Secrets of Grapevine Pruning During the First Growth Season

You ordered your grape stocks about 6, maybewill give you better yields.
12, months ago. It is now spring and they've justThe objective of the first growing season is to
been delivered. Or maybe you've grown yourdevelop a straight upright trunk that eventually
own plants the previous spring and have takenreaches the cordon wire of the trellis. If the
them out of storage. The holes are dug and youdeveloping canes fall over, vertical growth at the
are now ready to plant out your vineyard - atterminal cane will be held up and the lateral buds
last! Let me give you my first secret grapevinesat the highest point on the cane will begin to
pruning tip. Here's something I would recommendgrow. This will hamper correct trunk development.
you do before actually planting your grapevines.It is therefore necessary to tie the developing
Pruning them back to retain only the strongestcanes to stakes (using twines) and remove lateral
cane is much easier when done before planting.shoots. When the trunk reaches the desired wire,
Sometimes, two canes can be retained dependingpinch off the tip of the trunk at the lateral shoots
on whether the plant will be trained to a single- orjust below the height of the cordon wire and train
a double-trunk system or as insurance against onethe shoots in opposite directions along that wire. If
cane failing. For the canes remaining on yourusing a trellis system with 2 or more levels of
grapevines, pruning each back to only threecordon wires, pinch off the tip only when the
strong buds will provide the basis for a good vinetrunk reaches the top wire. Removing lateral
structure. Remember to trim off any broken orshoots and any grape clusters at bloom will also
overly long roots too. Grapevines pruning, whenpromote vertical growth.
done properly, allows your vineyard to:Any leaves growing on the developing canes
should be retained as they produce the required
1. Develop good, strong vine structurecarbohydrates for nourishing your grapevines.
2. Optimize canopy sunlight exposurePruning during the first growing season promotes
3. Produce high quality grapes and optimize yieldtrunk development at the expense of root
4. Promote next year's fruiting wood growthdevelopment. A stronger root system promotes
5. Reduce disease and insect damagebetter top growth the following year. There is an
With grapevines pruning, your ability to identifyargument for not performing any grapevines
good quality fruiting canes to retain for cropping ispruning at all during the first year - just train all
critical. Here's my second secret grapevinescanes up to the desired wire. Which option to
pruning tip: When the green shoots on yourfollow will depend on what other vineyard
grapevines mature through late summer and fall,management practices you have in place.
you will see a change in color from green toGrapevines pruning is an ongoing vineyard
reddish-brown as they develop a layer of barkmaintenance task that needs to be performed
(periderm) and become hard. Pencil thick, round,every year. The first 3 years are critical as each
well-browned canes with plump buds about 3 toseason's activity has a different objective. Come
3.5 inches apart make the healthiest grapevines.back for more insights on all you need to know
Pruning off flattened canes with poor color andabout growing grapevines, pruning methods and
long internodes will leave the best wood for nextmore of my secret tips. In the meantime, get to
year's crop. Selecting canes that have developedit - do not be afraid to cut back your grape vines
outside the canopy and had exposure to sunlight- they love it!