Learn About Pruning Grape Vines
Growing grapes to make your own wine is a popular hobby an for some a thriving business and pruning grapes vines is essential if you are to be successful.
Whether you grow grapes for pleasure or profit, you'll need work and dedication to maintain a grapevine which produces grapes good enough to make wine. Like most plants, your vines will need to be kept free of weeds and pests and will have to be pruned if you want to have a good harvest. It can take up to three years for a grapevine to produce grapes which can be used to produce wine and during this period the vine will need careful maintenance, including pruning. Pruning involves trimming the vine to encourage more growth and must be done properly.
Whether you grow grapes for pleasure or profit, you'll need work and dedication to maintain a grapevine which produces grapes good enough to make wine. Like most plants, your vines will need to be kept free of weeds and pests and will have to be pruned if you want to have a good harvest. It can take up to three years for a grapevine to produce grapes which can be used to produce wine and during this period the vine will need careful maintenance, including pruning. Pruning involves trimming the vine to encourage more growth and must be done properly.
Pruning Grape Vines
Vines which are not pruned can grow out of control and this results in poor quality grapes.
In order to maintain the grape vine's size, shape, and productivity, you will have to train your vines, which can take several years. Since vines are thin, you will need to put up a trellis first. Vines should be allowed to grow from one strong shoot directly from the roots. If any further shoots sprint up from the roots, these should be clipped back.
The main shoot should be tied vertically to the trellis. Following the ensuing dormant period, you will have to develop the arms of the vine. Two shoots on either side of the main shoot are tied horizontally to the trellis and these act as the base for the fruit or the arms. All other shoots are trimmed back to stop them growing.
Once the vine's basic shape has been established, pruning continues during the dormant periods. Pruning during dormant states throughout the life of the vine is vital to the production of your wine making grapes.
In order to maintain the grape vine's size, shape, and productivity, you will have to train your vines, which can take several years. Since vines are thin, you will need to put up a trellis first. Vines should be allowed to grow from one strong shoot directly from the roots. If any further shoots sprint up from the roots, these should be clipped back.
The main shoot should be tied vertically to the trellis. Following the ensuing dormant period, you will have to develop the arms of the vine. Two shoots on either side of the main shoot are tied horizontally to the trellis and these act as the base for the fruit or the arms. All other shoots are trimmed back to stop them growing.
Once the vine's basic shape has been established, pruning continues during the dormant periods. Pruning during dormant states throughout the life of the vine is vital to the production of your wine making grapes.
Results of Proper Grape Pruning
Tools for Pruning Grapes
The way that the grapevine is pruned is based mainly on the type of grapes. Hybrid varieties were developed to be hardier during the winter and to have more resistant to disease. They tend to produce less foliage then the traditional types of grapevines. The annual pruning removes the previous years fruiting canes or spurs. Because fruit is only produced on shoots growing from one-year-old canes, healthy new canes must be produced by the vine every year.
Pruning can also reduce the crop production by removing the fruitful buds. Varying the amount which is pruned will influence the size of the crop. When a large amount of pruning is carried out, back, more shoots will grow and this will result in a bigger crop and more foliage. Too much foliage creates a shady canopy which can look attractive but is actually a poor environment for ripening the grapes.
Hand tools such asloppers, handsaws or pruners, are frequently used in grapevine pruning. It is important to prune with care, thus avoiding unnecessary injury to the vine. Hand pruners are particularly effective cutting year old shoots, while a handsaw or a lopper is better for cutting larger wood
Pruning can also reduce the crop production by removing the fruitful buds. Varying the amount which is pruned will influence the size of the crop. When a large amount of pruning is carried out, back, more shoots will grow and this will result in a bigger crop and more foliage. Too much foliage creates a shady canopy which can look attractive but is actually a poor environment for ripening the grapes.
Hand tools such asloppers, handsaws or pruners, are frequently used in grapevine pruning. It is important to prune with care, thus avoiding unnecessary injury to the vine. Hand pruners are particularly effective cutting year old shoots, while a handsaw or a lopper is better for cutting larger wood
More Information About Growing Grapes
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