Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Never put into the compost any material that has been infected with a disease or pest,
however, as it can survive the composting process to reinfect the vineyard. Do not add
annual weeds that have gone to seed, or even roots of persistent perennial weeds such as
blackberry, which can be surprisingly resilient.
A good method of composting is to have a two- or even three-bin system. As the
compost matures, you move it into the adjacent bin. This also helps to aerate the compost,
which is necessary to improve the aerobic process of breaking down the waste. Bigger piles
can get quite hot in the interior; temperatures of 130°F (55°C) or more are needed to break
down the material.
The best time to apply compost is in fall, before the ground freezes. Spread it under
the trellis rows up to a thickness of several inches.
ORGANIC FERTILIZERS
As with other organic products, there are different opinions about what is considered an
organic fertilizer. A good rule of thumb is that an organic fertilizer is one that is non-syn-
thesized, that is, it comes from a source found in nature. This can mean everything from
fish to cow bones to earthworm castings. But it does not mean that organic fertilizers only
come from living sources. Minerals are also a major component of organic fertilizers.
One of the main differences between organic and non-organic fertilizers is that most
organic fertilizers release their nutrients more slowly and, sometimes, unpredictably. This
can be beneficial in the vineyard unless your vines are suffering from serious deficiencies.
Sudden burst of growth fueled by fertilizers are subject to predation by pests. Grapevines
are typically vigorous enough to grow well without such major intervention.
In my vineyard, I prefer to use compost from my own vineyards, chicken and turkey
manure, fish and bone meal, and manure from my own sheep, who graze in the vineyards
when the vines are dormant. The list provided here contains examples of some of the organ-
ic materials you can consider. Some of these, such as bat guano, can be expensive. Others
may be available in limited quantities, or not readily available in your area. Shop around,
and be sure to develop your own sources of compost. I have learned a lot from the Organ-
ic Fertilizer Association of California. I suggest you turn to a similar organization in your
area if you have questions or concerns about fertilizers in your vineyard.
Fertilizer analysis is written as a percentage of N-P-K for the major nutrients. The list
here gives typical values for a range of organic fertilizers. Packaged commercial formulas
will also list any minor nutrients, such as boron or magnesium.
