Winter Pruning Tips
Our Vineyard/Farm Manager, Greg Kukta, has some helpful tips for the home gardener about winter pruning.
Winter pruning is important for all flower/ fruit bearing plants. Pruning grapes is especially important for vine balance and fruit production. It is best to wait until January to start. We normally begin Jan. 2nd every year. While pruning, you must keep in mind how the plant will grow in the coming year. Always be sure to cut shoots at an angle so water will run off. The most common pruning we do is called cane pruning. We cut each shoot down to live wood (it will have a green tint when its cut) leaving two buds per shoot. This will produce two new shoots in the spring. 80 percent of the training and tying should be done at this time, make sure the cordon is secured to the fruiting wire and the vine has not girdled around wire. This will save a lot of work during the growing season. We also trim the trunks of the vine ensuring that the nutrients make it up to the shoots that are producing grape bunches. Pruned correctly and the vine will stay healthy and produce to its maximum potential.
Greg pruning shoots vine grape cane trim wintergardening grapevines
