early vine training, nutrition, and canopy management joseph a. fiola, ph.d. professor and...

Early Vine Training,Nutrition,

and Canopy Management

Joseph A. Fiola, Ph.D.Professor and Specialist in Viticulture and Small Fruit

University of Maryland Extension

Canopy Management Basics

Early Vine Training• Straight up!

• Keep graft union above ground

• Keep off ground

• Tie to stake

• 2 trunks

• Trim off suckers and clusters

• Eliminate weed competition

April 6, 2001

April 24, 2001

Canopy Management Basics

Removeyoungclusters

Canopy Management Basics

Grow tubes

Grow TubesBenefits• Animal damage• Moisture• Herbicide• Growth rate• Replaces stake• Physical protection

Canopy Management Basics

Limitations• Cost• Growth rate

Trunk “twist”

• Promotes single trunk

• Diseases, insects• Removal• Winter damage

The use of milk cartons is a good, low cost alternative.

• It can disintegrate by the end of the season • Larger space allows for less humidity/moisture • >1 trunk

Canopy Management Basics

Canopy Management Basics

Train multiple trunks Train 2 trunks

Young Vine TrainingCanopy Management Basics

Grapevine Nutrition• Avoidance and correction of common nutrient

deficiencies in mid-Atlantic vineyards– Pre-plant– soil testing

- important in both pre-plant and in vineyard maintenance

• First-year vine nutrition – Mineral nutrients + organic matter and CEC

Essential Grapevine Nutrients

Obtained from air and water

Macro-nutrients

Micro-nutrients

Carbon (C) Nitrogen (N) Iron (Fe)

Hydrogen (H) Phosphorus (P) Manganese (Mn)

Oxygen (O) Potassium (K) Copper (Cu)

Calcium (Ca) Zinc (Zn)

Magnesium (Mg) Boron (B)

Sulfur (S) Molybdenum (Mo)

Others (?)

• Pre-plant

• Sampling procedure– number, distribution, depth

• Sample handling

• Labs for analysis

• Results (extent of detail will depend on lab)– pH (this will usually decrease over time – why?)– Availability of macro- and micro-nutrients (lbs/A and ppm)– Organic matter

– can be increased with organic amendments (e.g., compost) if there is a clear need

Soil Testing

Target values for soil sampling

Newly-planted vines• Most new vineyards DO NOT require a fertilizer

application.– Apply only as needed to maintain growth– Do not mistake need for water vs. need for nitrogen– On high sand soils, a small (10-20 pounds of actual N) nitrogen

application may advance vine development in the first year.– If needed apply a nitrogen based fertilizer – not a complete

fertilizer.– Applying small amounts and splitting applications via drip

irrigation is very desirable.

Phosphorus• Fertilizer phosphorus is not used efficiently; much of

the added P is “fixed” or rendered unavailable to plants

• Less available at low (<5.5) and at high pH (>7.5) • Soil test should be in > 20 ppm (>40 lbs/A).• Grapes are efficient at extracting P from soil, even

with low P content

• Most new vineyards DO NOT require P– Best determined with pre-plant soil sample

– adjust based on soil samples– Nutrient management plan needed

Potassium

• Deficiency most apt to occur with high soil pH, under conditions of drought, and with young vines (small root system).

• Moves slowly in soil– Preplant incorporation is important

• Critical for cold hardiness• Can disrupt fruit maturity – fruit pH

Nutrient Management Regulationsin Maryland

• A nutrient management plan is a formal document• Balances crop nutrient needs with applied nutrients

– commercial fertilizer, animal manure, or biosolids

• The plan contains soil test results, manure and biosolids analyses (where applicable), yield goals, and estimates of residual nitrogen to generate field-by-field nutrient recommendations.

• Required if over $2500 in sales• Contact your local Extension Office

– Nutrient Management Advisor meet with you

Canopy Management Basics

The Goal = “Ripe grapes”

Key Viticultural Goals• Balanced vine

• Uniformly, fully mature, pest free grapes

• Ripen wood to maximum maturity for cold hardiness

Canopy Management Basics

“Sunlight into Wine”Good Fruit Exposure

Canopy Management Basics

Light Exposure“Air” ExposurePesticide Exposure

Canopy Management Basics

Benefits of ProperCanopy Management

• Fruit Exposure

• Uniform Ripening

• Decreased Disease

• Increased Color

• Decreased Acidity

• Increased Volatiles

• Vine Balance

– Vigor management

• Bud Fruitfulness

• Uniform Bud Break

• Uniform Shoot Vigor

• Ease of harvest

Canopy Management Basics

Canopy Management Basics

Balance of vegetativeand reproductive vigor

Training System TermsCanopy Management Basics

Canopy Management Basics

Varietal growth habit

Vertical

Lateral

Training System Types• Single Canopies

• “VSP” Vertical Shoot Positioning• High Cordon Training

• Split Canopies Vertical• Smart-Dyson• Scott-Henry

• Split Canopies Horizontal• Lyre• Geneva Double Curtain “GDC”

Canopy Management Basics

Canopy Management Basics

Vertical Shoot Positioning

Canopy Management

Canopy Management Basics

High Cordon Training

High Cordon Training

Canopy Management Basics

Canopy Management Basics

Reactive- Leaf pulling

Shaded fruit …Shaded fruit … 2 weeks later maturity2 weeks later maturity

Increased light andtemperature helps fruit to mature

Canopy Management Basics

Benefits of ProperCanopy Management

• Fruit Exposure

• Uniform Ripening

• Decreased Disease

• Increased Color

• Decreased Acidity

• Increased Volatiles

• Vine Balance

– Vigor management

• Bud Fruitfulness

• Uniform Bud Break

• Uniform Shoot Vigor

• Ease of harvest

Joseph A. Fiola, Ph.D.Professor and Specialist in Viticulture and Small Fruit

Western MD Research & Education Center18330 Keedysville Road

Keedysville, MD 21756-1104301-432-2767 ext. 344; Fax 301-432-4089

jfiola@umd.eduwww.grapesandfruit.md.edu