jschoenly
Junior
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2013
- Messages
- 25
- Reaction score
- 1
I made a few quick posts, but wanted to start a separate for my situation for thoughts. I planted a variety of vines with the thought that what works will work and what doesn't I'll replace with what works or even something different. Varieties are:
Aurore
Traminette
Riesling
Ravat
Pinot Noir
Cayuga White
Merlot
Cab Franc
Niagra
All are being trained VSP with the exception of the Aurore which will be TWC. Last year (planting year) proved to be very good and pretty much all the vines grew to at least the top wire. I pruned to the low wire and most are doing well this year, maybe 3-4 that are going for a new trunk as the growth just didn't bud out (tried trimming to green but there just wasn't any green in the vines. New trucks coming from the graft and seem to be the same leaf pattern and not the rootstock).
I'm going back through now since I didn't really pinch out the buds up the trucks. I'm tying the strongest new shoots to the fruiting wires and already have good growth for most. There are a lot that overlap in length (spacing may be a little on the tight side).
Main questions: Should I be pruning the cordons to length now or let them grow all season and trim next spring? How many addition shoots other than the cordons should I leave this year? Currently I'm allowing the other strong shoots to grow up the catch wires for now at least. I'm planning on spur pruning as my pruning method, but could adjust if anyone recommends otherwise for a first timer.
I'm really enjoying tending to the vineyard, albeit not as often as I hope. I need to get the weeds under control and have considered mulching with anything from standard mulch to stone. I really like the idea of putting down a weed barrier and bed the rows with a small smooth stone. I know there are lots of schools of thought on this. Am I crazy for wanting to do the stone and will this be OK/Beneficial/Detrimental to the vines?
Thanks!
Aurore
Traminette
Riesling
Ravat
Pinot Noir
Cayuga White
Merlot
Cab Franc
Niagra
All are being trained VSP with the exception of the Aurore which will be TWC. Last year (planting year) proved to be very good and pretty much all the vines grew to at least the top wire. I pruned to the low wire and most are doing well this year, maybe 3-4 that are going for a new trunk as the growth just didn't bud out (tried trimming to green but there just wasn't any green in the vines. New trucks coming from the graft and seem to be the same leaf pattern and not the rootstock).
I'm going back through now since I didn't really pinch out the buds up the trucks. I'm tying the strongest new shoots to the fruiting wires and already have good growth for most. There are a lot that overlap in length (spacing may be a little on the tight side).
Main questions: Should I be pruning the cordons to length now or let them grow all season and trim next spring? How many addition shoots other than the cordons should I leave this year? Currently I'm allowing the other strong shoots to grow up the catch wires for now at least. I'm planning on spur pruning as my pruning method, but could adjust if anyone recommends otherwise for a first timer.
I'm really enjoying tending to the vineyard, albeit not as often as I hope. I need to get the weeds under control and have considered mulching with anything from standard mulch to stone. I really like the idea of putting down a weed barrier and bed the rows with a small smooth stone. I know there are lots of schools of thought on this. Am I crazy for wanting to do the stone and will this be OK/Beneficial/Detrimental to the vines?
Thanks!