Cuttings cold weather vines started in March of 2002 survived the winter of 2003 and are now about 2-3' long tied to vertical stakes. These are cold weather varieties like Kay Gray, Sabrebois and Delisle originally from the former Soviet Union that can hopefully survive the brutal winters here in Eastern Ontario. Next spring I plan to cut back to two trunks so I will have a spare in case one dies. The question is, should I trim back the wood now or wait until spring. I fear predation by deer or die back due to the cold. I could trim each vine back to 6" or so. Anybody with experience on these varieties?
Farmer John Near Algonquin Park In Eastern Ontario
I am not growing vines but I have talked to two Wineries here Scotch Bloc in Halton and Cox in Wellington Counties. They cut back in the spring so that any die back over cut back does not kill the plant. They say they can tell the stronger growth to work with, better in the spring. This is hear say. I was investigating because I wanted to grow grapes on the Bruce Peninsula. I was hoping I had enough Georgian Bay lake effect moderation that cool climate vinifera varieties like Riesling or a Chardonnay would survive our winters.
I am talking about a small place at the 45th.Parallel and south of the growing region at Yakima Washington USA. However, I have learned that we have too many days below the magic -20 c, in fact have temperatures down to -30 c for up to a week at a time some winters. Ie Feb 2002.
My contacts at vineyards in Niagara have indicated I would have to trench(bury) the vines for winter and that this would be too labour intensive for a commercial venture. We are in a micro Zone 5 with zone 4 implications at the Bruce farm. We have copper beach and butternut trees on the property.
You are in either a Zone 4 or 3 right?
Niagara winter temperatures go down to -12c. Niagara is in a zone 6.
The soils on the Bruce are Lacustrine silty clay and areas of Lacustrine fine loam and sandy loam similar to those in Niagara as it is just the northern extension of the same ancient reef land mass subjected to the same glacial impacts. As you probably know Niagara at the 43rd Parallel has 1426 growing degree days equal to Yakima Washington USA at the 46th parallel.
You have the same low winter temperature problem in Eastern Ontario that I have on the Bruce Peninsula. In fact you have even colder winter temperatures.
Your use of alternate varieties has struck me to night as a possibility. Thank you for asking your question it has planted a seed. We have been considering planting old apples varieties and possibly producing hard cider. We have old apple varieties on the property now. We think the original family brought the seeds from Aberdeen and planted them over a hundred years ago.
Take care i wish you well in your attempt to grow your vines.
I think most people would say prune in early spring to be sure the wood survives. You want the HARDY wood for your trunks so let them tough it out and see what happens. The tough will survive and thats what you want.
Thank you for the link. I believe Carl Kimmet and I worked together a few years ago. It says in his Biography that he retired in 2000. I took an early retirement package in 1998. Small world and this type of post makes it even smaller.The thngs I have learned on this Post are remarkable.
Two things: A university in Minnesota was doing some work with cold hardy grapes. If you decide to plant apple trees, try and find some cider apple varieties. Most cider seems to made with eating/cooking apple juice instead of cider juice. I've often thought that Southern Georgian bay and the Bruce would be great spots to open a cider mill... perhaps one day!
Good luck with your cider mill. There are NUMEROUS apple orchards in the Northern Virginia area that are going belly up after being in the family for generations because they can not compete with the cheap apple juice from China.
I have planted Sabrevois and Frontenac in the Estern Township region of Quebec this spring. Temperatures are probably quite similar to yours. I spent a couple of week-ends in October going from one winemaker to another. In between tastings, I tried to gather as much about winter preperation as I could. Concensus: wait untill spring. Deers are abundant here too, and no one mentioned them as a concern (but when it comes to fruits...).
I highly recommand visiting
formatting link
as suggested by another poster. If there are winemakers in your area, I strongly suggest you pay them a visit and ask what they are doing. These people should be your #1 source of information.
DrinksForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.