I have a number of Himrod/Interlakken/Suffolk vines that I have planted last spring and trained them to a single shoot (which will form my trunk). Most have grown long enough to have them reach their support structure (some have grown 20'!). Now, this being the second spring, they are starting to break bud and produce shoots at every bud node all the way up to their support wires. Seeing as I want to concentrate my growth to form the structure of my vine this year, should I be breaking these side shoots off and letting only the buds that will form the 'arms' of my vines go? Is now the time to do this, or should I do this later? For the buds that have not broken yet, should I be pinching these off too? Thank you very much for any input. Joe
It sounds they are really vigorous there for I would leave at least 4 shoots growing (2 in each direction along fruiting wire) till plants are established, remove all other buds and shoots. Himrod are very vigorous, Interlaken less so, I am not familiar with Suffolk, good luck Tobias Smit
I would not let two arms grow on the very same wire in each direction. Leaving one arm per wire in each direction is the correct method. Wine is a product of sunlight. It follows, then, that to get the best wine (or table grapes) the winegrower must make the best use of sunlight. Trellising—how the grape vine is trained to grow on wires or posts to expose its leaves and fruit to the sun—is a key tool in achieving this goal. It is possible to have a double wire configeration, such as the Geneva Double Curtain trellis, or the Lyre trellis methods, which looks somewhat like a "Y" configeration. Using these style , double arms could be achieved. - Millet
it is a common practice to leave extra canes in the earlier part of the growing season and to remove two canes to slow down the vigor of the vines if the vines are too vigorous grapes ripen late and will have poor acid,sugar and ph balance ( I have grown grapes commercially since1972)Tobias
Tobias, what you write is interesting. I have not heard of the double cane method to restrain a vigorous variety. I grow mostly wine grapes, however, I do grow some table grapes. The most vigorous table grape that I grow is Himrod. I have never used, nor seen, the two cane method used to reduce vigorous growth. I have always relied on pruning and thinning of such vines. I intend to look further into the two cane philosophy. Is the two cane method similar to leaving additional buds on a single cane, then balancing the vine later? At what stage is the second cane removed? However it is two late for this year as all the vines have already been pruned. I do thank you. - Regards, Millet
we train the fruiting wood along the wire and loosely attach the other two canes without wrapping them (some people just let them hang), by the time new growth is 4 or so inches long two quick snips and a lot of work is done. On really vigorous de suckering trunks etc. is left as long as possible when your grapes are a little older you can use this method as well also make sure if you are using rootstocks that you do not bury the graft if that happens the grape clone above the graft root itself an can cause problems down the road
Vanessa, Einset, Reliance and Canadice are much better choices than Suffolk Red. http://www.bunchgrapes.com/suffolk_red_grapes.html Tobias you live in my old stomping grounds I lived there for seven years. Cheers
