In article ,
"David E. Ross" wrote:

On 3/30/2009 7:12 AM, Jim wrote:
Hi,

I planted two grape vines last year, then got too busy to stake them and
well they looked so dead when they arrived from Burpees I was not sure they
would grow. I have not pruned them yet either. Should I prune them way
back or leave them long. I will get the stakes and wire in place soon, but
I think I should prune them now.

Any good websites for grapes? I have seen some but most are on a
commercial
level, I just have two vines hoping to get a few grapes.

Cheers,
Jim



If they were planted last year, then the only pruning they need is to
remove side shoots in order to create a central trunk. Keep one main
shoot until it reaches the top of whatever supporting system you will
use. Let it get a bit taller than the support and then head it back so
that it develops side shoots along the top of the support.

A mature grape vine loaded with fruit is very heavy. I use 3-inch
steel-pipe fence posts instead of stakes. I run wire rope between them.
See my http://www.rossde.com/garden/garden_grapes.html for details,
including a rough sketch.

Next year will be when you start serious pruning. I've seen several
good books on pruning trees, shrubs, and vines that had excellent
instructions for pruning grape vines. A good nursery or a well-stocked
public library should have 2-3 such books.

The training will depend in part on whether the grapes will be used as
food or to make wine. Different vines vary in there brittleness as well.
Head pruning, while old fashion (creates shady pockets in the foliage
where mold can establish itself) doesn't require support. Cane pruning
and cordon pruning do require a 2 or 3 wire support. Then there is the
arbor, which I saw used for wine production in northern Italy. You can
put a table and chairs under it and use it as a shaded area for outdoor
entertaining during the summer.

The fruit comes from last year's buds. The more buds, the longer the
time it takes the vine to ripen the fruit. Typically, in California, a
vine will be left with 24 buds for wine production but as you come to
know your vines, you may wish to leave more buds and have grapes that
are a little less sweet, or fewer buds and have the grapes ripen earlier.

As David said, the first three years of a vines life are usually given
to vine growth and any clusters that form should be picked off as they
will retard growth. Also remove any side branches or suckers that try to
form. The emphasis now should be on developing the central stalk. In
wine making, the first four years are given to vine growth with the
first crop being picked the fifth year. The vines then produce at a peak
rate for about another thirty-five years. After the age of forty,
production will slowly drop but the fruit is still fine and is highly
appreciated by consumers in the making of wine.

Check with the nearest college's or university's Ag Dept. to determine
the best type of training for your vines.

Have fun.
--

- Billy
"For the first time in the history of the world, every human being is
now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the moment of
conception until death." - Rachel Carson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI29wVQN8Go

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