2-years Pre-plant · Replanting Existing Vineyard Sites
Are there any special considerations for tearing out an old vineyard and planting a new one?
Studies have shown that replanting grapevines in soil previously planted to grapes tend not to thrive, or they rapidly decline over time. Although many factors have been determined to cause this lack of vigor, it is important to remember that to reduce the likelihood of these problems, growers may need to pull out the existing vines and allow the land to lie fallow - with a cover crop, say, rye or alfalfa - for one, preferably two, years prior to planting. Otherwise, note that posts and wires can be reused in replanted vineyards, and additional preparation can be completed as described in the Site Preparation page.
Steps to Mitigate Replant Issues
- Soil testing. This is a common theme in grape production; for most questions regarding vine health and vigor, extension agents always ask first, "Have you done any soil testing?" Obtaining a complete soil test will enable you to know what amendments the soil needs. Applying soil amendments before a trellis is installed is far easier than trying to find equipment that will fit between rows AND spread the material effectively.
- A local extension educator can provide growers with information on soil testing and recommendations based on test results.
- Herbicide history. Some herbicides - such as 2,4 D, glyphosate, etc. - can have residual activities and negatively affect vines in the year subsequent to their applications.
- Plant a cover crop for 1 to 2 years prior to planting of vineyard. A cover crop can increase soil organic matter and improve nutrient availability to vines.
- Compost. Some studies in plant disease control have demonstrated that composts can have disease-suppression effects in disease-infested soils. Growers may want to consider compost application during replanting of vineyard sites.
Content by:
Dr. Jodi Creasap Gee
Viticulture Extension Educator
Lake Erie Regional Grape Program
Upcoming Events
2019 LERGP Winter Grape Grower Conference
March 13, 2019
8:00am-4:00pm
Fredonia, NY
Come spend the day with the LERGP team and fellow growers engaging in presentations, vendor trade show and conversation. Continental breakfast and a catered lunch are included in fee. Agenda will be available once complete. Giveaways and drawings for prizes!Announcements
Vineyard Improvement Program Applications
Vineyard Improvement Program: An Application GuideYou can apply for the Vineyard Improvement Program (VIP) at https://lergp.com/vip-application/.
LERGP.com also has more information about the program. Frequently asked questions, eligibility requirements, sample budgets and business plans are all available.
Come Join Our Team!
Lake Erie Regional Grape Program Viticulture Extension Specialist Position Open-The Lake Erie Regional Grape Program is an Extension team made up of collaborative efforts between Cornell and Penn State Universities and 5 county Extension offices. It is housed in Chautauqua County, NY in the middle of the Lake Erie Grape Belt, which runs from Niagara County, NY to Erie County, PA and consists of over 31,000 acres of grapes. This program partners with industry (Welch, National Grape, Constellation Brands, Walker's Wine Juice) to help to maintain and improve the vineyard operations in this region. The program is housed in a state of the art facility built in 2009. We work collaboratively with the Cornell Research team that currently is working on a 2.8 million dollar SCRI grant focusing on mechanized vineyard management and digital data collection, "Efficient Vineyard".
Areas of Work Interest:
Grower Education through traditional and innovative means
Vineyard Mechanization
Bud Hardiness
Vine Health
For more information or to apply, please use this link:
Tim Weigle, LERGP Team Leader 716-792-2802 thw4@cornell.edu
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http://lergp.com/podcasts/
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