Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Training
In early spring, when the temperatures average 50°F (10°C), you will see the buds be-
gin to push out. They will soon (at bud burst) be flowerlike, and then turn into green leaves.
The leaves then grow and shoots will follow.
Continue tying vines up the stakes and out the fruiting wires. When each cordons
reaches its desired length on the fruiting wire (the halfway point between one vine and the
next), begin to concentrate on the shoots that come off of the cordon. Select about 10 to 20
shoots, each about a hand's width apart. These will become canes by the end of the year, at
which point you will prune them to create the spurs of next year.
Thinning Shoots
Try to choose those shoots that are the healthiest and strongest, that grow primarily
upward, and that are relatively evenly spaced. Pinch off the rest of the shoots with your fin-
gers. As the chosen canes grow up to the height of the training wires, push or gently place
them between the double wires. Do not worry about mistakes, as vines are very forgiving
and will grow back in a short time if you accidentally break them.
If you do not have material for 20 spurs, don't worry about it. Leave as many well-
spaced spurs as you have material for. Also, because we are working with nature, perfectly
even spacing or absolutely vertical upward growth is only a goal.
Pinch off the grapes this year as the trunk and cordon are not mature enough for a
crop. The exception is if you planted in spring the previous year, in which case you may
get a partial crop. If you have a cordon that has a barklike surface, you can allow the grapes
to ripen.
