Apples and Peaches are ready
Apples and peaches are ready to pick.
The Birds the Birds…
I was so looking forward to testing the sugar levels in the Lomanto grapes today, but the birds beat me to it. I only let a few bunches grow this year, but all were stripped clean. Here is what was left…
Water Leak in Drip Irrigation
Some of the new vines weren’t looking that great with the tendrils stunted and not leading the shoot growth. Clear sign the plant isn’t getting enough water. After a quick test found a leak on the low pressure side of the plumbing. Bet the tractor hit the cover and caused the issue. Hour later, we were back up running good again.
Blue Berries are Ready
Koda and I picked some Blue berries today. Second year plants and producing pretty good.
Dakota learns how to work and have fun on the farm
Very proud of my youngest this weekend! He’s 8.5 yrs old and would rather play on an iPad or game console than work outside in the sun. I learned early on in life what hard work was all about from my dad and thought it was time to teach Koda. In life we get to play after we do our work. So I promised I would teach him how to ride the 4wheeler after he helped me tie up the vines and irrigation lines. I showed him once what to do, and he quickly mastered the tasks and then took off on his own trying up the lines. Here I’m teaching him how to ride the 4wheeler. Don’t freakout about him not wearing a helmet. I promise he will wear one next time he gets on it.
Motorcycles, 4-wheelers, cars, and anything with a motor, once mastered is like a drug. We (boys and men) love riding anything that has a motor in it and will do most anything to get to drive it again. So more life lessons follow. I showed him how to drive the 4wheeler up to the stones and rocks on the side of the vineyard and then load them in the trailer. He would then drive further up and repeat. He filled the trailer halfway up today. Check out this video.
My little working man tuckered out. He is a great helper and loves the farm. He must have told me 50 times how he loves being down there and wish papa was still here to see it. Meeee tooooo.
Lomanto grapes are filling out nicely!
These Lomanto grapes are getting huge and knock on wood, no rot yet. I must have started spraying early enough to prevent it. I can’t wait until next year when I can have a good crop. It will be two more years before we get a full crop. Now you know why it takes so long for wine to age. It actually starts from when you plant the vines. Three years for a partial crop and 4-5 for a full crop.
Black Spanish grapes are coming along
This is a month after bloom and looking good. These grapes don’t have as tight of a cluster at the Lomanto. The spacing should help with Black Rot and Powdery Mildew.
Black Spanish Grapes are in full bloom
The Black Spanish grapes are blooming this week! I know I was supposed to pinch off all the grapes this year, but I decided to let each vine set one or two cluster so I could get a good idea when the grape’s bloom, veraison (change color), and harvest time. Plus I’m curious about size, taste, color and sugar content of the grapes.
I also fertilized and sprayed again this weekend. From now up to another 4 weeks are when they are most susceptible to black rot and other fungus issues.
Fruit thinning and I might need stitches
Sad day in vineyard today! Not supposed to let the fruit set the first two years on you grapevines. I had to go through and pinch off all the small bunches of grapes.
Technically these are just the pre-bloom buds, and not grapes yet. First they flower then start making fruit. On the bright side the vines are producing hundreds of these little guys. I bet I just pinched off what would have been the equivalent of several hundred pounds of fruit if left to mature.
And while not paying attention in the tool shed, I slipped and fell on my bush axe. I had my gloves on so minimal damage. On the bright side, I didn’t lose an appendage and I learned how to superglue my cut shut. Of course I used some hydrogen peroxide first to clean it up. The glue really does work. I was able to get right back to work. No trip to the ER today!
Before and After
Lasterday Wines 
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