We get many questions from growers like yourself all over the United States, so we took an episode of the Vineyard Underground podcast to answer a handful of questions. We answered questions on topics ranging from young vine training to fungicide rotation from people in Nevada, Virginia, Georgia, and all over.
You may have had some of these same questions in your vineyard. Below are a few of the questions with an abbreviated version of the response. Tune into the episode to hear the full answer to any of the questions!
In year two, should I let the fruit develop or drop?
One rule of thumb is if I have a good solid trunk and I’m trying to develop the cordons and spur positions for renewals, it’s possible to create those shoots you’re using for your permanent parts and still produce a small crop. I’ll also let the fruit sit on that second-year vine if I’ve got a good trunk and see how the chute size develops. I recommend leaving one or two flowers for now, letting them develop into fruit, and seeing how they develop through the season.
When in the season should I start spraying vines if there’s rain in the forecast?
If you don’t have rain, you could usually hold off on spraying until your shoots are about four to six inches in length. With lower disease pressure, you can hold off even longer. You’ll need to spray frequently enough to cover that new growth as it comes out. Some growers will spray as closely as seven-day intervals when heavy rain occurs. Other growers will push as far as 14 to 21 days between their spray intervals, but it depends on your situation.
What soil amendment should I use when planting bare-rooted vines in sandy, rocky granite at a high elevation?
First, test the soil to determine if you need to adjust the pH. Add any organic amendments to your soil to improve your organic matter. The first thing I often return to is applying an organic product like compost and biochar to the soil before planting.
If you want to learn more about the questions and answers from this blog, check out vineyardundergroundpodcast.com/vu018
