Grapes are a very demanding crop, only with proper care will it develop and bear fruit. One of the main points of care is the formation of the bush. They begin to do it already in the first year of plant growth. For those varieties that require shelter in the winter, a multi-arm fan formation would be an excellent option. Thanks to this, the shrub will be well ventilated and illuminated.
Fan pruning of grapes provides for the creation of short sleeves, due to which the vine can be easily removed from the trellis and covered in winter. In addition, with this form of removing unnecessary vines, the plant is constantly rejuvenated and as a result bears fruit well. The bush can have two or more arms, the base of which is located directly in the soil. It is here that dormant buds are located, which are ready to awaken at any time if the bush is damaged. Fan-shaped grapes are suitable for teapots, that is, for beginners in viticulture.
Formations of grapes
Many will be interested in the question: "Why do we need to form a vineyard?" If we consider this issue from one side, then, of course, nature, creating a certain type of vegetation, takes care of its formation and fruiting. But this only applies to those plants that grow independently in the wild. After all, such vineyards grow only in warm climates.
Forming grapes
Thanks to the efforts of breeders, the shrub has evolved, and now it feels good in the middle zone of the country of Russia. In the process of creating varietal vines, experts have also achieved an increase in the size of the berry itself. Its taste has improved over time. In addition, each grower tries to get a good harvest in small areas of his garden or dacha. And, given the peculiarities of the climate in the northern regions of Russia, where they began to grow this plant, he definitely needs shelter.
Therefore, in order to achieve high fruiting, and in winter to be able to shelter the plant from frost, you need to prune the vines and form the crown.
There are several types of shrub pruning, among which the following should be noted.
The fan-shaped shrub is the most popular among gardeners and winegrowers. It is very practical and handy for varieties that need shelter. The advantages of such a formation include the compact appearance of the bush, ease of pruning and convenience when sheltering the culture from frost.
In the case when the fan formation of a grape bush is used, its scheme consists of several pruning methods, which differ from each other in the number of sleeves. But the technology remains the same. When formed in this way, there must be a fetal link on each sleeve. And the sleeves come out from the center of the bush. The shape of the crop is visually similar to a fan. For this reason, they called it fan-shaped, although the shape also resembles a loop.
The cordon form is not inferior in popularity to the previous form of formation. This method is also called the Guyot grape shaping. There are also many ways to create a compact crown, the difference between which can be called the number of shoulders, sleeves, as well as the way the fruit link is located.
All types of cordons are cut equally, but there is a vertical cordon and a horizontal one. For those varieties that need to be covered, an exclusively horizontal pruning form is used.
The main feature of this method is that there is a one-armed cordon of grapes or two-armed, and one or more sleeves are located on it. The advantage of this formation is the presence of a large amount of perennial wood, thanks to which a strong fruiting bush can be formed.
Arched trimming method
The arched pruning method allows you to grow a bush that will cover a high support. It can be a roof or a visor. The essence of this method is to form a shrub in an upright position. The arched method of forming is another type of cordon. Only it was adapted for the use of arbors or trellises in the form of an arch. This formation is used only in those places where the grapes do not require shelter for the winter. Its purpose is to hide a small area from direct sunlight: a gazebo or a canopy. This method is the most difficult in both pruning and crop care.
An unsupported standard shaping is the formation of a high trunk, called a stem, on which perennial sleeves are formed. Young shoots grow in a circle of the plant in a free state and bear fruit perfectly. The advantages of a standard vine bush are that you do not need to worry about garters, trellises or other supports. This type of formation is used only for frost-resistant grape varieties that do not need shelter.
The sleeveless form of the capitate is similar in appearance to the fan, but there are no perennial sleeves. In this case, several vines are left during pruning, on which up to eighteen buds and several knots with four buds are placed. They are all located on the basis of a bush and on last year's horns, which last year served as a fruit vine.
Every year, vines that have already borne fruit are pruned, replacements are made with new arcs and knots. Thanks to this method, the bush during the period of shelter occupies a completely small area and remains compact.
How to choose a shaping for a beginner
A novice winegrower should immediately decide on the method of forming, as well as covering the culture. If frost-resistant varieties grow in the vineyard, then they do not need to be covered. When planting a plant, you need to take into account the distance between the bushes themselves and between the rows. If these parameters are large, then the vineyard will be powerful and yield a large harvest.
If a novice wine grower lives in the northern regions of Russia, then he needs to use only one of the proven methods by experienced wine growers:
- horizontal cordon;
- fan;
- sleeveless head-type form.
Formation - horizontal cordon
If the territory allows you to make a distance between the bushes of three meters, then you can use a cordon trimming or six-arm fancordon. At a distance of two to two and a half meters, a fan-shaped four-arm grape formation is used. When the bushes are planted at a distance of one and a half meters from each other, then only a two-arm fan or a stemless sleeveless capitate method is suitable here.
When to do shaping
In order for the shrub to look compact, the first shaping must be done in the first year. Continue the process for three years. This must be done because at this time the vines are still young and flexible, they can adapt to any conditions. Pruning for varieties that cannot be sheltered will be much more effective if done in early spring, even before the buds open.
The grapes that need to be covered are pruned twice a year: in spring and autumn. But before proceeding with the formation, you need to study all the information about the variety and its features.
In order to make the formation of grapes, you need to use the following tools:
- Trellis - it will serve as a support for the vine;
- Pruner. With its help, the trimming process will be carried out.
Tapestries are of several types, they are used, depending on the type of trim:
- One-plane is made of two pillars and a wire stretched between them. This is the simplest type of trellis, but the plant feels comfortable on it, receives a sufficient amount of light and space.
- Two-plane. Thanks to such trellises, the plant has the ability to grow and develop simultaneously in two planes. This type is also divided into parallel, V-shaped and Y-shaped.
Having made a choice, the gardener can start working on the formation of the grape bush.
It is very simple to form a crown of grapes, the main thing is to have certain skills. Beginners need to listen to the advice of experienced professionals, listen to their explanations, or study a manual on growing grapes.
