Grapes are an unpretentious crop that is widespread in the southern and central regions. With proper care, the vines produce a bountiful harvest every year. Lack of moisture and nutrients, infection by fungal and viral diseases lead to drying of the berries before technical maturity. To maintain the quality and size of your crop, you need to know the most common problems and how to solve them.
Harvest overload
Drying of berries can occur for natural reasons. If too much ovary has formed on the bushes, the plant may not have enough nutrients and strength for active growth and ripening of fruits. In such a situation, the bush begins to independently regulate the volume of the harvest, dropping excess berries. The ovary dries out before it ripens.
Overload with harvest is typical for young bushes where thick branches have not formed or the root system is insufficiently developed. Self-removal of excess shoots allows you to prevent overloading with the harvest. On bushes less than 4 years old, it is recommended to leave no more than 6 bunches.
Violation of the rules of care
The second common reason why crops wilt is a violation of the rules of care. For the harmonious development and ripening of fruits, the crop needs watering, nutrients and moderate sun.
- Lack of moisture. During prolonged drought, grapes respond to the situation by reducing the volume of the harvest.It occurs due to withering and drying of the fruit. The grapes develop well if there are 2-3 days of heavy rain during the month. If the bushes are young or there is insufficient precipitation during the month, the plants require additional watering.
- Sunburn. Clusters of bushes that lack green mass suffer from sunburn. They manifest themselves in the withering of berries and a change in their taste. In case of severe burns, the brush dries out completely. Experts do not recommend removing green leaves from grapes. In case of insufficient volume of green mass, artificial diffuse shading is created for the bunches.
- Lack of nutrients. Grape bushes have a developed root system. If a crop grows in one place for a long time, the soil becomes depleted. Lack of nutrients causes the vines to drop their harvest. It is recommended to feed the bushes in spring and autumn.
Damage by diseases and pests
If grapes grow on fertile soils and all the rules for caring for the crop are followed, then the reason for the fruits drying out before ripening is associated with diseases and pests.
Among the diseases are:
- mildew;
- dryness of grapes;
- spotted anthracnose;
- verticillium wilt.
Diseases spread quickly. They are easily transmitted to nearby plants and affect the plantation. The problem can be solved by regular inspection of plants and preventive treatment with antifungal drugs in the spring. Solutions of copper sulfate, lime liquid, and sulfur have shown effectiveness.
Among the pests that can cause berry wilting are:
- spider mite;
- wasps;
- underground phylloxera.
To combat pests, wasp nests located near the vineyards are removed. Regularly treat plants with insecticides.
There are many reasons for grape fruits to wilt. The use of varieties adapted to the characteristics of the area and compliance with the rules of care, coupled with timely prevention of fungal diseases, preserve a bountiful harvest with high taste.
