I never quite understood how removal of leaves would help grapes to ripen,
wine grapes or otherwise. Isn't it leaves which produce the carbohydrates
which cause the fruit to ripen? So doesn't the vine want all the
leaves-per-cluster possible?
tc, s.WI, might harvest more grapes if area had fewer raccoons
----Original Message Follows----
From: "Lon J. Rombough" <>
To: North American Fruit Explorers <>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Grape Arbor
Date: Fri, 5 Aug 2005 07:29:44 -0700
Sounds like the variety is too vigorous for the size of the arbor, if you
are pruning it correctly each winter. Leaf pulling to expose the fruit
isn't really necessary with most table grapes. It's more important with some
wine grapes. More important is that the vine isn't overcropped. If crop
load is right, fruit should ripen fine, assuming it's not too late a variety
for your area.
-Lon Rombough
Grapes, writing, consulting, my book, The Grape Grower, at
http://www.bunchgrapes.com Winner of the Garden Writers Association "Best
Talent in Writing" award for 2003.
On Aug 5, 2005, at 5:07 AM, Thomas Olenio wrote:
Hello all,
I have a 10x10 grape arbor and wonder about fruit ripening and pruning?
Every year the arbor puts on a very dense canopy that creates total
shade. The canopy is about one foot deep.
I have read that when you approach harvest you can/should prune back the
canopy to allow the sun to shine on ripening fruit, to hasten the process.
When my grapes begin to turn color, should/can I prune back the top canopy
to allow more sun? How much canopy can I remove?