"Nice post Bob, it's clear you've thought a lot about your fertilizing
regimen."

I take no credit for any of it. It's a combination of stuff I've read
here and elsewhere. My soil type is sandy. It's impossible to over
water on sandy soil because the water just drains out. If you mulch
after a good soaking rain and seal the moisture into the soil you
will not have to fertilize at all.In areas of my vineyard were I have
a good mulch cover I haven't fertilized in 3 years. Obviously I
started using mulch 3 years ago. Don't forget, the wood chips break
down to compost and you should see the amount of worms and mycorrdia
(sp?) fungus under the top of the chips! Add that to the nutrients
produced during the breakdown and you have the best system for growing
any type of plant. One myth that you also need to exorcise from you
head is that grapes like drought. That's a myth. They need water and
plenty of it. Anyway, I highly recommend mulching over fertilizing
but if your hell bent on fertilizing, a 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 is good.
Remember, vines don't need alot of fertilizer. If the vines look
healthy, they are healthy

Bob.

On Dec 28, 1:21*pm, AxisOfBeagles > wrote:
> Nice post Bob, it's clear you've thought a lot about your fertilizing regimen.
>
> What fertilizer do you use - and what soil type are your vines in?
>
> On 2007-12-27 14:30:53 -0800, said:
>
> > As usual, there are many different ways people fertilize so I'll add
> > my 2 cents. I side with Paul as far as late fall fertilizing, right
> > after leaf fall. It is absorbed by the plant and used next year at bud
> > break. Any fertilizer applied before bloom in the spring may be
> > wasted. Fertilizing should begin after/during bloom. Before bloom the
> > roots are not absorbing much and sending all their stored energy from
> > the previous year into shoot growth. Make sure the vine gets PLENTY of
> > water before verasion. Soil moisture is the biggest cause of nutrient
> > deficiency due to the fact that roots can't get to the nutrients
> > without the water to transport them to the roots. Actually mulching
> > after the heavy spring rains with a good layer of wood chips may be
> > all you need to do. Just keep the chips away from the trunks a couple
> > inches. If you add mulch every year you might never need to fertilize
> > due to the fact vine requirements are very small and most soils have
> > enough nutrients as long as the soil isn't allowed to go dry.
> > Obviously, too wet a soil is not good either but that's where
> > determining soil type comes in.
>
> > Bob
>
> > On Dec 26, 12:55*pm, AxisOfBeagles > wrote:
> >> I'm interested in finding out from other growers what their fertilizing
> >> practicies are;
>
> >> * When do you fertilize?
> >> * With what fertilizers?
> >> * How much?
> >> * How applied?
>
> >> Also helpful to know where you are soil type, how you determine your
> >> fertilizing needs, etc.