March is a busy time in the vineyard pruning last years growth away to allow for healthy new growth. The Concord plants are always the first varietal we prune as they are the most winter hearty. This year we spur trained the Concords, and renewed cordons as opportunities presented in the vineyard.
Since last year was the first year our Chambourcin vines reached the top wire, we have decided to attempt a VSP style training. Due to the deer pressure we have in our vineyard, we are placing the 2 cordons about 4 & 1/2 feet off the ground in hopes that the deer will find the growth less intriguing. The bulk of this patch is on its fourth year of growth, as so, we are hopefully that they will bear a nice partial harvest here in 2021. Our little helpers helped removed the tree tubes that helped them concentrate their growth upward. Luckily, we had a mild winter since it would have been better for the plants cold hardiness to take the tubes off by September last fall. Time will tell if leaving the tubes on until late winter has resulted in any winter damage. |
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