be kept on this baguette. However, one or two ‘spurs’ will also have to be saved. These are shoots pruned to 2 or 3 eyes which will give new shoots and ensure production the following year.
Adult vines
There are many different pruning methods, depending on the geographical location of the grape variety, the climate, the age of the vine, the expected yield… Basically, there are two main types of pruning: long and short. Within each of these types, there are several different methods.
- “Gobelet” pruning : short pruning in Mediterranean regions which protects the vines from the wind. 4 to 5 branches are preserved on the vine. A spur on each of 3 to 4 buds. The vegetation protects the grapes from the sun. There are several types of goblet pruning depending on the production region.
- “Guyot” pruning: one or two canes of 5 to 12 fruit-bearing buds are kept. This practice is most common in the Alsace, Burgundy and Bordeaux regions. It focuses on grape quality rather than quantity.
- “Cordon de Royat” pruning : short or long pruning. 1 to 2 branches are kept, each containing 3 to 4 spurs with 2 buds.
Other methods also exist. You will need to study each of them to adapt it to your needs.
And trellising ?
This stage is generally carried out in the spring when the vines begin to wake up, to guide the shoots, increase profitability and prevent disease by avoiding overlapping vegetation. It is carried out the year after the vine cep are planted in order to obtain a straight layout and ensure that the shoots are evenly distributed.
To do this, head stakes are installed at the end of the row and angled outwards. Their purpose will be to support the entire row with the addition of mooring ropes in the ground. Other straight stakes are planted all along the row before the first low wire is pulled through to roll the rods. Two other, higher wires on either side of the stakes will keep the vegetation in place. Finally, a last wire will be laid even higher so that the vines can cling to it.
The vines will be guided on this installation throughout their life by the winegrower, enabling them to work safely and mechanically under the vine cep.
3 – Working the soil around the vine: the Actisol touch
Limiting the use of chemicals in wine production has led to the development of more environmentally-friendly approaches, particularly mechanical tillage. Soil is a living environment, not just a support. As long as it is well cared for, and as long as we understand how it works and what it needs, it will be one of the direct components of the quality of agricultural production.
Working the soil in winegrowing involves a wide range of applications: weeding, aeration, decompaction or even burying green manures. It prevents weeds or cover crops from competing with the vines, while promoting soil life.
Actisol has a full range of accessories and equipment. From the Vitea cracker to the mechanical between vine tool, there’s a solution for every job thanks to the Actisol range.
4 – Protecting vine cep against disease: looking after your vines
Unfortunately, many diseases can lead to significant losses at planting, but also throughout the life of the vine.
The pressure of fungal diseases can be controlled upstream by a healthy environment. Fungi thrive in hot, humid weather. Managing a canopy in the row can reduce the risk of disease by lowering the humidity level.
Pruning vines in dry weather can also help. Injured vines are more susceptible to disease. Thinning out the leaves early to aerate the bunches of grapes is another preventive solution. Regular checks on the vines allow any infected parts to be removed at an early stage, thereby preventing the disease from spreading.
There are also many viral diseases. Transmitted by the insects around them, it is sometimes difficult to get rid of them. “Botrytis”, “flavescence dorée”… Here again, there are preventive treatments available. Keeping your plots clean, eliminating any regrowth on resting land, getting rid of pruning waste and using certified vines are the basics. If, despite this, cases are identified, it is advisable to remove the infected vines and their deep root systems as soon as possible. After removal, it is important not to replant for several years (see paragraph 1 – Planting vines: the basics).
5 – Watering vines properly: irrigation, a key stage
Irrigation is crucial to good yields Controlling the amount of water used will help to produce a quality wine. At the same time, since vines are not greedy, you need to find the right balance.
Several systems exist. A preliminary study should be carried out to determine which is best suited to your plots.
Here are 2 examples:
- Drip irrigation: this is a system close to the ground that distributes water in small quantities. There are many advantages: no loss of water through run-off, low evaporation, reduced risk of disease, very limited erosion, good distribution of watering, etc. This system is really good for controlling water inputs. There are a few drawbacks, however, such as the time it takes to install, the risk of drip clogging if the water is not ‘clean’ enough, the risk of being ripped out during mechanical work, and maintenance, which can take longer. It remains, however, the most effective watering system.
- Furrow irrigation: this method involves applying water through furrows in the rows. Although this method is inexpensive and does not wet the foliage, it has a number of disadvantages: evaporation, uneven distribution, and destructuring of the first soil horizon to install the system.
Maintaining your vines with Actisol know-how
Vine maintenance involves numerous technical operations and requires constant attention. Actisol makes it a point of honour to help winegrowers deal with their problems, so that we can be their partner for their soil capital. Offering reliable, versatile and appropriate equipment has always been a primary objective. Listening to its customers, Actisol has been offering standard or specific solutions for over 50 years.
Discover our full range of viticulture equipment to help you in your day-to-day work.
