Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Green plastic tape is the best material for tying the cordons to the wire. It is flex-
ible and won't damage the growing shoots, but does hold them firmly in place
even when the canes start to produce fruit.
CANOPY MANAGEMENT
As the canopy grows up in the third year and beyond, you will be removing laterals,
shoots, and extra foliage to expose the fruit. Laterals are those shoots that grow horizontally
from the main canes. A good time to start this is after the fruit has set, so that you don't
disturb the process. If possible, time your disease management program so that you spray
after you have pulled off the extra growth; this will allow you to get as much spray as pos-
sible into the exposed fruit.
In the hottest areas, concentrate on removing laterals first from the shady or “morn-
ing” side of the rows (that is, the side that gets light in the morning). Removing too much
foliage from the “afternoon” side can lead to sunburn on the fruit.
Wear gloves to protect your hands. Work your way along the rows, pulling off any
leaves around the fruit, as well as extra laterals. The objective is to leave enough foliage to
provide dappled shade to the fruit, but to keep a shelf of protection over the fruiting zone.
This typically means about 70 to 80 percent of the fruit is exposed. Gather up the foliage
you have removed and add it to the compost pile.
