Seasonal Primer for Grape Production
Edith Byrne, Association Program Educator I
Lake Erie Regional Grape Program
March 14, 2013

Winter - What to be doing:
- Prune (winter hardy varieties first, followed by less hardy varieties in late winter/early spring)
Watch Pruning Concords Video: http://youtu.be/IB8klKkn4_s
Watch Pruning Wine Grapes Video: http://youtu.be/r6kRGrir39Q - Renewals - during pruning, mark vines that need replaced, plant layers
- Repair equipment
Watch: Calibration of Airblast Sprayers for Vineyards. Part 1 Selecting and Changing Nozzles. US version by Andrew Landers
Calibration of Airblast Sprayers for Vineyards. Part 2 Measuring Liquid Flow. US version by Andrew Landers
Visit Andrew Landers web page: http://entomology.cornell.edu/cals/entomology/people/andrew-landers.cfm - Purchase fertilizers (after obtaining soil and/or petiole test recommendations)
- Purchase herbicides, pesticides
Spring - What to be doing:
- Finish up pruning
Watch Pruning Concords Video: http://youtu.be/IB8klKkn4_s
Watch Pruning Wine Grapes Video: http://youtu.be/r6kRGrir39Q - Weed management - pre-emergent program
- Scouting for pests - e.g., banded grape bug (Watch Banded Grape Bug Video), Climbing cutworm, grape flea beetle (Steely beetle), Phomopsis
Watch Scouting Video - Prepare equipment - calibrate sprayers before each use, which will begin as early as mid- to late spring
- EICHHORN PHENOLOGY SCALE
3" shoot growth - spray for phomopsis
5" shoot growth - spray for ?
10" shoot growth - phomopsis, black rot spray? Include something for powdery mildew?
- Scout for pests (VIEW YouTube LERGPvids): Watch Scouting Video above
- Specific pests for which you'll need to spray
- Prepare for bloom
BLOOM - Petiole testing - submit ASAP for recommendations on N needs for soil applications
Watch Petiole Gathering Video
- Roots - add nitrogen to the soil by mid-June; preferably 2 weeks prior to bloom (up to 25 lbs actual N) and 2 weeks post bloom (up to 25 lbs actual N)
- Leaves and fruiting zone - scout and spray for:
Powdery mildew | Downy mildew | Phomopsis | Black Rot
- Prepare harvest equipment/Make harvesting arrangements (if you pay someone to pick for you)
- Clean and prep bins and lids
- Soil testing - usually a good time to do so after harvest and before the ground freezes to prepare for next year's fertilizer needs
Watch Soil Testing Video
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