My last update was a year ago, almost to the day, so I’m due. Having taken a quick look at last year’s photo, I’d wager a guess the vines are 3-4 times larger this year. At least. The shot on the left is of a vine reaching over the top trellis wire, almost 6′ high. Although I have stragglers of a couple other varietals, I’ll generally be focusing on two: Frontenac, and Frontenac Gris.
A few big changes this year. First, weather. Spring was late with no hard freeze or snow post-bud burst like last year. Last year our late May nastiness killed many to the ground for a few weeks. So 2011 has been smooth sailing in that respect. Next big difference is pruning. Last year I pruned them back to one bud, with the intent on having them send one shoot which would form the main trunk in future years. That’s what the book says… Worked last year training-wise. But come spring, it was evident that my long trunk canes were winter killed. All of them. So this spring I didn’t prune at all. I figure they can go crazy for a year to develop some mature wood and pump some solar energy into their roots – I’ll worry about the trunk training later. Winter kill is something I’m going to have to figure out on my own. Viticulture advice generally isn’t geared for this growing zone. Last big change: fruit. Some of the vines are deciding to fruit this year [see bottom photo], and although it’s only year 3, and I should be waiting for year 4 by the book [ie. pinch off all fruit clusters this year], there are only a few and I’m curious what they’ll do.
Like last year, June is hard on them aphid-wise. They drove me nuts last year, but I let them be and by later in the summer, aphids were no longer an issue. With far more vigorous growth and vegetative mass this year, I’m not worried about them. I give the bottom trellis wire a periodic shake if I walk by to piss them, but otherwise no intervention.
I’ve mentioned to many that my fervor for grape growing has been tempered significantly by my successes in ‘orchard fruit‘ wine [like the term, I credit Xina Chrapko, organic wine maker in our province]. But I can tell you that I’m glad I planned ahead 4 years ago and put them in. I’m getting the sense that I’ll be very glad I did a few years down the road.
5 Comments on “Viticulture Update”
What variety are you growing? I have 2 ‘Valiant’ vines that I started last year … they have a few leaves, but are just barely making it. Admittedly, a sheep got into the garden and ate the first leaves, but …
You say you are 3 years in … guess I have to wait a bit longer, eh?
AJC – Frontenac, Frontenac Gris, Sabrevois, and Louise Swenson. I obtained them all from a grape grower in Quebec, and they’re all geared toward wine. Supposedly 4 years before first harvest is the norm. With serious winterkill, I suspect that may take longer.
Once they get going and produce, I’m betting you wish you would have planted more :-)
Awesome to see they are surviving!!
I’d like to plant grapes, but will have to wait till our next house…
Just curious if you preserved the leaves for making dolmades. As always inspired by your thoroughness and dedication to your craft. Enjoying all of your new words too !
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for the post, nice to see whats happening with other grapes in the area. Have some nice clusters this year on our St. Croix and Acadie Blanc vines. Had some winter kill becuase of the early hard freeze we had (-6) in Edmonton September 15, 2010 – canes/buds had not hardened off enought yet to withstand that cold. Good luck with the Frotenac sisters. Neighbor down the street has Frontenac but can’t get it to ripen in our climate. But his Vandal Cliche does great.
http://houseofvines.blogspot.com/2011/06/edmonton-grapes-spring-2011.html