🌸 Grapes — Soil, Climate,

This lesson introduces grape cultivation with focus on soil-climate adaptation, training systems, pruning, and crop regulation.

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WATER MANAGEMENT, INTERCULTURAL OPERATIONS

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Grapes : _ Vitis vinifera _ Vitaceae

Grape is a subtropical fruit but adapted to tropical conditions. It is a vine spreading on a

support, native of Armenia, a district near the caspiansea in Russia. It was introduced into India

by the in values of Iran and Afghanistan. It is one of the most delicious refreshing and nourishing

fruits. Fifty percent of the total production of fruits in the world is contributed by grapes.

Cultivation of grapes is called Viticulture. There are about 10,000 varieties in the world.

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Climate and soil requirement

It is a fruit of semi arid subtropical regions requiring warm dry summer and a cool rainy

winter. During winter the grapes shed off their leaves and take rest. During spring they put forth

new leaves and flowers. The fruits mature during summer when there is no rains. A long, warm

to hot dry summer is needed for proper maturity and ripening. Grapes do not thrive in the region

of humid summer as it causes fungal diseases. The distribution of rains in more important than

the total amount of rainfall.

In North India heavy rains during July – September hence low production. The plant

takes rest during winter since the winter is very severe and put forth new growth in summer.

When the crop reach as ripening stage during june there is heavy rain resulting in poor

production.

In Western India grapes do not takes rest because of warm winter. Hence the grape put

forth new growth twice a year. In Bombay – Deccan region and in Hyderabad the crop produced

by the new lush in April maturing during rainy season (July –August) has lower market value

due to less sugar content.

The climate in South India such as Bangalore in Karnataka, Dharmapuri and Madurai

districts of Tamil Nadu is slightly humid and tropical. Here the maximum temperature goes upto

35°C and the minimum temperature does not fall below 12°C due to warm winter condition there

is practically no rest period. Almost rainless period during November – June favours heavy as

well as sweet crop. Here the vines are pruned twice. Early December pruning yields a sweet

crop during April and summer pruning (May) yields a slightly sour crop during September. The

climatic conditions are favourable is parts of Tamil Nadu so that 5 crops are taken in 2 years by

staggered pruning techniques.

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Soil

Well – drained rich loamy soil with pH of 6.5-7.0. Soil depth should be almost

1 m.

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Propagation

Propagated by hard wood cuttings prepared from matured canes (one year old shoot) of

healthy, moderately vigorous, virus tree vines. Cuttings of 25-30 cm length are prepared by

making the lower cut just below a bud and upper cut slightly above the bud. Cuttings should be

tied and stored in moist sand for a month for callusing. The callused cuttings start well in the

nursery. While planting only one bud in left above the ground level and remaining portion

buried in soil. At the end of winter the sprouted and rooted cuttings can be lifted and planted in

the main yield. Grafting and budding is practiced with a particular root stock for specific

requirement.

a. Phylloxera resistant root stock

Vitis riparia, V. rupestris

b. Nematode resistant root stock

Dogridge, Salt creek

c. Saline tolerant : Solanis, 1616

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Preparation of main field and planting

Trenched of 0.6 m width and 0.6 m depth are dug at a distance of 3 m apart for Muscat.

Other varieties 1 m [3] pits are drug. Well decomposed FYM or compost or green leaf manure has

to be applied in the trenches or pit and then covered with soil. The rooted cuttings are planted

during June – July.

Spacing: 3 x 2 m for Muscat

4 x 3 m for other Varieties

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Irrigation

Immediately after planting 3 [rd] day and once in a week. Irrigation with held 15 days before

pruning and also 15 days before harvest.

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Manuring and fertilizer (kg per vine)

Variety	FYM	Col3	Col4	Green leaves	Col6	Col7	N	Col9	Col10	P	Col12	Col13	K	Col15	Col16
Variety	I	II	III	I	II	III	I	II	III	I	II	III	I	II	III
Muscat	50	50	100	50	50	100	0.10	0.20	0.20	0.08	0.16	0.16	0.30	0.4	0.60
Thom -pron seedless	50	50	100	50	50	100	0.20	0.30	0.40	0.08	0.16	0.24	0.40	0.80	0.120

The manures should be applied twice after pruning. Apply half the dose of K

immediately after pruning and the other half after 60 days of pruning. Foliary spray of 0.1%

boric acid + 0.2 % ZnSO4 + 1.0% urea twice before flowering and 10 days after first spray to

overcome nutrient deficiency.

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Special practices

Tipping of shoots and tying of clusters in the pandal after the fruit set. Remove tendrils.

Nipping the growing shoots of axillary buds and terminal buds at 12 to 15 buds. Thinning the

compact bunches by removing 20% of the berries at pea stage.

The clusters are dipped in a solution containing Brassinosteriod 0.5 ppm and GA3 25 ppm

at 10-12 days after fruit set to maintain vigour, yield and quality parameters.

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Summary Cheat Sheet

Topic	Key Point
Crop adaptation	Grapes are subtropical but can be managed successfully in tropical regions.
Vineyard setup	Rootstock, spacing, and support systems are core design decisions.
Training-pruning	Canopy architecture and pruning schedules determine bearing behavior.
Water-nutrient care	Stage-specific irrigation and fertilizer scheduling drive yield and berry quality.
Quality improvement	Targeted growth regulator use supports bunch quality under management protocols.

References

2 sources • [1] [2]

[1]

Class notes: HORT 181 - Grape soil, climate, and vineyard practices

[2]

Grape growth-regulator and quality management guidance (as cited in lesson text)