Vineyard wrapping!
While pruning has been a little drawn out this year, I have achieved delaying it until August and as I have stated before, it is preferable to prune later rather than earlier.
Now, you just can’t keep the Minister for communication (yes the same one as mentioned on the Gherardi 2005 Viognier label) away from a camera and I must say it was her first venture into the vineyard for a very long time.
You see I often say “I am down the hill” or “I am in the vineyard “- I have often wondered how much registers some times.
She obvously spotted this yellow bodied, red legged insect bobbing and walking along the rows and was fascinated to see what was happening. With trepidation she ventured down the hill, camera at the ready.
She wondered was he alone or did he have company?
Caddie was on duty basking in the spring sunshine oblivious of most things apart from the odd bird or tourist walking along the river track.
There were also some eight legged friends who had been busy constructing their traps. Great sign having these guys in the vineyard.
Finally she discovered what was going on. The Viognier was being wrapped down, but alas not by the conventional method, there was something a little different happening.
You see if canes are laid flat along the wire you usually end up with poor budburst along the cane - Apical Dominanace! This where the buds at the end and near the crown burst BUt those in the middle do not. If you arch OR bend them then it improves the numbers of buds bursting in this part of the cane.
This method is used rather than apply chemicals to enhance the budburst. The overall aim is to improve the fruiting potential from this clone of Viognier as it has proven a rather shy yielder thus far.
Signs of bud swell are evident and so the early oil and sulphur sprays are urgently needed.
Vineman
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