GPS Vine Planting
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what we use (machine)
VSL operates the UK's only Wagner vine planting machine. We run a Wagner Champion 2, double row planter. The double row planter enables us to plant the same volume of plants as a single row machine, whilst travelling at a considerably slower speed. This results better quality of plantation, achieved through a more even root distribution in the soil, and a more complete backfill of soil into the planting hole.The speed can be mildly increased in perfect soils but soils often vary through a single field so again the ability to stop in time to adjust parameters is essential for healthy plants
The machine is guided by laser, to achieve perfectly straight parallel vine rows: |
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why machined vine planting must be done with great care and skill.Throwing money and time at expensive spray programmes and pruning to encourage yields will achieve little improvement if the roots are all but disabled from expansion
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Classic ‘J' Rooting. This vine has failed to establish, as a result of:
- Roots not being trimmed to length
- Planting machine being driven too fast
- Workers not taking time to set depth of plants when placing in the planting machine
- Workers not taking time to check the depth of plants in the ground, once planted
- Vines therefore planted too low, with the long roots trailing on along the bottom of the cavity created by the machine. Almost no extra root growth produced in three years.
- Adventitious roots have been produced further up the rootstock stem - as a reaction by the vine to the decline of the main root system.
- This could have been avoided by root trimming and control of planting depth.
