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viticulture advice continued

Thanks again for all of the advice on my previous post,which will take some digesting,but very informative.My technique so far has been as follows.

1.Early in the summer I start taking out lateral side shoots so that I do not get too much of a thick unmanageable hedge later on.I do not take them all out as I wonder whether they will help the grapes grow and mature later.I am still unclear as to whether this is correct and whether I am inhibiting bud formation on those canes I leave for next year.(I use Double Guyot cane pruning and leave a couple of canes growing from near the old base for next years canes.)

2.I tie in the main shoots vertically early on to prevent them getting tangled.Sometimes with the occasional strong winds,these blow sideways,and I really need a better technique for tying in the shoots.I use 2-ply string tied tightly round the horizontal wire,and loosely round the vertical cane-however tight I tie onto the wire it tends to move,and I think I need a better technique.One book I use suggests twist ties(plastic coated wire),but surely they are difficult to remove during pruning?

3.About the end of June(i.e.now) I start hedging by top cutting the longest canes,and continue to take out some of the long side shoots(is this correct?)-perhaps I should just hedge the vines top and sides?

4.During July and August I start leaf removal (not all ) around the grape clusters to let the light and sulphur spray particularly into the grape region.At the end of August I stop pruning and net against bird attack(we have woodland all around and this is particularly necessary quite early).

Thanks again,Michael.Any further advice very welcome.

Reply to
michael
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Here is something to consider. At the field day summer education meeting a few weeks ago, it was brought up that in some cases it might make sense to leave the lateral and cut out the main shoot.

This is the same system I am using. On some of my older widely spaced vines I am retaining cordon spur. I may consider infill planting later but planting between older established vines may not be the best thing to do.

How do you have your wires? It is difficult to see or explain without pictures.

I have three sets of parallel wires on both sides of the post about 6 to 9 inches apart horizontally and spaced about a foot apart vertically.

You can get plastic "C" clips, which are often used for attaching bird netting, and after the shoots are long enough to go between the wires merely "C" clip the two wires together. This will hold the shoots in place without tying. I learned this trick several weeks ago at the summer educational meeting I mentioned.

Sounds good to me.

This depends on your growing season. I start doing some very light initial leaf pulling on the East side after fruit set or slightly before. I make a couple passes during the season because as the clusters mature they will hang instead of being upright and different leaves will be in the way of sunlight.

In my area I have to net around the first week in August. That is when verasion begins here and that is when the birds get interested.

Sounds like you are on the right track.

Reply to
Paul E. Lehmann
Reply to
Paul E. Lehmann

"You are in England, right?"

That's another thing to consider. By the end of the year as the grapes are ripening the sun is lower in the sky up there in England. You may need all the leaves you can get. BTW, are you growing white wine? White wine is more forgiving if your grapes don't ripen fully.

Bob

Jun 26, 11:16 am, "Paul E. Lehmann" wrote:

Reply to
doublesb

Bob, the summers in the northern latitudes have a LOT of sunlight in the growing season. Ever been to Anchorage and seen all the plants that grow there in the summer? It is truly amazing.

Not all grapes require the "growing season" such as Cabernet Sauvignon - as an example.

Reply to
Paul E. Lehmann

So are you saying the north pole is the next great viticultual area that has yet to be discovered?

Bob

Reply to
doublesb

Visit Anchorage some time in the summer. You would be amazed at the size and abundance of things grown there in the summer. You would also be amazed at the daylight hours in the summer.

Anchorage is not the North Pole, but I think you get the idea.

Grapes are being grown commercially as far north as Vancouver Island and in a region of British Colombia. I am going to visit there this August.

Reply to
Paul E. Lehmann
Reply to
Paul E. Lehmann

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