Grapes

Recommended varieties:

Barani Agriculture Research Institute Chakwal has more than 30 grape varieties. This region is very suitable for grape cultivation, but the monsoon rains are harmful. Therefore, in this region, only those varieties should be cultivated which are ready to ripen before monsoon. The following varieties are recommended for cultivation. King Rubi, Sultaninasi, Vitro black, Thomas seedless, Flame seedless, Pearlt.

Soil:-

Grapes can be grown in almost any type of soil, but average fertility, sandy loam and adequate amount of organic matter are suitable for successful cultivation. The pH of the soil should be 6.5-7.5 which is ideal for cultivation of grapes.

Propagation:

Grapes are propagated by cuttings.

Plantation Time:

Grape vines are planted twice a year, bare roots plant transplanted between January and February, while plastic bag plant can be planted from 15 January to 15 April and thereafter in August when the weather intensity reduced or during the monsoon. After planting, cut the overgrown branches and apply irrigation immediately. Plants should be healthy.

Preparation of cuttings:

Cuttings should always be obtained from branches that are at least one year old and free from all kinds of diseases - the color of the bark of the cuttings should be light brown and the color of the inner bark should be green. Cuttings that are taken from the middle branches produce more roots.  The length of the cuttings should be 8 to 10 and a half inches and each cutting should have at least three buds. while taking cutting, the lower part should be cut near the bud and the top should be cut one inch above, while the lower part of the cutting should be cut round while the upper part should be slanting cut.

Excavation and filling of pits:-

1.5x1.5 feet pits should be dug two months before plantation. Leave the pits open for about three weeks so that the insects and diseases in the soil die from the sun. Place separately upper 1 foot soil layer and while filling the pits, mix one part decomposed farm manure and one part of sweet soil so that it remains about 4 inches above the ground. Later apply two irrigations, at 4-5 hours interval so that the level of the pits is equal to the field surface. If fertilizer is not available, fill the pits with the top 6 inches of the soil of the field. Grape plants may be attacked by termites in the beginning, so add 10 ml of Chlorpyrifos per pit dissolved in 3 liters of water. The manure should be completely decomposed otherwise there will be termite attack.

Layout of plants:

Before plantation, level the land well so that irrigation is not affected during hot and dry weather. Keep the distance between plants 6 feet and rows 10 feet, so that about 700 plants can be planted in one acre.  Place directions of rows of plants north to south because grape plants need more sun, the more sun they get, the better the fruit production.

A grape plant is like a vine. If the vines are left on the ground, they will be more susceptible to insects and diseases, Because fruit is rotten due to unavailability of proper sunlight, air circulation to the vines. It is necessary to maintain vertical alignment of vines for good production and fruit quality. For this purpose, 8 feet high concrete pillars are placed in the field and the distance between the pillars is kept 18 feet. While making the pillar, make sure that the pillar is pressed into the ground upto 2 feet. Two wires are tied parallel to the ground along the rows of pillars, the first wire is placed 3.6 feet from the ground and the second at 5.6 feet.

Pruning.

Grape plants require more pruning than other plants. This provides adequate light to the leaves and fruit and improves the quality of the fruit. Grapes bear fruit on branches emerging from one year old spurs, so branches older than one year should be pruned. Pruning should always be done in January.

1. Downy Mildew:

It is also called downy mildew and its symptoms are brown spots on the leaves and dry leaves without white powdry patches. In heat and humidity, this disease spreads very quickly and causes severe damage to the grape vines.

Control:

• Spray thiophenate at the rate of 2.5 grams per liter.

• Collect and burn all fallen leaves.

1. Downy mildew:

In the case of attack of this disease, white powder can be seen on the leaves. In case of severe attack, the leaves start to turn yellow and fall, but the disease starts from the old leaves and spreads to the younger leaves. And in the case of a severe wave, it also spread on the fruit.

Control:

• Use Fenoconazole at 50 ml per 100 liters of water.

1. Anthracnose:

The cause of this disease is a fungus and, in this disease round brown spots appear on the leaves due to which the leaves start to dry and deteriorate and in case of severe attack the leaves and fruits fall.

Control:

• Use Difenoconazole at 30 ml per 100 liters of water.

1. Botrytis Bunch Rot:

It is a major disease of grape which attacks the leaves, flowers and fruit. In the severity of this disease, the flower clusters begin to fall, due to which a large contribution of the production is affected. If it is not controlled in time, it is also transferred to the fruit and not only spoils the taste of grapes but also affects the quality of the fruit, due to which there is no good rate in the market.

Control:

• Use copper chloride at 2 grams per liter of water.

1. Thrips:

This insect sucks the sap from the lower surface of the leaves and weakens the leaves

Control:

• Add Acephate 3 g per liter of water and spray.

1. Mealybug:

This insect sucks the sap from the leaves of the vines, causing the leaves to weaken, dry up and die, resulting in substantial yield loss in severe infestations.

Control:

• Add Chlorpyrifos in 3 ml of water and spray.

1. Termites:

This insect causes irreparable damage to plants by attacking on the stem and roots of the plant and causing porous to it, due to which the plant dies within a few days.

Control:

• Apply 5 ml of Chlorpyrifos in 3 liters of water to the roots of the plant when termite attack appears.

1. Thrips:

This insect sucks the sap from the lower surface of the leaves and weakens the leaves.

Control:

• Add Acephate 3 g per liter of water and spray.

1. Mealybug:

This insect sucks the sap from the leaves of the vines, causing the leaves to weaken, dry up and die, resulting in substantial yield loss in severe infestations.

Control:

• Add Chlorpyrifos in 3 ml of water and spray.

1. Termites:

This insect causes irreparable damage to plants by attacking on the stem and roots of the plant and causing porous to it, due to which the plant dies within a few days.

Control:

• Apply 5 ml of Chlorpyrifos in 3 liters of water to the roots of the plant when termite attack appears.

Irrigation depends on soil condition and temperature. After pruning of the branches of fruiting plants, give the first irrigation in the middle of February, the second irrigation in the first week of March. Keep irrigation at 10 days interval after fruit setting, while 4-6 days interval in May, June. If there are no rains during October, apply irrigation at intervals of 10 days, while from November to January, give only one irrigation.

Use of Fertilizers:

In order to obtain better yield from grape plants, they need nutrients. These nutrients can be obtained from natural (Farm manure) and chemical fertilizers.

Annual requirements of various nutrients

Add farm manure to grape vines only in December and phosphorus only once in a year in February after pruning while nitrogen and potash are given twice in a year half amount after pruning in February and the remaining amount in April after fruiting. Always apply decomposed farm manure because fresh manure causes termites which is harmful to the grape crop. After fertilizing, lightly hoe and apply irrigation.

Areas suitable for grape cultivation are those with low summer rainfall and hot and dry weather with long day length and sufficient sunlight is available to the vines. Temperature affects grape quality and sweetness. If the temperature is high in summer, then sweetness of the grapes will be high. Due to the low temperature in winter, all leaves fall off and the plants go into a state of dormancy.

Experiment trails conducted under the supervision of Barani Agricultural Research Institute Chakwal prove that Faisalabad and Sargodha are suitable for grape cultivation besides Pothohar, while south Punjab districts such as Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalnagar, Lodhran and Bahawalpur can also be successfully cultivated. However, cultivation of early varieties should be done in those areas which are ripened and ready before the monsoon.