Is 10-10-10 a Good Fertilizer for Grape Vines?

10-10-10?

• A fertilizer that is labeled as a 10-10-10 is produced inorganically, so manufacturers know exactly what it contains. The numbers stand for the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contained in an application of the fertilizer -- this labeling system is the same for most types of inorganic fertilizers. Because nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the three nutrients needed for plant growth, inorganic fertilizers like this can form the basis of nutrition for a variety of plants. Grapevines can thrive in a variety of soil conditions, so the 10 percent -- which may sound like a small amount -- of nutrient content will, in most cases, give grape vines all they need of these macronutrients.

Nutritional Requirements

• Grapevines have roots that go very deep into the ground, so they have the ability to draw nutrients from a wide area. This lessens the amount of fertilizer they need because of the amount of soil they can draw from. Because grapes are a fruit crop, the nitrogen part of the 10-10-10 fertilizer is one of the most important, as this promotes the growth of the actual grapes as well as ensuring the photosynthetic process is as efficient as it can be. Phosphorus is key in the development of sugars within the plant, so the presence of an adequate amount of this nutrient will ensure the best-tasting grapes possible. Potassium is key in strengthening the plant to resist diseases and pests, and an adequate supply will impact the health of the vine and the quality of the grapes. A 10-10-10 fertilizer will supply all three of these crucial nutrients.

Soil Testing

• A soil test should be performed when planting the grapes to determine just what the nutrient content is before fertilizers are applied. Soil samples can be taken to a college extension office or government environmental office for testing. In addition to nutrient content, they will also be able to tell what the pH of the soil is. Grapes do best when the pH is between 5 and 6; if there are any chemicals such as lime that need to be applied to adjust the pH of the soil, a 10-10-10 fertilizer can be applied at the same time without any adverse effects.

Proper Application

• Because the roots of the grape vines have a far reach, apply the 10-10-10 fertilizer in a circle around the vines at least a foot from the base of the vine and up to 4 feet from the plant for new vines. The fertilizer will seep into the ground, where it can be reached by the roots, but applying it too close to the vine will result in burning the plants. Once the vines are well established, fertilizer can be applied as far away from the vine as 8 feet. For vines less than three years old, use only about a quarter of a pound of 10-10-10 for each vine. Once the vines are mature -- they only begin producing grapes in the third year and generally don't produce a full crop until about the fifth -- this can be increased to a pound per vine to account for the nutrient drain of grape production.