TheNaturePlanet

Summer is a critical period for grape growth. High temperatures and humidity make them prone to diseases. A little carelessness can lead to fruit drop, cracked fruits, or even the entire plant wilting! Here is a comprehensive summary of maintenance points, covering everything from watering and fertilizing to pruning and disease prevention. Follow these steps, and your potted grapes will be heavy with fruits.


### Watering
1. During the germination and flowering stages, keep the soil slightly moist; avoid waterlogging (to prevent excessive growth and flower drop).
2. Water more during the fruit expansion stage to keep the soil moist and promote fruit growth.
3. Control water during the ripening stage! Keep the soil slightly dry to prevent fruit cracking and increase sweetness.
4. Due to rapid evaporation in summer, if the soil isn't fully watered at once, you can replenish water after half an hour. Avoid watering during midday heat.


### Fertilizing
1. Use high-nitrogen fertilizers (such as sheep manure, soybean cake) during the germination stage to promote the growth of branches and leaves.
2. Spray potassium dihydrogen phosphate + brassinolide during the flower bud differentiation stage to strengthen flower buds.
3. After flowering, apply a balanced NPK compound fertilizer to the roots to stabilize the fruits.
4. From the post-fruit expansion stage to the stone-hardening stage: first use high-nitrogen water-soluble fertilizer (to promote growth), then spray phosphorus and potassium fertilizers (to strengthen fruits).
5. Increase potassium fertilizer (such as Angel Fubang yeast fertilizer) during the color transition stage to make the fruits sweet and brightly colored.
6. No fertilization during the flowering stage!


### Pruning
1. Remove excess weak buds, leaving only the robust ones.
2. Pinch the top of new shoots when they reach 20-30 cm to prevent excessive growth and promote fruit setting.
3. Remove weak flower clusters, leaving 1-2 strong ones; thin out small and deformed fruits to ensure uniform fruit size.
4. Prevent overcrowded branches and leaves from blocking light.


### Disease Prevention
1. Spray Bordeaux mixture or mancozeb once every 10-15 days to prevent downy mildew and powdery mildew.
2. Spray sulfur or dimethomorph at the initial stage of disease.
3. Avoid rain and drain stagnant water in time after rain to prevent the growth of pathogens.


### High Temperature Handling
1. Frequently water with small amounts to keep the soil moist and cool; avoid heavy watering.
2. Keep more new shoots if they are not overcrowded to prevent sunburn.
3. Supplement calcium and magnesium fertilizers to enhance sun resistance and stress tolerance.


### Notes
1. Grapes love sunlight very much. They must be placed in an unshaded area with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight every day. Sufficient light ensures sweet fruits.
2. Not only should you avoid fertilizing during the flowering stage, but you should also control watering, as excessive water can easily cause fruit drop.
3. When the branches grow to a certain length, timely tie the vines to the frame with cloth strips to allow the branches and leaves to stretch out for better light penetration, and the fruits can hang more stably.