Ken,

What grapevines are you growing? What rootstock, if any, are they on?
What type of soil do you have? What's the PH? DO they get AT LEAST 8
hrs of sunlight? What is the vine spacing right now?


Bob

"Ken Anderson" > wrote in message >...
> > Ken, I wouldn't remove anything but new growth (green vines) until dormancy.
> > If you cut any of the brown vines you will cause excess "bleeding" and give
> > problems a place to enter the vine.
> >
> > You can talk about this to 20 grape raisers and get 20 different answers. I
> > attended a pruning class put on by a University, and then went to a friends
> > house and he did it a lot different and produced an excess of grapes each
> > year. Pick out the way that most appeals to you and go with it.
> >
> > My brother had one grape plant that had been allowed to grow approximately
> > 4 - 5 meters both ways along a fence, with no pruning. It had been there
> > for about 15 years and produced some grapes, but not many. I pruned it for
> > him without cutting them any shorter the first year. The following year he
> > produced a record amount of grapes on one vine. The following year we cut
> > them some shorter, but did the required pruning on the existing vines and
> > they did very well again.
> >
> > What I like to do is to allow two laterals to grow at one meter in height
> > (and attach them to a wire going in opposite directions - East and West is
> > best), and two more at 11/2 to 2 meters high, and stop the lateral growth at
> > about 1 1/2 to 2 meters long in each direction.
> >
> > Then the laterals (cordons) produce branches (canes). The canes will then
> > grow and produce leaves and buds. Dont allow then to grow any closer than 6
> > to 8 CM apart.
> >
> > Then during your pruning in February or early March, but before dormancy is
> > broke, prune the canes back leaving 2 buds on each. Then if the weather
> > cooperates and you dont have other problems, you will enjoy your grapes.
> >
> > If you would like to send me your e-mail adress, I would be happy to try to
> > send you a copy of my final notes from the pruning class.
> >
> > Dwayne
> >
> >
> Pruning the green wood seems to make sense.
>
> I'm planning on using the training method that a nearby vineyard uses.
> Check out "The Markko Trellis" on the left.
> http://www.markko.com/
>
> Dwayne, I'lI also send this direct. I would read any pruning notes you have,
> if it's not too much bother. Thanks!
> Ken