Our main focus the past couple weeks has been to GET THE TRELLIS UP! We've been pounding posts, nailing, splicing, stretching and tying...
The Training System
Of the many options there are for a training system for the grape vines, we decided to use what's called "high bi-lateral cordon", or "high wire" for all of our cultivars.
Vine trained to multiple shoots to maximize leaf area.
The most common issue that we have seen in midwest vineyards has been overly vigorous growth, (multiple leaf layers) causing excessive shading in the canopy. This increases the potential of disease, decreased fruit quality---fruit shaded by leaves/not exposed to sun will affect the clusters ability to ripen appropriately, decreased fruitfulness for following years, and reduced ability for vines to harden off before the first frost.
Most of the cultivars we have chosen to grown have a natural tendency to grow downward (procumbant). Downward growth is known to devigorate the vines. The "high wire" training/trellis will allow for downward growth with the fruiting zone near the top wire.
Our first year of growth we have been focusing on maximizing leaf area for increased root system. For that reason we have kept multiple shoots growing, vs. choosing one shoot to grow for the future trunk. When it comes time to prune in late winter/early spring of year 2, we will prune to two shoots/trunks. We will then focus on establishing the cordon.
Most of the cultivars we have chosen to grown have a natural tendency to grow downward (procumbant). Downward growth is known to devigorate the vines. The "high wire" training/trellis will allow for downward growth with the fruiting zone near the top wire.
Our first year of growth we have been focusing on maximizing leaf area for increased root system. For that reason we have kept multiple shoots growing, vs. choosing one shoot to grow for the future trunk. When it comes time to prune in late winter/early spring of year 2, we will prune to two shoots/trunks. We will then focus on establishing the cordon.
The Trellis
The past weekend we accomplished our goal of finishing the trellis for the "Knoll", furthest southwest area of the vineyard. This was quite a relief as they had outgrown their bamboo canes and needed something else to hang on to.
Will putting a 5'x10' post into position to pound.
We continued our 8'x10' spacing, (8 feet between vines, and 10 feet between rows). We used 4"x8' posts every 24 feet, each pounded 2 feet, 4 inches deep. There are three vines between each pair of posts. The H-brace was our choice for the end assembly. The end post is a 5"x10' post pounded 4 feet deep.
There were a few 5"x10' posts that hit a few rocks on the way down... Bring out the auger!
We nailed our wires at 36" and the top wire at 62".
Next step was to tie up our shoots.
Rain delay! Always looking for an excuse to go to DQ.
The "Knoll" finished... What's next??
Why more of this of course... ;o) Our current goal is to finish pounding the posts for the "Middle Place", this contains our Marqette, La Crescent, Brianna, and Frontenac vines.
Will laying out the posts.
The fun that lies ahead---you might be able to see the posts laying across the rows ready to be pounded... It is actually pretty amazing to see the dramatic change in the landscape with the posts in the ground---really starting to look like a vineyard now!
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