Last year I planted (what were marketed) as two year old grape vines.
However I was clueless and the vines grew tremendously. They leafed
out beautifully but not flowers or grapes--i wasn't expecting any.

However I always hate pruning things back and I left the vines as they
grew. So I've got at two 10-12 foot runs, plus one or two 6-8 foot
runs on each plant. they are sending out vines at almost every
knot/junction and I'm seeing lots of little florets, which I'm
assuming are going to be grapes. While they are growing quickly and
vigorously (yeah!), I'm assuming that this is just too many--even for
a 3rd year plant. Any advice on how to get this more under control?

- Can I cut the (10-12') wood shorter now or will it shock the vine
too much? The vines are sending out laterals throughout the 12'
length--no dead wood.

- Will it help to pinch some of the florets? Or should I wait to see
which pollinate? (I'm assuming there is some type of
pollination--although I don't recall it ever mentioned)

- Should I allow so many lateral vines to form? Won't that take a lot
of energy from grape producing?

I'm reading more and more about the pruing methods, but I'm looking
for best action to take now to work towards having a decent year. If
this was a tomato plant I'd just pinch it down, but I've got no
experience yet with these things.



DiGiTAL ViNYL (no email)
Zone 6b/7, Westchester Co, NY, 1 mile off L.I.Sound
2nd year gardener
http://photos.yahoo.com/ph/royalfrazier/