Pruning Grapevines in Your Backyard During the Initial Three Years
In the world of viticulture, grapevine pruning plays a crucial role in maintaining vine health and ensuring high-quality grape production. Here's a breakdown of the pruning process, divided by the vine's growth stages.
Second Year (Training and Initial Pruning):
Train the vine by securing the trunk to the trellis wire about one foot above ground once it is long enough. Cut off the top about 2 inches above the wire. Tie one cane to the upper wire on each side of the trunk to start forming the permanent arms (cordons) of the vine.
Third Year and Subsequent Years (Mature Vine Pruning):
Pruning should be done during dormancy (late fall to early winter is best, ideally before the first snow). Avoid pruning in spring to prevent excessive sap loss and poor wound healing.
For cane pruning (common for many wine and table grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Concord): - Select two strong, sun-exposed one-year-old canes on each side of the trunk, about ¼ to ½ inch diameter with 3–4 inch internode spacing. - Cut the fruiting canes back to 10–15 buds. - Leave two renewal spurs near the base of each fruiting cane trimmed to 2 buds to produce next year’s fruiting wood.
For spur pruning (favored by some European and hybrid varieties): - Cut canes back to short spurs with 1–3 buds each. - Retain 8–10 one- or two-bud spurs on each cordon arm, depending on vine vigor.
Always adjust the number of buds left according to the vigor of your vine: larger, more vigorous vines may retain more spurs or buds, weaker vines fewer.
Key Points: - Pruning is essential because grapevines fruit only on one-year-old wood, so removing old growth ensures nutrition and sap flow to the productive parts of the vine. - A combed vine allows for quicker pruning compared to uncombed vines. - In the first growing season, remove all fruit and unwanted lateral shoots from the young vines throughout the growing season. - To determine how many buds to retain for fruiting, weigh all pruned one-year-old wood and use the pruning weight to count the number of fruiting buds to leave. - Remove old, non-productive wood to allow the vine to focus energy on fruitful canes.
Following this pruning regimen will help maintain healthy grapevines with consistent and high-quality grape production. Figures 5a and 5b illustrate the difference between an uncombed vine and a combed vine, with the latter appearing neater and having better order.
In the realm of home-and-garden activities, learning the art of cane pruning, common in viticulture for grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Concord, can enhance one's lifestyle and gardening skills. For a vibrant home-garden that also produces quality produce, consider applying the principles of grapevine pruning not only in viticulture but also in other fruiting plants to optimize their growth and output.
