[If] someone propagates a grapevine in the ground, if there are not three handbreadths of soil on top of it, he may not bring seed above it, even if he propagates it in gourd [pipe] or [earthenware] pipe. [If] he propagated it in rock, even though there are only three fingerbreadths of soil above it, he is permitted to bring seed above it. [If there is] a knee in a grapevine, we do not measure other than from the second trunk.

[If] someone propagates three vines and their trunks are visible, R’ Eliezer bar Tzadok says: If there are from four cubits up to eight between them, then they combine; if not, they do not combine. A vine which has dried is forbidden but does not condemn. R’ Meir says: Even cotton is forbidden but does not condemn. R’ Elazar bar Tzadok says in his name: Even above the vine [planting] is forbidden but does not condemn.