How to grow grapevines is both a science and an art. The ability of the grapevine owner in fashioning a good layout design plays a major role in the vineyard’s overall appearance. Some vineyards make good background for wedding receptions or parties and other events because of the creative effort of the owner in trellis management and vineyard layout design.
Growing grapevines is also a science because grape planters need to follow some rules in order to arrive at a high yield. They need technological know how to protect the grape plants from adverse weather condition, pests and diseases as well as tools to measure the pH of the soil and ripeness level of the grapes. In an effort to maximize the use of a land planted to grapes, reduce pests infestations and as an added income, most farmers these days resort to intercropping. This article will give you some tips on what plants are best suited as companion crops to grapes.
It was believed that clover can increase soil fertility and aphids can be repelled if you intercrop chives with your grapes. Farmers said that the growth of weeds and crab grass can be inhibited if thymes will be planted between rows of your vine. While others use black medic or hairy vetch, oil seed radish, alfalfa and ryegrass can also be used. The plants commonly used in California are the bell beans, barley and dundale beans.
One of the benefits of intercropping grapes with other plants is it can control or remove pests in a natural way. Do you realize that planting blackberries in your vineyard perimeter can control the entry of leafhoppers? The planting of Queen Anne’s Lace and Alyssum can attract the minute pirate bugs which is an enemy to your vine’s mealybugs. In short, the pests attacking on your intercrops can help you get rid of those pests in your grapevine.
When the prices of grapes are down, in the outbreak of a disease or when the vines are still not producing, a companion crop can provide another source of income. Depending on your locality, there are many crops out there that can be intercropped with grapes. Salad crops, herbs, ginseng even strawberries are just some of them. With a little of creativity and ingenuity, how to grow grapevines with other crops as a source of extra cash for the family can be a rewarding experience. The list of viable plants that can be a intercropped with grapes are extensive actually.
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