Grapevine Freeze Damage

[gwtx2]

The 2007 Easter weekend freeze destroyed the blooms on all of my 12
vines except one. The lucky one apparently is a late bloomer and made
it through ok. Also, some of the vines suffered kill-back on the
fruiting canes and one year old wood. Some canes were even killed back
to about seven inches above the ground. I use the double cordon system
on all my vines.

My question is should I prune the canes, which have a new leaf
appearing, back to where the cordon splits or just leave it alone. I'm
wondering if the cane may have suffered enough damaged to not be in
good health. It may be capable of passing some water/nutrients, but
perhaps not as much as it would if the freeze hadn't occurred. Thanks.

[William Rose]

In article m>,
gwtx2 > wrote:

> The 2007 Easter weekend freeze destroyed the blooms on all of my 12
> vines except one. The lucky one apparently is a late bloomer and made
> it through ok. Also, some of the vines suffered kill-back on the
> fruiting canes and one year old wood. Some canes were even killed back
> to about seven inches above the ground. I use the double cordon system
> on all my vines.
>
> My question is should I prune the canes, which have a new leaf
> appearing, back to where the cordon splits or just leave it alone. I'm
> wondering if the cane may have suffered enough damaged to not be in
> good health. It may be capable of passing some water/nutrients, but
> perhaps not as much as it would if the freeze hadn't occurred. Thanks.

European vines have compound buds. American vines may as well, check
with Ag advisor. With any luck, you may have only lost part of your
crop. New wood won't produce fruit, so you may as well just wait and see
what happens with the year old canes.

I'm presuming that the vines were pruned while they were dormant.
Pruning at this point would only put off new growth while the vine heals
from the pruning.

I'm not an expert on vineyards. My relationship with grapes start when
they arrive at the winery.

Ah, the life of a farmer.

Good luck,

- Bill
Cloribus gustibus non disputatum (mostly)

[Alexander Miller @dot.dot]

gwtx2 > wrote:

|The 2007 Easter weekend freeze destroyed the blooms on all of my 12
|vines except one.

Ouch.

What grape varieties, and do you know what the temperature was? Or what's your
general climate?
Alexander

[gwtx2]

On May 2, 11:01 am, Alexander Miller @dot.dot wrote:
> > wrote:
>
> |The 2007 Easter weekend freeze destroyed the blooms on all of my 12
> |vines except one.
>
> Ouch.
>
> What grape varieties, and do you know what the temperature was? Or what's your
> general climate?
> Alexander

Nothing too fancy, seedless and seeded Concord, Catawba, Niagara, Leon
Millot, an unknown blue grape from Germany. The temp dropped to about
22-23 degrees F, two nights in a row. Climate is Zone 7a, NW Alabama.