Cluster thinning

[jandrew156]

Hi --

I've heard this term before but quite honestly I've never had to worry about it... until this year!
Wow, my grapes are growing like crazy and there are quite a few clusters....
is there a rule of thumb to how many clusters per cane ???

some canes have 4 or 5 clusters... should I be pinching them off??

 

[salcoco]

wait until grapes flower and grapes have set. cluster density is based on what type of grape , vinifera or hybrid , and type of trellis. can you answer these questions and then we can best provide advice.

 

[jandrew156]

These are concords, but I also have Niagra and Catawba...
Thanks!

 

[salcoco]

normal clutter is I believe on for a spur of 8-10 inches, two for a spur greater than 12 inches. again it depends on the trellis, have you been adding nutrients in fall and spring , how old the plants etc. the type grapes you have are unforgiving with regard to quantity of clusters.

 

[BigH]

My advice is to shoot thin at this stage. Cluster thinning should come later. The decision whether to keep a cluster on a shoot is dictated largely by the health of that shoot, and that health is impacted by shoot thinning earlier in the season.

H