Establishing young vines correctly during the first three years can have a lasting impact on your vineyard’s long-term success and early return on investment. In episode 074 of Vineyard Underground, Fritz explores how vine training strategies shift depending on your region’s climate, vineyard goals, and site conditions.
Trellis vs. Training System: Knowing the Difference
Fritz starts by clarifying a common source of confusion — trellis design and training systems are not the same thing. The trellis is the physical support structure: posts, wires, and hardware. The training system, on the other hand, refers to how the vine is shaped and maintained to grow along that structure. Choosing the right combination is key to supporting vine growth, improving airflow, and making harvest easier, especially in mechanized operations.
How Climate Shapes Vine Training Decisions
Cold-climate growers often use double trunks or “spare parts” vine training. These extra shoots or trunks act as backups in case of winter damage or trunk disease. Some growers even rotate in new trunks every few years to maintain healthy vine structure and productivity. In contrast, vineyards in warm regions with longer growing seasons can adopt faster strategies, like training a single shoot into a trunk in the first year, or green topping to initiate cordon development more quickly from lateral shoots..
Fast-Tracking Isn’t for Everyone
Fast-tracking trunk development can bring quicker returns, but it’s not always the best approach. On vigorous sites, trying to push one shoot too quickly can lead to bull canes — overgrown shoots with long internodes and flattened buds. These don’t always perform well when used for trunks or cordons and may be less cold hardy. Growers should match their training approach to their soil type, rootstock selection, and growing season length.
Avoiding Mistakes with Leaf and Lateral Management
One common mistake is removing leaves from the shoots of developing trunks. While some think this will push shoot growth higher up on the shoot tip, it actually removes the leaves that power trunk thickening and shoot tip growth. Mature leaves on the lower part of the shoot act as solar panels that feed the growing tip. Removing them can set a vine back during this critical development phase.
Matching Vigor with the Right Inputs
High-vigor sites bring their own challenges. Too much water or fertilizer can overstimulate shoot growth, leading to weak wood that underperforms long-term. It’s recommended to manage inputs and avoid overcorrections carefully. For low-vigor sites, growers may need to make the tough call to cut back thin shoots and have another go at trunk training in the following season.If you want to learn more about training young vines for different climates, check out https://www.vineyardundergroundpodcast.com/vu074.
