Looking for advice about how soon after planting my vines i can expect grapes…. I know the books say using a Double Guyot system you need to wait 3 years, i am looking for mine to bear fruit after two years as in the first year they grew 8ft tall and full of vigour, i would like to tie them down into a single Guyot for next spring and harvest my first crop in October, will i drain the vine of it’s strengh if i do that and if so why..?

Looking forward to your reply,

many thanks,

John

Yes you can ask me a question if you like

Danie

Thanks for the comment, very interesting.

Tony, I was referring to spring frost, not winter damage. From what I’ve experienced, and the pictures are proof – early pruning will advance bud break.

One thing to remember as well, is that certain varieties are more susceptible to cold damage than others, so it might be the case with your nabour. Also, a well developed, trained and healthy grape vine harden off much better than a neglected grape vine (your nabours’ vines??) and will withstand much colder conditions.

Over-cropping your grape vines, especially in the lower areas, can lead to weak canes that will be more susceptible to cold damage, but on the other hand, an under-cropped grape vine will have much more vegetative growth and will grow on till late in the season, when there is too little time to harden off.

Hope this will help.

Take care
Danie

I suppose the one is as important as the other, especially in a cold climate like yours. Direct sunlight (or some light source), is however the source of photosynthesis, so without enough sunlight, you can heat up the green house as much as you like, I doubt if you will be able to fully ripen the grapes – poor colouring will also be a concern.

In the hotter areas of Southern Africa (Namibia, and near the Orange river), the crops are about a month earlier than where I live – so, to answer your question, YES, warmer climates will advance the harvest date.

Take care, and thanks for reading

Thank you for sharing your experience.

I agree with you about; “The buds at the tip of the canes come out of dormancy first.” But, I have not found evidence of your second statement; “If you prune your grape vine too early, your grape vines will break bud too early and will increase the chance of frost damage.”

In my vineyard, in the Hudson river Valley, Clermont, New York, we get several frosts and this year, it came very late, May 29. I was lucky, because my vineyard is on a site with good air drainage, but, several low spots, within the vineyard, we lost a few vines.
My neighbors, some of which don’t prune or minimal prune, lost all the vines to the frost.

Anyway, getting back to your first statement; “The buds at the tip of the canes come out of dormancy first.”
We leave our canes a bit longer and then cut these longer canes, after the spring frost, which here in the Hudson River Valley, is after, on average, May 15, with exception of this year.

Do you have a way to stop the vegetated growth of vines after the harvest.
Last year, my Sangiovese and Sauvignon Blanc, kept on growing into late Novemberm due to the good weather, even after several copper sprays, then, a frost in late November, killed all the leaves and green canes. The result, was devastating. We lost most of the vines to the winter and of the ones that made it, are growing out of control. Very long, 12″ between the nodes and very thick canes, which as of today are still green, while the other 18 verities in the vineyard have nice brown canes.
Any suggestions?

Thank you again and keep up with the good work.

All the best,
Tony Trigo
Clermont vineyards, NY