Installed T-Post and pruning new vines today
Today was a great day in the vineyard. It was like a spring day, 60deg and not a cloud in the sky. Added the remaining 7 T-Post and tightened the wire. After lots of research I decided to use high cordon trellis system on the new Blanc Dubois vines. Plus that’s what I’m using on the other vines.
The wire is held in place with a clip. Pretty simple system that is easy to work with.
Decided to go ahead and prune the new vines I planted a couple of weeks ago. When you get new vines, they can have 1-3 years of growth that need to be trimmed to a single strong vine. I put the strongest of wood trimmed from vines in a bucket of water so they don’t dry out. I later planted these in potting soil after dipping in root hormone to promote rooting. I’ll keep them in the shop with no light so they don’t break bud too soon.
Here’s the same vine partially trimmed.
Done with all the cuts and nicked out all but the top three buds. After bud break I will select the strongest bud and pinch off the other two. I only need one to grow up to the top wire.
This is a Lomanto grapevine I planted last year. That is a huge vine from one year of growth. I planted 10 but after seeing the vigor of this vine, I decided to add more Black Spanish this winter as it’s not near as vigorous. This means I wont need to trim and train the vines near as much. I’m still searching for the right vines for the terroir of my farm.
I also planted several types of Muscadines. This is a Noble vine. They are very vigorous but still not near as much as the Lomanto.
Turned the garden over just before it got dark. Long good day on the farm.
Adding Blanc Dubois grapevines and more Black Spanish
Decided to add a row of Blanc Dubois grapevines to the vineyard. 30 vines to be exact. Living in the South we are limited to types of vines we can grow due to pierce disease. After a lot of research I decided on this vine. Plus I needed some white grapes, I’ve only planted red to date. I hear some people don’t want or like a red wine. Don’t understand that, but okay, white will be added. The Black Spanish did pretty good last year so I decided to add another half row. I now have about 30 of those vines as well. They didn’t have issues like the Lomanto did last year. They also don’t grow near as fast. With the vigor less, should make it easier to work with.
My poor wet, tired feet.
Hiding from you
Shhhh just walk by. You see nothing…. Found this little guy hiding out in one of the growth tubes around my grapevines.
Lime application
Put down about a 900lbs of lime today. PH was a little low. Trying to get it up to 6.5 from 5.9 – 6.0.
Japanese beetles are attacking
Well, I leaned a valuable lesson today. I found beetles on my grapevines last week, so I picked up some beetle bags with attractant. It works great, just don’t put near your grapevines. I had bags on each end of the rows and the vines closest to bag were covered with jap beetle and the vines in the middle had few. Note to self: put bags far away from vines next year. Checkout the bag of beetles. I mean what do you do with these things? Also, after a few days of decaying beetles, those bags stink it up pretty good.
Grapevine and Muscadine update
Every week they need to be trained to the wire. Purchased a great taping tool that makes the training quick. No issues with blackrot or other fungus yet, and no bugs yet.
Better view of first grapes
Just before I snubbed them out. It will only make the vines and roots stronger to not let them set this year. Still cool looking don’t you think? I can grow grapes!
They are alive!
The grapevines and muscadines are alive and growing well. First cluster of grapes. Shame I have to pinch off. Can’t let them grow the first two years.
Planted Grapevines today
The Lomanto and Black Spanish grape vines came in this week. 9 of each. Just enough to test them out and see if this is what I want to grow. Once in the ground I put some grow tubes on them like the Muscadines. They help them grow faster and keep animals off the young shoots.
Before and After
Lasterday Wines 
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