Grape growing has been in the history books since the early development of farming practices. The techniques that are used today to manage and maintain a grapevine, have been perfected over centuries of trial and error. Like in any plant-growing process, weeding, pruning and pest control are required regularly to maintain a healthy vine, and to tame your plant to grow at a certain pace, and in the right directions. This process can take a few years, since the vine wont be fully mature until the third year of growth when it gives fruit. However, this enables the grape grower to tame the plant effectively for the very first harvest, and to obtain a top quality wine making grape in the very first picking.
Pruning is simply getting the plant growth to encourage more growth
Pruning is the action of clipping back shoots and cutting excess foliage to control the plant's growth and to make sure that no energy is being spent feeding dry or unnecessary plant sections. Grapevines are trained to maintain a consistent plant shape, size and productiveness ; a process that takes about the time it needs to grow your first crop
Pruning Your Vine
Once the trellis is planted, along with the grape vine, the plant will only be allowed to grow from one main shoot that must be tied, vertically, to the trellis. All other shoots are to be clipped back. Once the first dormant period passes, you have to prune the grapevine so that the arms where the fruit will be supported can begin to shape and grow. In order to do this, you must tie the two largest shoots provident of the main shoot, horizontally on to the trellis. Any other shoots must be clipped back. Once this step is completed, the grapevine will start to take shape. However, pruning will be required regularly, especially during dormant seasons, so as to keep a healthy, productive vine. Generally, hybrid grapes will require less pruning, weeding and pest control in comparison to European grape varieties. This is because hybrid grapes are more tolerant to colder climates and common grapevine pests, and normally produce less foliage than their counterparts " a great advantage for many first time growers.
The Pruning Benefits
Pruning can also reduce the crop production by removing the fruitful buds. By varying the amount that is pruned back will influence the crop level. If too much is pruned back, more shoots will grow on the vine which in turn produces more of a crop and more foliage. The more foliage on a vine results in a shady canopy which provides a poor environment for the grapes to ripen.
Pruning will rid your grapevines of fruiting canes or spurs from previous years that are no longer productive. Vines canes only produce fruit during the first year of growth, so new, healthy canes must be grown consistently to secure your next harvest. Another benefit of pruning is the ability to reduce the amount of foliage in your vine, as well having control over your grapevines production. The amount of shoots that you clip will be proportional to size of your crop. If your crop seems to have excess foliage that creates a shady canopy, make sure to increase your regular pruning in order to maximize the amount of sunlight that the vines receive.
What to Use: Pruning Tool
Hand tools like loppers, hand pruners, and handsaws are typically used to prune grapevines. The goal for the grapevine owner is to avoid unnecessary injury to the plant. Most likely, when removing shoots that are one-year-old, hand pruners can be used effectively. On the other hand, larger wood should be cut with either the lopper or a handsaw.
Pruning is a fairly simple process that grape growers consistently rely on to obtain plentiful, healthy crops. Even though it will take some time and effort to tame your grapevine, it will be very well worth the effort once you collect your first harvest of perfect wine-making grapes.
Pruning is simply getting the plant growth to encourage more growth
Pruning is the action of clipping back shoots and cutting excess foliage to control the plant's growth and to make sure that no energy is being spent feeding dry or unnecessary plant sections. Grapevines are trained to maintain a consistent plant shape, size and productiveness ; a process that takes about the time it needs to grow your first crop
Pruning Your Vine
Once the trellis is planted, along with the grape vine, the plant will only be allowed to grow from one main shoot that must be tied, vertically, to the trellis. All other shoots are to be clipped back. Once the first dormant period passes, you have to prune the grapevine so that the arms where the fruit will be supported can begin to shape and grow. In order to do this, you must tie the two largest shoots provident of the main shoot, horizontally on to the trellis. Any other shoots must be clipped back. Once this step is completed, the grapevine will start to take shape. However, pruning will be required regularly, especially during dormant seasons, so as to keep a healthy, productive vine. Generally, hybrid grapes will require less pruning, weeding and pest control in comparison to European grape varieties. This is because hybrid grapes are more tolerant to colder climates and common grapevine pests, and normally produce less foliage than their counterparts " a great advantage for many first time growers.
The Pruning Benefits
Pruning can also reduce the crop production by removing the fruitful buds. By varying the amount that is pruned back will influence the crop level. If too much is pruned back, more shoots will grow on the vine which in turn produces more of a crop and more foliage. The more foliage on a vine results in a shady canopy which provides a poor environment for the grapes to ripen.
Pruning will rid your grapevines of fruiting canes or spurs from previous years that are no longer productive. Vines canes only produce fruit during the first year of growth, so new, healthy canes must be grown consistently to secure your next harvest. Another benefit of pruning is the ability to reduce the amount of foliage in your vine, as well having control over your grapevines production. The amount of shoots that you clip will be proportional to size of your crop. If your crop seems to have excess foliage that creates a shady canopy, make sure to increase your regular pruning in order to maximize the amount of sunlight that the vines receive.
What to Use: Pruning Tool
Hand tools like loppers, hand pruners, and handsaws are typically used to prune grapevines. The goal for the grapevine owner is to avoid unnecessary injury to the plant. Most likely, when removing shoots that are one-year-old, hand pruners can be used effectively. On the other hand, larger wood should be cut with either the lopper or a handsaw.
Pruning is a fairly simple process that grape growers consistently rely on to obtain plentiful, healthy crops. Even though it will take some time and effort to tame your grapevine, it will be very well worth the effort once you collect your first harvest of perfect wine-making grapes.
About the Author:
Pierre Duponte is a grape growing expert. He spends his time teaching others how to make fine wines. For more great tips on pruning grapes and how to make wine visit http://www.grapegrowingwinemakingtips.com/.
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