Vine tree disease

llama2 · December 2015

Hello,
I have a vine tree that seems to be infected by something that I cannot get rid of.
It's been like that for the last 2 years.
It usually start growing green leaves well and also the grapes, but suddenly the leaves start turning into a black colour and the grapes get completely dried. Please see linked images (http://imgur.com/A7kvPJy http://imgur.com/fej8QbM)
I have tried with some sprays like Bayer Provado, but it doesn't seem to get better.

Dovefromabove · December 2015

I suspect that your vine may be thirsty. It's planted right up against the fence so that means it's in a rain shadow, and the grass is growing around it which will also prevent rain reaching the roots. I would clear the grass away from the roots in a semi-circle with a radius of at least 2 feet and water copiously in the summer months. When the grass etc has been cleared away from the base of the vine I would give it a good mulching with well-rotted farmyard manure (not touching the trunk of the vine) and feed in the spring with an organic fertiliser containing potash.

There's a lot of helpful cultural advice here http://www.readsnursery.co.uk/grape-vines-how-to-grow/

It's also important to reduce the number of bunches of grapes on young vines, and to thin the fruit on the individual bunches.

There's no point in spraying with Provado - it's an insecticide - it's also systemic which means it will remain in the plant - I would never spray it on something I intended to eat. Not to mention the concerns about it damaging/killing bees and other beneficial insects.

llama2 · December 2015

Hi, Thanks for your help.

I thought it could be a bug because a couple of years ago it was fine, by December it used to be full of leaves and grapes. The grass and the fence have been there for years. I just planted a small olive tree and a jasmine plant beside it, maybe they are taking all the water.

I will buy some farmyard manure and try to keep the grass away.

The grapes are bitter, so that I don't intend to eat them, but thanks for the heads up. I will try to keep it away from my bay tree, I was using a Provado version for fruits and vegetables, but knowing it remains in the plant worries me.

Many thanks!

Dovefromabove · December 2015

Whereabouts are you llama2 - December is very late for a grapevine to still be covered in leaves here in the UK.

llama2 · December 2015

I am in uk.

I bought my current house 2 years ago.

The first year at the begining of December the grapevine was full of grapes and leaves.

The following year it grew plenty of leaves and the bunches of grapes never got big enough.

But this year it has only grown leaves and a few bunches, turning everything black very soon and it hasn't grown a single 'healthy' bunch.

I read once that these plants may get a fungus or a bug in their root and it is very difficult to get rid of them.

Dovefromabove · December 2015

How are you pruning the vine?

Do you reduce the number of bunches and then thin the grapes themselves?

See the link I posted above

Vine tree disease

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