Pruning is simply getting the plant or in this case grape vine growth, to encourage more growth.Growing grapes that are going to be made into wine has been a long tradition in vineyards, backyard gardens, and all throughout history. It takes work and dedication to maintain a grapevine. Like most plants, they need weeding, pest control and pruning in order to receive a good harvest. It can take up to three years for a grapevine to produce any grapes on it. During this time the vine needs careful maintenance and attention through pruning. Pruning is simply getting the plant growth to encourage more growth.The grape vines will need to be trained to maintain their plant size, shape and productivity, this training is not something that can be done overnight - it takes years to do. If it is not done then you will fine that your vines will be growing all over the place and your yield will not be that good.Now lets get into the training... a trellis will need to be setup for the vine to grow against, this will help the plant to take shape. You will need to make sure that the grape vine grows from one strong main shoot coming from the root, if there are other shoots they will need to be cut off. Pruning grape vines is all about cutting back shoots, foliage and vines to help you get the best crop of grapes.Tie the grape vines main shoot vertically to the trellis. The growth will begin, after then next dormant period you will need to develop the vines arms. These are the two shoots on either side of the main shoot and they will need to be tied horizontally to the trellis, these will be the base for the grapes.Any other shoots that come through will need to be pruned back. You will now have your basic grape vine shape and in each dormant period for the life of the plant you will need to do pruning which will bring about a healthy production of grapes.There are many different varieties of grapes, which one you use will depend on where you live. The variety of grape will effect the way that you prune your grape vine as one variety (the hybrid) is a lot hardier in winter and is more resistant to diseases, this in turn means it produces less foliage then the normal variety and requires a different pruning technique.The annual pruning removes the previous years fruiting canes or spurs. Because fruit is only produced on shoots growing from one-year-old canes, healthy new canes must be produced by the vine every year.Pruning can also reduce the crop production by removing the fruitful buds. By varying the amount that is pruned back will influence the crop level. If too much is pruned back, more shoots will grow on the vine which in turn produces more of a crop and more foliage. The more foliage on a vine results in a shady canopy which provides a poor environment for the grapes to ripen.Pruning grape vines is usually done with hand tools like hand pruners, handsaw or loppers depending on the size of the shoot you are cutting off. You will need to take care to avoid injuring the plant.Pruning is an art form but it is an easy art form to learn and pickup and within no time at all you will be an expert pruner and have a delicious crop of grapes ready for eating or wine making.
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Pruning is simply getting the plant or in this case grape vine growth, to encourage more growth. Growing grapes that are going to be made into wine has been a long tradition in vineyards, backyard gardens, and all throughout history. It takes work and dedication to maintain a grapevine. Like most
Harry Rouster is a wine lover and has enjoyed making wine on a recreational level with friends and family. You can find out more about how to prune grapevines at http://www.grapevine-wine.com
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