My new vines are roughly 18 to 24 inches tall. It doesn't look like they're going to reach the wire. They have maybe 10 nodes apiece on them, with side branches coming out. Should I snip most of those side branches out, to encourage more vertical growth, or should I just let them go to establish a root system, and expect a big jump next year? I've not been able to find an answer so far. Thanks to any who might offer advice. Ken A.
Ken, I am in a similar boat. I have first year Vignoles. Mine have almost all reached the 33" cordon wire, and I am continuing the trunks into cordons by bending them along the wire. However there are a few that haven't made it yet.
I have read a lot about 1st year growth, and the most consistent advice is absolutely not to prune. Your vines are establishing a root system and all upper growth is contributing to that. I saw a picture on one site that really made an impression on me. It showed three uprooted 1st year vines: one was allowed to grow unpruned; one was restricted to a single vertical shoot; and one was put in a grow tube. The pictures showed three vastly different root masses. The unpruned vine was by far the most densely rooted (the grow tube one was the least).
Also, by cutting so many places on the vine, you will encourage it to heal itself by diverting energy to those wounds, which is actually in contradiction to your goal of stimulating more vertical growth.
If your vines don't reach the wire (how high is it?) you can either cut them way back to two buds in the Spring (I know, painful to do) or
- and I have read this too - leave the top two buds and just continue from there. Frankly, I would lean more towards the latter. I read about this on a winery site's article challenging some of the common practices in pruning/training.
Best of luck to you. It is really fun to see the stages for yourself after reading about them, at least for me. I do best when I can see things for myself.
Roger Quinta do Placer
I second Paul's advice. If they were my vines I'd prune them ALL back to 2 buds. I did it the other way ,trying to get the trunk established sooner by not cutting back , and paid down the road. If the vines are healthy they will reach 8 - 9 feet next year which will give you enough for 2 trunks and 2 short cordons for a partial crop the year after. Patience.
Bob
Hi Ken,
Best to wait and establish a stronger main trunk next year with a much better root system.
CHEERS!
Aaron
I boned the pooch. I have one vine, which I planeted from a pot in mid summer. I had placed her in what turned out to be a shaded spot. I decided to replant her out into the direct sun lit areas, and as I dug her up, I was amazed at how deep the roots had gone. I was worried about her reaching the trellas too, there were new branches and leaves but no over all growth in height.
I had planted one vine this year with the intention of starting the entire vinyard next spring. I think I have learned a mini lesson.
fwiw -- you can't see the roots
Thank you all, for the input. It is so typical of freshly planted perennials to show paltry top growth the first year, then explode the second. My decisions will be to determine which training system to go with, and which buds along this year's growth to retain. I have lambruscas and hybrids that I started years ago, and have now ventured into the world of grafted viniferas. I want to do this right! As I was sipping a local winery's Cab Franc last Sunday, I told myself, if I can make wine that tastes like this, I will be thrilled! Ken A.
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