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April 16, 2016  

Time to add some Calcium Nitrate

Added first round of Calcium Nitrate.

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Shoots are 8-10inches.  Will pinch the extra clusters off soon.  IMG_5629

April 4, 2015  

Fertilizing new and older plants

Much discussion out there about if/when to fertilize grapevines.  Much easier to find info on Muscadine vines.  Last year, I put more fertilizer on the muscadines than I did on the grapes.  I only put one application on the Lomanto and they struggled later in the year.  The Black Spanish did pretty good with one application.  I also had some Muscadine die back this spring as I did not make all applications. So I decided to treat both grapes and muscadine the same this year.  Below is what I plan to adhere to:

On April 1st, May 1st, June 1st, July 1st
1st year rate of 4 oz of 10-10-10 per plant 12 inches from plant in circle, work into soil
2nd year rate of 8 oz of 10-10-10 per plant 12 inches from plant in circle, work into soil

On

April 15th, May 15th, June 15th, and July 15th
1st Year rate of 4 oz of 34-0-0 (Calcium Nitrate) or 2oz (Ammonia Nitrate) per plant 12 inches from plant in circle, work into soil
2nd Year rate of 8 oz of 34-0-0 (Calcium Nitrate) or 4oz (Ammonia Nitrate) per plant 12 inches from plant in circle, work into soil

3rd Year Use 3 lbs of 10-10-10 on May 1st

4th Year Fertilize as needed depending on growth of your vines

Don’t make any applications after mid July as you will get too much growth going into winter that will result in injury to the plants.
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This is a good time to remove any weeds that grew over the winter.  Work the fertilizer into the soil so it doesn’t wash away with the rain and the moist soil will help break it down better.

Alabama soils can be low in magnesium, foliar magnesium deficiency frequently becomes noticeable in mid-summer. You can spot this deficiency by the yellowing between the leaf veins on the older grape leaves. If the soil pH is low enough to need lime, use dolomitic lime to help prevent magnesium deficiencies.

You can also use magnesium sulfate (epsom salts) to counter the magnesium deficiency. Young plants should get 2 ounces applied around each vine, keeping the salts 6 or more inches away from the trunk. Apply 4 to 8 ounces per mature, bearing vine. It may require 2 to 3 years of magnesium application to bring the level up for best plant performance.

Reference source:  http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0012/ANR-0012.pdf