Green Fertilisation

18 Aug 2015 – General

In the month of August, it comes time to plant greenery in our vineyards.

Between every other vine row, a disc harrow is used to lightly loosen the soil, after which a rotary harrow follows and levels it off. Then the seed drill takes its turn and sows the appropriate greencover. Rye and sweat-pea, a mixture of clovers, or a blend of grasses and herbage are planted according to the individual spot. The winter greenery of rye and sweat-pea will generate a great deal of material by the spring of 2016, while not competing at all with the vines for water or nutrients. At that time, this greencover will be mulched and provide nourishment for all of the organisms in the soil. The other mixtures are perennial in character, and in addition to creating organic material, they make for improved navigability in the vineyard. And the timing couldn’t be any better. By evening on Sunday, everything was finished – that night, the rains came: 22 litres per square metre fell upon the vineyards.