The usage of Rootstocks, especially the "Dog Ridge" variety emerged in USA when a pest Phylloxera destroyed most of Vineyards.We use Rootstocks as base plants on which the actual scion (cutting of Wine varietal plant) is "grafted".
The other way to setup a Vineyard is by using "own-roots", which means that we plant the scion directly into soil.
The other way to setup a Vineyard is by using "own-roots", which means that we plant the scion directly into soil.
The advantages of going through the "grafted" way is better because:
1) This rootstock has strong resistance to root-knot nematodes, and has moderate Phylloxera resistance.
2) Own-rooted plants have a tendency to be less vigorous than grafted plants.
3) A rootstock can be used to compensate for certain site limitations such as - high pH or salinity levels.
This is how a Dog Ridge Rootstock would look like when it is around 3 weeks old.
The foliage is tremendous and we allow it to grow vigorously till the shoot system becomes strong.
Bingo!! Rootstock after 2 months of growth. This pic shows its relative height.
To propagate the growt
h of Rootstocks we use the following :
1) Humic Acid.
2) UREA.
Both are water soluble and this mixture is given through Drip Irrigation technique, which ensures uniform administration of nutrients and controlled use of water.
Rootstocks also store enough water in their systems - which will be used when scion is grafted onto them! Ideally of the whole lot, we would just want only two of the matured shoots to survive.
This is how a fully grown rootstock would look. There will be around 30-40 canes per plant. At this stage, we should be generally in the month of September, so as not to miss the grafting cycle in October. We may want to just retain only two canes of this - on which the next crucial stage of GRAFTING shall take place!
1) This rootstock has strong resistance to root-knot nematodes, and has moderate Phylloxera resistance.
2) Own-rooted plants have a tendency to be less vigorous than grafted plants.
3) A rootstock can be used to compensate for certain site limitations such as - high pH or salinity levels.
This is how a Dog Ridge Rootstock would look like when it is around 3 weeks old.
The foliage is tremendous and we allow it to grow vigorously till the shoot system becomes strong.
Bingo!! Rootstock after 2 months of growth. This pic shows its relative height.
To propagate the growt
h of Rootstocks we use the following :1) Humic Acid.
2) UREA.
Both are water soluble and this mixture is given through Drip Irrigation technique, which ensures uniform administration of nutrients and controlled use of water.
Rootstocks also store enough water in their systems - which will be used when scion is grafted onto them! Ideally of the whole lot, we would just want only two of the matured shoots to survive.
This is how a fully grown rootstock would look. There will be around 30-40 canes per plant. At this stage, we should be generally in the month of September, so as not to miss the grafting cycle in October. We may want to just retain only two canes of this - on which the next crucial stage of GRAFTING shall take place!
