Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Pruning to Two Cordons
SECOND YEAR
The objective in the second year is to select and trim the shoots that grow out of the
cordons. Ideally, you want to have 10 or 15 spurs on each cordon, with about 20 to 30 buds
(or nodes), two on each spur. On some varieties, I like to leave fewer spurs, sometimes as
few as seven or eight. That seems to improve the flavor of rich Bordeaux varieties (Caber-
net Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec). However, do not make
this decision until the fifth year.
