On 20 Jun, 21:19, "Paul E. Lehmann" > wrote:
> Pavel314 wrote:
>
> > "michael" > wrote
> > in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
>
>
> >>I am fairly new to growing my own vines in
> >>England,and am looking for
> >> a site to find out some of the details of
> >> pruning the vines during the summers growth.In
> >> paticular I wish to know how to deal with over
> >> vigorous growth,and whether to remove side
> >> shoots or laterals during the summers rapid
> >> growth.Cheers michael
>
> > Here are a few good sites:
>
> >http://www.canr.msu.edu/vanburen/e-1935.htm
>
> >http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1429.html
>
> > I googled "pruning grape vines" and got 159,000
> > hits.
>
> > Paul
>
> I think the OP was asking about "summer" pruning.
> The references you provided are good but do not
> address the issue of vigorous growth and what to
> do about it during the summer - unless I missed
> something - which is entirely possible in my
> chronologically advantaged state.
>
> We have a similar problem (excessive growth) here
> in the Mid Atlantic. *This year has seen
> incredible growth because of the wet spring.
>
> My advice for "summer" pruning is to:
>
> Hedge the vines so the shoots are about 4 feet
> long
>
> Keep the shoots positioned vertically and not
> allow to cross over each other
>
> Leaf pull in the fruit zone - especially on the
> eastern side. *
>
> Leaf pull throughout the canopy until you can "see
> through it". *This does not mean denuding the
> vines but merely to the point where you can tell
> if there is someone standing on the other side of
> the vine from you - NOT to the point you can
> identify them :-). *This will allow air
> circulation which is needed in areas of excessive
> vigor.
>
> All this information came from the Maryland Grape
> Growers Association (MGGA) summer field education
> program at a local vineyard and winery and was
> presented by several viticulturalist from
> Maryland and out of state.
>
> One additonal thing worth mentioning for vigorous
> growth areas:
>
> Consider cane pruning instead of cordon spur
> pruning. *Cane pruning greatly diminishes "old"
> wood. *The only "old" wood is the trunk(s). *Old
> wood provides a home for fungi. *Vineyards around
> here that have gone to cane pruning have
> experienced a lot less problem with fungus. *It
> is also a LOT easier to maintain the vines since
> you do not have a lot of shoots from old wood
> (which are non-productive) to prune away. *I have
> gone to cane pruning this year and I am very
> pleased with the results.
>
> There has always been a lot of controversy about
> vine and row spacing but some of the new
> plantings around here are going to 4 feet between
> vines and 7 foot row spacing. *They are aiming
> for 12 buds per vine. *This will typically work
> out to a yield of about 3 tons per acre or a
> little more depending on variety. This is a good
> crop load around here for producing quality
> wines.
>
> the other Paul- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks for your replies.I am always tempted to prune the strong growth
canes in early summer,but resist it,since the side growths then go mad
creating another pruning problem.I have a Double Guyot trellis
system,with the bottom wires at about 18",then two double wires and
finally the top wire at about 5' 6".So your suggested 4' canes
correspond to my top wire.My reference book suggests pruning back to
the top wire in early August(i.e.4' canes),but my vines seem to reach
the top wire by mid June! If I prune them back then,then side growths
take over,so I tend to leave them until they get very long. I do
remove leaves in the lower part of the trellis (not completely of
course) at all times during the summer,to give good air
penetration,good spray coverage(mainly wettable sulphur for powdery
mildew) and later,warmth for grape ripening.Because of the vigour of
my vines (and I am on a sloping south facing site on thin limestone
very dry soil),I do not use any fertiliser,except the occasional wood
ash for the potash and a seaweed spray to help the grape set.This
early season in England is quite cool (18-20 degrees),but not wet.The
grapes were planted about 5 years ago,and seem to be getting more
vigorous each year-the roots must be finding something in the soil
they like,but my experience when digging is that below about 1 foot
the soil become very stony-our cottage is called Rock Cottage for good
reason! I would welcome further advice,and thanks again.Cheers,Michael