Hill House Vineyard

[rrawhide]

Morning all



went up to the vineyard this morning and buds are coming on so dusted
with the sulphur blower to get rid of/control any mildew remaining in
the wood. This will probably be a every 2-3 week operation and fortunately
there is a tractor with a gearmore blower for us to use. We also
injected fertilizer through the irrigation system with a interesting
tank setup. see pictures.

great old wood

and the injector fertilizer system

the out flow side of the pump is reduced to 1/4" line which feeds directly into the water source. When the water is turned on the fertilizer is injected into the system. We injected 20 gallons of 12-6-4 (I believe) in a little over an hour. We will do this again in July.

and changed the screens in the irrigation system. Once I get the DIG irrigation controller in and set up - I will be irrigating 2X week for 8 hours. (at this time before it gets hot.)

 

[AlFulchino]

awesome looking vines and fert set up ( i didnt see a backflow preventer on it but there must be one)....and man if you are done pruning could you come do my vines? i thought i would prune half the day and just could not get out there

 

[Waldo]

WOW !!!!!

 

[ibglowin]

Soooooooo.......

Jealous!

 

[grapeman]

Great old gnarly vines! I can't wait to see them again midsummer. Keep up the super job.

 

[rrawhide]

Just remembered - next sulfur application - -

wear eye protection and respirator - - - -eyes were ok during the spraying BUT a couple of hours later - WOW WOW WOW - burn baby burn. Probably used a 1/2 gallon of water to rinse and then eye drops.



bet i do not forget next time - - -

rrawhide

 

[grapeman]

That is a must when applying any spray product, especially if you have no cab to spray in.

 

[rrawhide]

Here is the vineyard last week - lookin' pretty good!!

ready for the next application of sulfur

and another app of fertilizer next week

uh oh get out the big critter trap!!!

 

[grapeman]

Are you having fun yet ? Looks like more clusters than leaves in that last one! WOW

 

[Runningwolf]

Very cool!

 

[ibglowin]

What can I say, you had me at Cabernet!

 

[rrawhide]

what we did today

cut back canes to open the rows so we can get equipment through. Another sulfur application on the 8th. Everything looks good and the rows are starting to hold hands!!!

just add water and sunlight and look what happens

the canes are holding hands

we be cutting canes - trying to give about 25-35% sunlight (maybe a little more)

and this is how it looks this afternoon after 12 hours (3 people x4 hours each) today!! Hopefully only have to do this one more time - then mow/mulch between rows again and watch for critters - turkeys are not visiting as much right now but when the grapes start to sugar then we will be getting busy with 'control'. Raccoons should start 'visiting' mid-July and then we start trapping and moving ??

And we're off - - - - and growing - - - - -

rrawhide

 

[grapeman]

And they are looking mighty fine.

 

[xanxer82]

Jealous!!!!!

 

[Wade E]

Looking really good there Rick!

 

[ibglowin]

All right your making me want to pull up stakes and head (further) West!

Retirement is only 10 years away...........

Looking grand there Rick!

 

[AlFulchino]

ok..hold on here..it does look GREAT...but 3 people????????????

Rich what do you have to say about this???? i think Mr Rick has it a bit easy

 

[Waldo]

Looking good out there buddy

 

[grapeman]

I was thinking that Al.......... I spent 12 hours yesterday-alone. This whole weekend will be spent doing mostly canopy work also. Hey, but you have to excuse Rick , he is just a beginner

(and also smarter than us Al to get some help)

 

[AlFulchino]

i hear Rich........but Ric isnt it easier to grow grapes in CA? than where we are?