Grapes, birds,nets and grafts
Back again with a Gherardi vineyard update.
January: Great growing conditions were experienced during the month with virtually no rain to speak of, lots of sunshine and many warm to hot days. This resulted in the start of veraison (berry softening in whites and colouring in reds) during the last few days of the month. On cue my ever destructive feathered friends, the Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), moved in to do their own taste testing of the softening fruit. I knew it was time to have the nets put on. Together with the 28 parrot (B.z.zonarius), these would be the two most destructive pests of the Margaret River during ripening.
In response to the warmer weather the grafts, described in my January post, commenced budding. While there was some variation amongst them, their growth rates increased steadily requiring constant training passes to secure the tender shoots.
These are examples of the first row of grafts conducted during mid December. The most interesting result was that as more vines were grafted into January, the success rate fell away. What this tells me is that this method needs to be employed earlier in the growing season, even if the weather conditions are cooler. I think you obtain a better seal of the graft-union when the shoot, into which you put the graft, is soft and succulent.
February: As the month unfolded, the local red gums have sprung into flower. Earlier observations showed a large quantity of flower buds which have now resulted in one of the heaviest flowerings for many years.
As the red gum blossom is the prefered food source, the Silvereye has moved on. Rain over the past two days has impacted on the current flowers and as a result the birds can be heard chattering in and around the vines. Bring on fine, warm ripening weather.
Will comence tesing sugar levels over the next few days.
Ciao,
Vineman
Technorati Tags: Margaret River, veraison, Silvereye, Zosterops lateralis, B.z.zonarius, 28 parrot, vine-graft
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