North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Mark and Alisha Fehringer" <markandalishafehringer@peetzplace.com>]

Hi,

 

We received a major hailstorm on August 8 which defoliated grapes to the tune of 65-95% leaf loss.  It also caused major damage to young trees and new grafts.  The grapes are regrowing nicely from the leaf node buds.  However, these are the buds that would have grown out next spring, and so are throwing out flower clusters with the new shoots.  Will picking these flower clusters off the vines help them harden off, or is it late enough in the season that it won't matter?  Our 'average' first frost is in the first week of October.  I am also seeing T-budded trees push out the new bud due to the damage, but I don't see that anything can be done for them.

 

Thanks,

 

Mark

Northeast Colorado,  4500' elevation, z 4.