Grape Schuyler 3L

Pruning table grapes is essential for maintaining the vine's health, productivity, and structure. Follow these key steps for effective pruning:

1. Timing: Prune during the dormant season, typically in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. This timing allows for a clear assessment of the vine's structure and precise pruning decisions.
2. Removing Unhealthy Wood: Cut away any dead, diseased, or damaged wood back to the main stem.
3. Selecting Main Canes: Choose well-spaced main canes and secure them along supporting wires.
4. Pruning Laterals: Cut lateral shoots back to the main canes. Select about ten lateral buds based on the available space, as these will produce the fruiting canes for the next season.
5. Maintaining Structure: Remove unwanted canes that may crowd the vine, keeping the structure open and balanced.
6. Cleanliness and Mulching: Keep the area around the plants clean and tidy. Mulch the base of the vine to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
7. Summer Pruning: Once the grapes are nearing ripeness, remove excess growth from lateral canes and leaves around the grape bunches to allow sunlight to penetrate and aid in ripening.
8. Fungal Disease Prevention: To minimize the risk of powdery and downy mildew, spray with copper in winter and from bud burst, and ensure good airflow through summer pruning.

Interesting Tip: Create a rose pillar inside a half wine barrel using wood supports to keep the pillar centered and firm. Fill the barrel with potting mix and plant your favorite grape. Tie the plant to the center pillar until it reaches the top. Pinch out the top to encourage lateral growth around the framework. Feed twice a year with general NPK fertilizer and water well during the fruiting period. Prune back at the end of winter before bud burst.