Brown stalks on grape trusses and tiny grapes.

Michael,

Do you spray for fungus during the year?

Michael,

From what I've seen on the web, Regent is fungus resistant not fungus proof.

Hi doubi... Yes,I always spray all of my vines each two weeks during the season,mainly with wettable sulphur to suppress powdery mildew.I start before flowering and continue until just after veraison.I must admit that I am more careful with thorough spaying of the total vine with my other more susceptible varieties (Bacchus and Schonburger),but I do spray Regent every two weeks.Regent is a very easy vine to spray,as it has a less vigorous and more open canopy. Michael

It (shot berries) could be a sign of poor fruit set which could be caused by numerous things such as cool wet weather during bloom and fruit set or a nutrient deficiency such as phosphorus. Perhaps some organic source of phosphorous might help.

You have called my small berries 'shot berries'.I thought that these were a poor fruit set,but they are generally small hard undeveloped berries.The small berries I mention were perfectly soft ripe grapes,which had the same refractometer reading as the larger ones . Michael

I have looked at many pictures of phomopsis cane on the web,and my problem is certainly not that.There is no other evidence of anything wrong with the vine(it looks healthy),apart from these 1/2"-3/4" brown stalks just at the point where the grape truss joins the vine stem.There are a few other trusses which have died and become shrivelled without fully developed grapes. Michael

If you have a digital camera, perhaps you could take pictures and post them on the net and direct us to the page they are on.

Michael,

I think Paul is right. It probably was a fruit set issue. If the leaves of the vine look healthy then they vines are healthy. I would be surprised if it was a nitrient issue. If you can, mulch the vines more before the winter.

Sorry,Paul.I have already harvested all of my grapes.Despite my comments on a few problems,this has been a very good harvest for me,with the average Brix of all of my vines being 17.5.That is good for England,and when chapilatised(?)should make very good wine. Thanks for all of your help. Michael P.S.If I mulch at all next year,which I probably will due to my very dry site,it will be in February or March.