Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
CHOOSING ROOTSTOCKS
Why do you have to choose a different rootstock for your grapevines rather than let
them grow on their own roots?
The first reason is that certain rootstocks are bred to be disease- and pest-resistant. At
one time, most grapevines were grown on their own roots. But after the American grapev-
ine pest phylloxera was unintentionally exported to Europe and destroyed many vineyards
planted with own-root vines, grape growers began to graft varieties onto American root-
stocks that are resistant to phylloxera. There are rootstocks that are also resistant to other
common vineyard pests, such as nematodes.
Secondly, different rootstocks are adapted to different soil and weather conditions.
This means that you can choose the rootstock that best suits the conditions you have and
the qualities you are looking for.
Finally, the vigor of a rootstock must be matched to your type of soil and conditions.
A vigorous rootstock planted in rich soil may produce more growth that you can handle,
and you will find yourself constantly pulling off leaves and snipping off young clusters of
