The most suitable time for planting grafted vines is from March to mid-May. Before planting, trim the roots of the grafted vines to the length of a fist (8–10 cm) and soak them in water, which is especially important for late planting or during dry and hot weather conditions. Plant the vines in well-prepared, loosened soil. The planting hole should measure approximately 40 × 40 cm and be about 35 cm deep. At the bottom of the hole, form a small cone (mound) from good-quality soil. Place the base (heel) of the vine on top of the cone and spread the roots evenly around it. When shaping the soil cone, make sure the graft union is positioned 5 to 8 cm above the soil surface after planting. Cover the roots with fine soil and press it down firmly. Do not add mineral fertilizers to the planting hole. However, you may add a small amount of well-matured compost or store-bought potting soil. For late planting in dry soil, it is necessary to water the vines well after planting.

Planting should be done as late as possible, ideally in the second half of April, when the soil is sufficiently warm and adequately moist. We recommend planting in a furrow, as this method ensures the grafted vines are placed in loose, well-aerated, and suitably moist soil. We strongly advise against planting using a water-jet planting gun or drilling planting holes with an auger, as these methods often result in shallower planting, which is not suitable for proper vine establishment.

Protecting grafted vines against fungal diseases such as downy mildew and powdery mildew is very important. In recent years, downy mildew has caused significant damage in September during harvest, when conditions are optimal for its development. However, we believe that spraying is no longer necessary at this time. In September, downy mildew shows different symptoms than in summer. Instead of oily spots appearing on the upper leaf surface, the underside of the leaves is covered with a white, net-like coating. Such leaves fall off within a week, the shoot fails to ripen, and there is a high likelihood that the grafted vine will not sprout in spring, even if the shoot was already green at pruning.

After planting, grafted vines should be pruned as late as possible — ideally at the end of February or the beginning of March.

If any growth issues occur with the grafted vines during the first year after planting, please contact the expert team at Trsnica Vrhpolje as soon as possible. After inspecting your vineyard, we will provide proper advice and recommend measures to improve growth.

When planting grafted vines mechanically, careful soil preparation is essential. It is very important that the soil is adequately moist at the time of planting. This ensures that the machine properly and evenly covers the root system with soil, filling the space around the grafted vine roots without leaving any air pockets. Air pockets typically occur when planting in overly wet soil, as the machine cannot fill the planting hole adequately. Therefore, after planting, it is advisable to check the soil coverage around the roots and gently press the soil around the grafted vine. If conditions are very dry and warm during or immediately after planting, the grafted vines must be watered during mechanical planting.