To plant a vineyard in Pennsylvania, you can prepare the soil, plant the vines, and water and maintain them.
Prepare the soil
- Adjust the pH: Soil pH affects the availability of nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium.
- Consider the topography: The topography of your land will affect the spacing of your rows.
- Consider the machinery: The type of farm machinery you have or plan to buy will affect the spacing of your rows.
Plant the vines
- Plant in the spring: Plant the vines in the spring as soon as the soil can be worked.
- Dig holes: Dig holes deep enough to accommodate the vine’s root system.
- Place the vine: Place the vine in the hole, making sure the graft union is above ground.
- Fill the hole: Fill the hole with soil, gently firming it around the vine.
- Water: Water the newly planted vines thoroughly to settle the soil.
Maintain the vines
- Apply mulch: Mulch around the vines to inhibit weed growth, increase organic matter in the soil, and stabilize soil moisture.
- Fertilize: Check your soil test and follow any recommendations for fertilizer.
- Trellis: Use a trellis to keep the vines sturdy.
- Consider companion plants: Some plants, like clover, hyssop, basil, and chives, can be beneficial to grapes.