Covering and uncovering, digging up

In autumn, following the harvest and before the frosts set in, the grapevines were covered with mounded soil. Such covering was first done using a hoe, and only later on the plough was used. The heads of the grapevines were covered with soil from the furrows, creating mounds of soil above them in order to prevent freezing.

In the spring, the grapevines were uncovered before the buds started breaking. The soil was removed from the plants using a hoe, later on a plough. Uncovering usually marked the beginning of the activities in the vineyard.

In spring and summer, the plough was used three or four times to destroy weeds between the rows. In addition, the vineyard was weeded at least three or four times a year. Digging up was first done when the heads of the grapevines were uncovered in the spring, then before the harvest and afterwards the covering ensued. Weeding was done using various hand tools that could be used to dig in spots not reachable by a plough.

At least three or four times a year, a single furrow plough was used to plough the grapevines, turning the soil in one direction only, thus allowing the fertiliser previously placed around the plants to mix with the ground.

Károly, Lábadi: Drávaszögi ábécé, Eszék-Budapest, 1996

Károly, Lábadi: Boranyja, Beli Manastir, 2007

Private collection of Mrs. Margita Sabo from Zmajevac.