Jeff,

Here's my 2 cents. I assume from what you have already said that you
cane prune. If that is correct and you already have shoots closer to
the middle of the vine picked out for next year, if the unfruitful
shoot is inbetween 2 fruitful shoots on the cane, I would take it off.
There always SEEMS to be pleny of room eary in the growing season BUT
once the laterals start growing it might get a little tight.

Bob

jeff wrote:
> Thanks for the reply. I've already isolated next years fruiting canes. The
> shoots I'm referring to are further along this years fruiting canes, and
> won't be needed next year. Even so, I'm leaning along the same lines as your
> comment about carbohydrate generation. They don't seem to be providing
> excessive shade for my fruit as yet (still early). Keeping them for that
> reason seems to out weight the nutrition they rob from my fruiting shoots. I
> suppose, if they provide more for the vine than what they take, they are
> worth keeping.
>
> Regards
> Jeff
>
>
>
> "Paul E. Lehmann" > wrote in message
> ...
> > jeff wrote:
> >
> >> on fruiting canes developing a series of fruit bearing shoots, as well as
> >> non-fruiting shoots...should non-fruiting shoots generally be pinched
> >> off,
> >> or should they be left on for photosynthetic value?
> >>
> >> Jeff
> >
> > Jeff, this depends on a couple things. Think ahead to next year. If you
> > think you will need these shoots to be spurs for next year - and or to
> > replace some "antlers" that you currently have for spurs this year, then
> > don't prune them. If they are not needed for future spurs and they are
> > excessively shading your fruiting spurs then it would probably be a good
> > idea to prune them providing you have sufficient follage for generating
> > carbohydrates needed by the roots and vine.