North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["H.Dessureault" <inter.verbis@atreide.net>]

Last year, in town (zone 5) I noticed a grape vine growing on a metal structure covering a roof like structure over a patio, that must have been 16X16. There were grapes clusters hanging from this vegetation roof at regular intervals. Quite a sight!The grapes were big and had a reddish blush, slowly turning red (August). A masterpiece of pruning and know how. The grape variety is unknown.

 

As the world belongs to those who seek, I was standing at the closed entrance of the patio peeking over the fence, when an older gentleman came out of the house.

I explained my interest. He had trouble resisting the temptation of showing off his vine, of course. So he invited me on the patio and explained me how he had trained it. Now, he spoke mainly Portugese so it was a bit difficult, but manageable, particularly that we had the example at hand.

 

The whole area was covered by one single grape vine, the trunk of which was about five inches in diameter. Ten years of growth, he said, and obviously a lot of work for the training as the branches were attached everywhere to the structure.

 

His method was that he chose two branches which he attached on temporary post to grow upward the first year so as to reach the structure above our head (You need not only a structure [which you have] but a structure plan for the vine). After the first growing season he had pruned back those branches to two buds of new growth. That made four branches of new growth, the next year. During the next growing season, you attach the four branches where you want them to go on your structure and eliminate the growth of other branches that are undesired as they appear if you wish or when you do your major pruning. The next winter, you prune back the selected branches to two buds of new growth which will probably grow branches with some flowers and hopefully grapes. If not, then the following year for sure. By then the trellis, that I imagine you have, is covered with wood that will grow lots of shoots in every directions every year that you will have a lots of fun to keep under control. Grapes grow more aggressively than roses.

 

I have seen Canadice in zone 4, but in your area, it should be ideal. There is a wine maker near State College in Pennsylvania who has some Canadice as part of his vineyard, as I remember. I think he mixes his grapes to make wine. He wins prizes every year with his white wines annd the year that I visited he had just started a red wine which he had called "Tail Gate Red". The perfect red wine for picnics!

 

Good luck!

Hélène

----- Original Message -----

From: Ginda Fisher

To: NAFEX

Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2001 9:57 PM

Subject: [nafex] More grape pruning questions

Thanks for all the advice.  I have also read the planting guides
provided by some merchants.  I have come up with a plan to train my
canadice grape to my "rose arch", and would appreciate criticism and
other comments.

The arch is about 7 feet tall, 5 feet wide, and 15 inches deep.  For
practical purposes, it is two large upside-down "U"s with 15" connectors
between them in several places.  There is one set of connectors right
where it turns in (near the top) and there's another set on the upper
portion, so the 5' is broken into three roughly equal sections by four
connectors.

The vine is now a little above the connector where the top bends in.  I
am thinking I might let a few buds grow this year, and train the
strongest stem across the top.  I will train another along the
connector.  Next year, I will let the one across the top grow four stems
- one towards each of the four connectors along the top.  Then I will
prune these back, and try to maintain four fruiting stumps, one by each
connector.

I have no idea how vigorous the vine is, and if trying to train it to
this scale makes sense.  The grape has to find some way to grow on the
arch though, wire trellises and "T" pruning is not an option in the
yard.

Best,
Ginda
Eastern Mass, zone 6, where today was a perfect planting day.
Blueberries, a currant, a raspberry, and some evergreen huckleberries
from a generous NAFEXer in the Pacific NW.  Signs of spring everywhere.


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