Fall.

Leaves have fallen for the year. Any near the rows are raked and burned to kill any mildew that could remain.

Disease

Almost all of the vines suffered from what looks to be like downy mildew. The vines weren't sprayed after heavy rainfall and the issue went unchecked. Most of the old growth leaves were damaged. I purchased a biofungacide from southern ag which seems to be preventing any spread of the disease. A more rigorous spray schedule will be put together for the next season.

August Pruning

Some of the growth is pruned off vines that were vigorous, and trunks are tied to establish cordons.

Cover crops between rows (white clover, this year) is filling in. This will provide nitrogen after tills.

Vine Training

 

Additional wires are being added to create a new training system called vertical shoot positioning. This system is being used more predominantly for vinifera in growing regions in the state such as Yadkin Valley

The trellis was originally designed as a mid wire cordon, since it's simplier and less costly, but it is not as suitable for the varieties being grown. VSP maximizes sunlight exposure, creating more of a hedge than a canopy as the foliage is tucked between sets of wires.

July 2016

Several trunks have already become vigorous enough to begin training on the 30 inch wires. They are tied to the wire to establish a trunk for the following season.

 We planted roses on the ends of the rows. Roses and grape vines are suspect to the same diseases, and roses act as an early warning for fungal disease, but for a vineyard this small, they're mostly cosmetic.

June 2016

Vine growth has turned out to be quite vigorous. In short time, many vines have neared the bottom wire and will continue upward unless tied and trained to wires. We are installing a VSP system which will be set at 30 inches for the cordons and each vine will have two trained trunks, left and right. We've started to plant white clover between rows as a nitrogen producing and weed reducing cover crop.

Currently, the vines are being sprayed with sulfur applications to control mildew. An insecticide had to be used to deal with Japanese beetles that were starting to eat away the foliage.

May 2016

A young vine begins to grow out of the graft union a few weeks after planting.