Often, gardeners want to change the grape variety grown on the site, but they don’t want to waste time planting a new bush. In this case, use the vaccination procedure, which we describe in more detail in our article.
Why plant grapes
Before proceeding to the description of the procedure itself, it is necessary to understand why it is necessary. Thanks to the vaccination, you can rejuvenate old grapes, bring new varieties with the best taste, grow berries of different varieties on a single shrub, increase plant immunity to diseases and pests.
Important! 2-3 days before the procedure, it is recommended to water the vineyard plentifully. This is necessary so that the plant on the cut "crying" - the release of fluid contributes to the rapid splicing.After vaccination, fruiting begins much earlier than when a new seedling is planted, which saves time and enjoys the berries in the next season.
The timing of spring grape grafting
In order for the grapes to be properly vaccinated in spring, it is necessary to observe the deadlines. Usually the procedure is carried out after the buds swell on the rootstock. This period falls in April. It is important that the air temperature is not lower than + 15 ° С, and the soil is not lower than + 10 ° С. It should be borne in mind that at too high temperatures, when the sun is very strong, the procedure should not be carried out.
Methods of grafting grapes
There are several ways to grape grapes:
- In the split.
- In semi-split.
- In the butt.
- Abutting
- In shtamb.
- Drilling.
Preparation of cuttings of grapes
To get the graft quality, harvesting cuttings is recommended in the autumn. It is necessary to choose a healthy shrub that gives a tasty and rich harvest, and cut the cuttings with a special clean and sharp knife so that each of them has several eyes. On average, the length of the cutting should be 10-12 cm.
For a successful vaccination, make sure that the cutting has an even cut. Before you cut a branch from a bush, it does not hurt to practice on other unnecessary branches.
Did you know? The grapes in the composition of nutrients are very similar to milk.After cutting, the cuttings should be placed for half a minute in a 3% solution of copper sulfate. This procedure will help to disinfect them. After that, the cuttings are laid out on level ground and dried. Then they should be wrapped in polyethylene or a damp cloth and put in a refrigerator or a place where the temperature does not exceed + 5 ° С.
Choose stocks for grafting
As a stock, you need to choose varieties with good frost resistance, vigorous, with high resistance to various pests and diseases. Bushes must have a good underground shtamb. The bushes of 3-5 years old will be ideal - the survival rate on young plants is much better than on old ones. Grafting a vine on an old shrub is unlikely to bring the desired results, since any intervention in an already middle-aged plant worsens its condition and may even lead to death. 
Spring grape grafting: step by step instructions
There are many ways of grafting grapes, but we will describe three of them in more detail. Thanks to the detailed instructions, even beginners can perform the procedure.
In split
One common method is grafting in grape. It includes the following steps:
- It is necessary to clear the rootstock from the leaves and mark the place of grafting (usually it is chosen between the second and third node). Using a disinfectant solution, wipe it thoroughly - this way you will get rid of dirt and bacteria.
- Leave the distance to the site up to 5 cm and cut off the top of the vine.
- At a distance of 3 cm to the node do longitudinal splitting.
- Then it is necessary to carefully insert the cutting that has been prepared beforehand into the split.
- The site of vaccination must be tightly bandaged and saturated with moisture. Make sure that the temperature in this place is + 23-25 ° С.
Important! Do not touch the shear with your hands - this may adversely affect the splice, and the vaccine will have to be repeated.Before proceeding with the procedure, it is necessary to prepare the entire instrument so that the cut areas do not dry out, while you will be looking for a bandage or other materials.
In shtamb
A feature of this method is that several grafts are installed in the stem at once, each of them should have 3 eyes. The event is conducted as follows:
- It is necessary to dig the ground around the trunk to the first node (approximately 10-20 cm).
- At a distance of 5 cm from this node to cut off the old plant.
- It is necessary to split the stump. The depth must be the same as the depth of the blade cutting.
- We put the cuttings in the stock.
- The vaccination site should be tightened with a twine, wrap in wet thick paper, sprinkle about 4-5 cm with wet soil.
Using drill
Another method often used by summer residents is grafting a grape by drilling. It differs from others in that it is first necessary to cut off the stem, and only after that to select the vaccination site. Best of all, the plant will take root if you choose the place where the stem is the widest. You can use any cuttings - even those that have 2 buds. 
The procedure includes the following steps:
- It is important to find a drill with a suitable diameter, to disinfect it with a solution of potassium permanganate.
- Drill a shallow hole and gently insert a cutting into it. Be sure to ensure that there is a complete coincidence of the cambial layers.
- Then the cuttings must be filled with moistened chips and covered with polyethylene.
In the cultivation of grapes, the correct selection of the variety that is suitable for the conditions of your climatic zone is very important. , Talisman, In Memory of Negrul, Moldova, Codreanca, Amursky and many others.
Further care of the grafted grape bush
The result of the event will be positive only if appropriate care is taken for the grafted shrub:
- After the procedure is completed, the stock flows and spuds. Be sure to loosen the ground in the hole - it is necessary that it is enriched with oxygen.
- Inspect the grafted stalk in 10-14 days: if there are no new shoots on it, you need to cut the stock and re-inoculate.
- Every 7-10 days, see if the stock and cutting are spliced. If the cutting takes root not in the stock, they need to be removed.
- Periodically remove grass and weeds.
Did you know? Each year, each person must consume 8-10 kg of grapes, but in practice this indicator is only 1 kg.If you follow simple guidelines for care, the cutting will grow quickly and without any special difficulties.
Frequent mistakes
There are mistakes that are often made during the vaccination procedure. Consider them:
- large splitting depth. Such an error leads to insufficient compound stockings and grafts. They do not fit tightly to each other, and moist air enters these voids, which leads to decay, which is provoked by pathogenic flora. Maximum contact will help prevent infection;
- stock incompatibility and cuttings. Stock and cuttings should have identical environmental properties. Varieties must have the same ripening time. If the biological program does not coincide, this will lead to competition and the death of the cutting;
- improper storage of cuttings. The structure of wood and bark has a porosity, which leads to intensive evaporation of moisture. It is very important to keep all nutritious juices in cuttings. To do this, they must be dipped in liquid paraffin wax;
- using the wrong tool. To make the event quality, you need to make a cut with a special tool or a very well-sharpened knife. If the cut is not even, it will not be possible to achieve a snug fit.
