Harvesting grapes in your own garden, who wouldn't want to do that? A fundamental prerequisite for vital vines is a well-balanced water balance. We'll tell you when and how to water grape vines correctly.
To the point
- several factors influence casting behavior
- Location, climate and age decide
- Young plants are particularly thirsty
- older plants are more drought tolerant
- Higher water requirements for potted specimens
Table of contents
- Timing, quantity, frequency
- Water requirements throughout the year
- Watering grape vines: instructions
- In the first year
- From the second year
- Vines in a bucket
- frequently asked Questions
Timing, quantity, frequency
The first time vines are planted directly after the planting and watered thoroughly six weeks afterwards. One calculates roughly ten liters per plant per week. After six weeks, the amount of watering can be reduced to about half, provided the temperatures are not too high with a high evaporation rate. From the second year onwards, grape vines are much more tolerant of short-term drought, so they hardly need to be watered and the normal amounts of rain are usually sufficient.
Tip: Daily watering is not recommended because then the vine would only spread its roots just below the surface of the soil and not anchor them deeper in the ground.
Water requirements throughout the year
There are a lot of things you can do wrong when watering grape vines, because the amount of water absorbed can also influence the quality of the fruit, especially its acid-sugar content. The need varies depending on the development phase of the vine.
- Requirements high during budding
- winter moisture in the ground is usually still sufficient
- Add additional water on sandy soils and in dry regions
- from flower to fruit set Risk of drought stress high
- Water more frequently as it matures
- avoid excessive watering
- can affect ripening
Tip: In addition to the age of the vines and the variety, watering behavior is also influenced by the location, soil conditions, development stage and annual rainfall.
Watering grape vines: instructions
Below we have put together the most important practical tips and tricks for watering wine for you. This is how you always water grape vines correctly.
In the first year
Vines are thirstier the younger they are. During the growth phase, the water requirement is particularly high because now the plant has to develop a strong root system, for which it needs sufficient water. As a result, water should be generously watered immediately after planting and every two to three days for the following six weeks, even in light drizzle. If the vines are on light and sandy soils, they need to be watered more frequently. On heavy substrates, watering is usually limited to the year of planting.
Tip: Correct watering behavior in the first year should encourage the vine to drive its roots deep into the ground, so that they draw water from deeper layers of soil during long periods of heat and drought can.
From the second year
From the second year onwards, the water requirement decreases. After approx. After two years, the vine has usually grown well so that it hardly needs any additional watering. How to properly water older grape vines:
- From the age of four to five years, no additional watering is required
- can now survive longer dry phases
- Moisture in the upper soil layers is no longer crucial.
- Roots up to ten meters deep in the ground
- Vine can supply itself with water
- natural rainfall amounts are completely sufficient
A notice: If you water additionally now, the soil would be permanently moist, which grape vines don't like at all. Over time, they learn to manage the available water reserves and thus get by with the natural amounts of rain.
Vines in a bucket
Grape vines in a bucket Naturally, they need more water because the soil dries out much more quickly. Consequently, regular watering is recommended, especially if the bucket is under an eaves or generally covered so that rainwater is kept out as much as possible. Watering regularly doesn't automatically mean watering a lot, because the vine doesn't like waterlogging, even in the pot.
Tip: Rainwater is best for watering, but also Pond water is possible. Tap water should be well stale.
frequently asked Questions
If a grape vine feels completely comfortable in its location, you can usually harvest fruit for the first time from the third, and sometimes even the second, year onwards. A vine produces plenty of fruit for up to 20 years.
Grape vines are fast-growing climbers and can grow by 100 and 200 cm per year. Without annual pruning They can easily climb up to 10 m in height.
Drought stress occurs when the plant suffers from a lack of water. Growth is reduced and the more drought stress occurs, the smaller and more intensely colored the fruits are. This is particularly dangerous in the period from flowering to fruit setting.