SUCKERING AND CLEANING UP THE VINES

Vines grow as if they were small trees with the "head (or hat) pruning" technique. Foliage (usually) protects the bunches from sunburn and frost, yet allows enough light on the fruit to ripen. Click to see each photo in the three groups below. Photo One: A typical Chenin Blanc cane (life size) on May 1st. Photo Two: The same vine on May 8th. The baby bunches have lengthened and there is more foliage. The grapes will flower (for five days) in about three weeks.

COVERED UP! COMING OUT!

Photo One: The cover crop (clover) has moved into the spray strip near the vine. Photo Two: Rabbits and bugs hide in the weeds! Jim clears the weeds and ties up the dominant shoot. He tips, rather than plucks off, the smaller shoot in case the main shoot is damaged. Photo One: This plant's a year older. It won't produce for another two years, but it's time to take the "diaper" off. Photo Two: Aaron removes the milk carton and the green growth below his knee, then rubs the buds harshly so they scar and don't grow back. This is "suckering."

MOTHER NATURE DOES HER BEST AND WORST...

_____Inasmuch that we would like to have "perfectly average" years, we can't stop a late frost. Baby grapes are exposed, and the tender leaves around them are burnt. The grapes are not hurt by this because they have not bloomed. _____Our cousins graze cattle in our fallow fields. Calves get cold in a frost, but they always have warm milk!

TYPICAL FROST DAMAGE

LEFT: The old Zinfandel down in a swail got the brunt of three nights of late season frost and was parched by strong winds on the fourth day. RIGHT: Some of our baby plants are jelly because the hard frost burst the delicate xylem of their shoots. We treat this problem like it's winter again and cut the damaged shoots back to renew the growth.