The power of the vine affects the amount of the crop, and the balanced load affects the quality. In order to achieve the correct distribution of nutrients and improve the yield, cut off the excess parts of the shoot.
To learn how to mint grapes and speed up ripening, read below.
Process value
Chasing - This is the process of cutting the upper part of the shoots of the plant with the leaves. Developed the method of T. Lysenko - Soviet agronomist and biologist. During the entire growing season, the grape takes a whole range of activities to take care of the bushes. All of them are aimed at improving the state of the plant and increasing the quantity and quality of the crop.
For many years, the question of carrying out this operation remained unclosed: some said that chasing grapes in the summer was a useful process, while others, on the contrary, argued that it only harmed the plant.
We will give all the pros and cons, and everyone will be able to make their own decisions.
During pruning, shoot growth stops and, thus, increases the flow of nutrients to the ovaries. Favorable conditions are created for the formation of fruits or berries. The procedure is applied to many plant species, among which are not only grapes, but also, for example, cotton.
It is often said that chasing grapes is topping. In fact, the procedures are the same. The difference is that in the first case, a much larger part of the shoot is cut off than in the second. The method itself is designed to accelerate the ripening of fruits.
Did you know? Out of 600 grapes you get 1 bottle of wine.
The value of the process is as follows:
- Acceleration of the trimmed shoots.
- Increases the concentration of nutrients in the ovaries.
- Improving the process of wintering plants.
- Fruits become more sugary.
The fact is that more nutrients get to the upper stems than to the sympodial ones. The process of minting is aimed at changing the process of supplying these substances to more favorable places for the gardener, thus increasing the yield.
Novice growers will be interested in reading about planting grapes in the fall (cuttings and seedlings) and spring (seedlings), as well as growing from the stone.
Do I need chasing grapes?
If the process of cutting the upper shoots correctly and in time is carried out, it will bring positive results. Maturation will occur ahead of schedule for whole weeks. This increases the harvest not only in the season, but also in the home-grown.
Important! This method is especially recommended to be carried out if the soil is too moistened or ground water passes near. In this case, the plant develops very rapidly, but the fruits begin to form after the deadline.
Chasing helps grape branches free from overload due to the fruit. If this is not done, then the growth of the bush may slow down, the grapes will lose their frost resistance, as well as the "immunity" to various diseases affecting the stem and leaves.
In addition, pruning eliminates excessive thickness, which gives each piece access to the sun's rays necessary for normal functioning. The greens left are fully saturated with photosynthetically active radiation. 
Due to the elimination of a large concentration of leaves, the number of areas affected by mildew is reduced.
Important! Mildew is one of the most dangerous diseases of European grape varieties. Embossing is one of the measures for the prevention and treatment of illness.
When to start?
It is very important to choose the right time for minting: if it is too late to make it, then there will be no point in the procedure, since all the substances will be spent. Embossing grape shoots is necessary for power savings.
Young bindweed on the top of the plant only take energy, and do not give it away. When the growing season is over, they will not be needed by the plant. But new shoots will still continue to grow and take energy. If they are cut off in time, the substances that feed them will pass to the clusters.
Important! Start minting when the growth of the shoots slows down, but it does not stop completely.
You will not miss the moment of cutting: the crowns of young shoots will begin to straighten. This occurs around the end of August - mid-September, but much depends on the grape variety. After about two weeks, you can begin the process of pruning. 
Learn more about spring grape care measures: grafting, pruning, watering and fertilizing.
When should I wait?
The ripening period of grapes has a clear time, but if the bush is mechanically damaged, overdried, or suffers from overloading clusters, the process can be inhibited. In this case, you can not start minting shoots, because it can lead to poor health or even the death of the plant. You must first completely cure the grapes.
If the new shoots are cut off too early, while the bindweed has not yet straightened, many new ones will appear in their place. They will take away the nutrients of the entire vine, and the harvest will be lost.
Did you know? By the number of nutrients grapes are closest to milk.
How to mint grapes?
You only need to remove the top of the plant, which is still did not have time to develop to normal sheet.
In order for the bunch to ripen, it needs about 18 leaves. You must leave at least 11 directly above the bunch, otherwise the berries will not gain sugar.
You yourself determine the number of shoots that will be cut: if the plant is healthy and gives a good harvest, then remove fewer bindweeds. And, on the contrary, if there is an overcast summer, the vine is overloaded, the leaves are too thick, have mildew, then you will have to remove more shoots.
Familiarize yourself with the features of autumn grape care measures: vaccinations, pruning, transplants, fertilizing.
Freely hanging growth can not be cut at all: it is not overloaded, rarely gets sick and matures in a timely manner. Early varieties usually do not need pruning, since by the time of their minting they had already freed themselves from the grapes. However, sometimes it is carried out, if they want to free the plant from mildew by relieving the overload of a bush.
We found that chasing increases the amount of the crop. But only in certain varieties: the earliest such a process is useless, but the middle and late ones will ripen earlier and produce a greater yield. It is necessary to ensure that the plant is healthy (except for mildew disease), not overdried and not damaged.
