In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Hi
Are we talking about a commercial planting or a few vines for pleasure? If the former, than I can tell you that we turn our soil over to 1.4 metres - and I mean turn over, principle reason is that we are on clay and it has to be moved to combat the compaction that happens in vineyards as they are worked oved time. It also puts the active weed layer (top 60cm or so) underneath (which is why we use an excavator rather than a plow whenever possible.
We have not done any "complete" vineyard planting this year, but we have planted approx 400 baby vines in existing Barbera d'Asti and Moscato d'Asti vineyards. For this we used a mini excavator doing as best we could, but I would say 1 meter was about the depth we managed.
For planting my experience is commercial in nature - so no hole digging here - the prepared ground (always turned before winter sets in, and lighly hoe'd before planting) has the baby vine (barbatelli in the case of barbera d'Asti) thrust into the ground using a T-bar shaped tool (see photo below) - note that most of the roots are trimmed off to facilitate this planting.
[IMG]http://www.stayinpiedmont.com/images/life%20of%20vines/images/barbera-d-asti-barbatelli-1.jpg[/IMG]
The planted vine should be only just above the surface (see photo below). You can read lots more about planting and working a vineyard in [URL="http://www.stayinpiedmont.com/pages/new/Vineyard_diary/vineyarddiary.html"]my vineyard diary[/URL].
[IMG]http://www.stayinpiedmont.com/images/life%20of%20vines/images/barbera-d-asti-barbatelli-2.jpg[/IMG]
i would not agree with a 1 metre trench... the ideal way to plant new vines is to first prepare the ground the year before...
get someone in with a sub soiler to plough through the ground and open it up to say 60 cms or so... its a specialist type of machine and needs a big tractor...
then leave it
early winter before too much rain get someone in then to plough it normally and then leave it again... this allows the ground to take up moisture and break down naturally ready for planting in early spring... it can be worked to get a tilth anytime when the weather allows ...ie dry solid so you don't compact it again...
the vines should be planted in holes that are dug out to around 35-45 cm and placed on a mound of topsoil in the bottom of the whole allowing the roots to gain easy access...
there is a lot more to do in the sense that spraying off weeds before planting is essential... and the positioning on the slope, cutting back the plant to the right number of buds and even trimming the roots... essential to have a water supply available if the spring turns out to be dry...
other considerations are the gaps between rows... make sure its at least large enough to allow a machine through... your neighbour will have to judge that but two metres is a good guideline...but large if he has a larger machine and around 1.5 metres between plants allows air flow as well...
consider also how the vines will be supported and maybe cement in concrete poles at the end of the rows to allow for straining up the wires to attach plants to....
anyway lots of digging to do... but vines need to go into a firmish soil and to my mind a 1 metre trench freshly dug would allow for too much movement and soil erosion
but i am sure there will be other points of view... phil from piedmont if not too busy with his own vines will most probably be the best to answer this....