Growing 102 Answers To Questions

• Site Selection and Soil Science Thank you to the following for contributing to this presentation: • Rebecca Harbut - University of Wisconsin Madison, Extension Fruit Specialist • or Table • Kevin Schoessow – Agriculture Agent NW Wisc – Spooner – Which Varieties to Plant • Tim Rehbein - Agricultural Agent Vernon County • Planting, Trellis, etc….. • Dean Volenberg - Agricultural Agent Door County • Wisconsin Grape Growers Association • Vine Anatomy and How To Prune and Train • Pest Problems • Harvest

Site Selection Site Selection Location - Cold Location – • SE-S-SW facing slope Couderay Heat Accumulation • Air drainage down slope to open area -55 °F • Avoid cold air traps at 4 February 1996 bottom of slope • Avoid sheltered areas with little air movement

– Frost free season of 140- 150 days • 2000 Heat Units 50 °F • Lowest temps. -10 to (-15) • Heat Accumulation is the °F is ideal, -20 °F other half of the story tolerable

For More Information on Wisconsin Climate. For More Information on Wisconsin Climate. State Climatology Office State Climatology Office http://www.aos.wisc.edu/~sco/seasons/winter.html#Temperature http://www.aos.wisc.edu/~sco/seasons/winter.html#Temperature

Site Selection Site Selection Location Soil and Soil Test • Soil • Soil Sampling – Well-drained – Sampling Soils for loam Testing A2100 – pH 6.0 to 7.2 http://learningstore.uwex.edu/A ssets/pdfs/A2100.pdf – 125-150 ppm K2O – 30-50 ppm P205 – 1 to 2 oz – Sampling garden soils and turf areas for nitrogen/plant testing A2166 Split application http://learningstore.uwex.edu/A during first year ssets/pdfs/A2166.pdf

1 Vine Balance Wine or Dine

• Wine Grapes ( 15 pounds per plant) – Numerous hardy varieties to choose from – White or red wine – Quality dependent on • Growing conditions • Crop load management • Training system • Table Grapes (Can get to 20 pounds per plant) – Seedless varieties both blue, red, and green/white – Somewhat reduced hardiness • DO NOT OVER-FERTILIZE – Easy to grow – Unique flavors and qualities • 1 cup of a 9-23-30 is sufficient – Juice options for some seeded varieties – Some folks will eat seeded grapes

Wine or Dine or Sublime Table Grape Varieties

Some uses of the grape vine in the backyard or horticultural • Red Seedless Varieties setting are for mainly visual purposes – Reliance (Arkansas) For example on an arbor – Einset (New York) – Vanessa (Ontario) NOT for fruit production – Canadice (New York) Don’t over fertilize Don’t have to worry about critters – Petite Jewel (Wisconsin,Swenson) Don’t have to worry about colored bird poop! – Somerset seedless (Minnesota)

The University of Minnesota is breeding a vine just for this purpose

Reliance Einset

• Vines hardy for zone 5 (T.R.) • Vines are hardy with moderate • Early ripening vigor zone 5 (T.R.) • High production potential • Early ripening after Reliance • Medium sized berries, slightly • Medium sized cling skin berries thick cling-slip skin • Mild flavor and good quality • Mild flavor, strawberry after taste • Variable fruit color if shaded • Production level variable • Consistent performance • Good storage potential • Hardy -15 to -25 °F

Red Table Grape Red Table Grape

2 Vanessa Canadice

• Moderately hardy, vigorous vines • Vines are hardy, moderate vigor • Zone 5 (T.R.) • Zone 5 (T.R.) • Prefers well-drained fertile soils • Sets heavy crops limiting vigor • Early ripening with Einset • Ripens with Einset • Medium sized berries,thin skinned cling skin with very firm crisp flesh • Medium sized berries slip skin • Production and vigor site dependent tendency, somewhat soft flesh • Very high quality and storage life • Good quality, similar flavor to • Hardy -15 to -25 °F Delaware. Labrusca (foxy) flavor • Cluster thin to maintain vigor • Hardy -10 to -20 °F

Red Table Grape Red Table Grape

Petite Jewel Somerset Seedless

• Very hardy, moderate vigor vine • Very vigorous vine • Zone 4 • Zone 4 • Ripens with or before Reliance • First to ripen at WMARS trial – end of August • Berries small-medium size • Berries small-medium size • Firm flesh, fruity-spicy flavor • Clusters ~ ¼ lb • Small loose clusters • Loose clusters • Very consistent performer for • Very consistent performer for harsh winter conditions harsh winter conditions

Red Table Grape Red Table Grape

Table Grape Varieties Marquis

• White/Green Seedless • Vines are hardy of moderate vigor zone 5 (T.R.) • Ripens with,- slightly after Vanessa – Marquis (New York) • Large round berries borne in long loose clusters – Himrod (New York) • Skin thickness reduces with maturity • Good production; slow to establish • Best green for Midwest • Long maturity, best for southern WI

White/Green Table Grape

3 Himrod Table Grape Varieties

• Moderately hardy and vigorous • Blue seedless • Zone 5 (T.R.) – Trollhaugen • Medium sized cling skin berries • Ripens with Einset –Mars • High quality fruit and flavor • Excellent storage potential • Hardiness is still questionable for reliable production in northern areas of WI

White/Green Table Grape

Mars Trollhaugen

• Hardy vigorous vines • Very hardy vines of moderate vigor • Zone 4 if protected (T.R.) • Zone 4 and possibly zone 3? • Midseason maturity • Early maturity before Mars • Small, thin skinned slip skin berries • Medium-large, slip skin • Excellent mild Concord flavor for berries, fresh market sales somewhat thick skinned • Very productive and reliable with • Concord type flavor, good good storage potential quality and storage potential • Excellent for harsh winter conditions • Very productive and reliable Blue Table Grape Blue Table Grape

Seeded Varieties Wine Varieties

• Buffalo – Concord type, hardy, vigorous, early maturity • Red Wine • White Wine – Large fruit of excellent quality • Swenson Red – Foch – La Crescent – Red variety, very hardy, late maturity –St. Croix – La Crosse – Large fruit, firm, excellent quality, needs heat • Bluebell – –St. Pepin – Concord type, early maturity – Leon Millot – Frontenac gris –Very hardy – Reported as best juice variety – – Brianna • Concord – Baltica –Edelweiss –Old favorite – Very hardy, very vigorous – Petite Pearl – Needs heat and long season

Seeded Table Grape Wine Grape

4 St. Croix

• Very hardy vines zone 4b • Very hardy vines 4 a & b • Low to moderate vigor • Moderate vigor • Early maturity • Matures early • High sugar and high acid • Harvested at low sugar • Making some nice • Very productive • Popular wine variety in MN

Red Wine Grape Red Wine Grape

Frontenac Leon Millot

• Very hardy MN introduction • Hardy, vigorous vines zone 4a • Vigorous and very productive • Ripens before Foch, early season • Good disease resistance • Produces good quality Burgundy • Except for black rot • Very productive • Susceptible to Grape Phylloxera • Relatively disease free • High sugar 24-28% • Good choice in short season area • Very high acid • Relative of Foch • Matures early October • Deep red color for ports

Wine Grape Red Wine Grape

Marquette Baltica

• Very hardy MN introduction • Introduction from Estonia • Moderate vigor • Parentage: V. amurensis, V. labrusca, • Production levels of 10#/plant V. riparia, and V. vinifera • Matures mid-late September • Long loose clusters • High sugar relatively low acid • Small sized berries (2 g) • Good disease resistance • Disease resistant except P. mildew • Makes a light red to full complex red wine, climate dependant • Excellent variety for short growing season

Red Wine Grape Red Wine Grape

5 Petite Pearl La Crescent

• Introduction from MN Breeder • Very hardy Tom Plocher • Vigorous and productive • Matures mid-September to early • Resembles in flavor October in MN • High acid/High sugar • Compact cluster with small berries • Breaks bud late (frost protection) • Low disease susceptibility except for downy mildew • Disease resistant to P. mildew, D. mildew, and black rot • Matures late September • High tannin levels and low TA

Red Wine Grape White Wine Grape

La Crosse St. Pepin

• Hardy vines, moderate vigor • Very hardy, vigorous vines • Early midseason maturity • Midseason maturity • Produces fruity non-labrusca wine • Pistillate type needs pollinator • Very productive which is usually La Crosse • Unique flavor even as a table grape • Produces fruity Riesling type wine • Consistent producer • Moderate production • Can get bunch rots • Blends well like La Crosse is a good table grape • Out of all the whites, most in demand by winemakers White Wine Grape White Wine Grape

Frontenac Gris Brianna

• Bud sport of Frontenac • Bred by Elmer Swenson and • Same viticultural characteristics named by Ed Swanson as Frontenac • Medium to large berries • Late midseason 24 to 25° Brix • Medium to small tight clusters (MN) • Vigorous growth • Peach, apricot, and tropical • Very cold hardy aromas • Grapefruit, tropical, floral • Very winter hardy characteristics • Often harvested at low brix 16 to 18, as ripening progresses foxy notes become apparent

White Wine Grape White Wine Grape

6 Edelweiss Planting

• Select North-South row orientation • Bred by Elmer Swenson in the 1970’s • Most of the plants are bare root stock • Medium to large berries • Spring plant into well tilled weed-free soil • Fairly loose clusters • Vigorous growth • Row spacing greater than trellis height • Very cold hardy • Plant spacing 6-8’ apart • German style sweet/semi sweet wine • Root prune vs. plant all roots • Often harvested at low brix 16 to – Excessively long roots cut back 18, as ripening progresses foxy – Prevent twisting and entangling of roots notes become apparent • This photo has hail damage • Plants pruned back to 2-3 expanding buds showing White Wine Grape – Best done after bud swell

Trellis Construction Major Trellis Components

• Trellis responsible for vine + crop weight • Posts: Wood (preferred) – Provides platform for pruning and training – Line Posts – Needs to function for 20-30 yrs. • Spaced 21, 24 or 28 ft apart - Dependent on vine spacing – Construct once and only once – End Posts • Anchored: earth anchor or tie-back post for rows less than 600 ft. • In place year one preferred • Braced: H-brace or slant brace for rows over 600 ft. – Wire available for initial shoot • Wire Support – Keep shoots off of ground – High-tensile galvanized steel wire-12 gauge • Training systems for trellis • High cordon, or Kniffen: 1 to 3 wires • Vertical shoot positioning: 5 to 7 wires – Cane pruning • Geneva Double Curtain: 3 or 4 wires – Spur(2-3 bud cane) pruning

End Post End Post

7 End Post Line Post

Vine Anatomy Vine Anatomy CANES, CORDONS AND SHOOTS… OH MY! • Cordon-permanent stem – Trained horizontally – Not all systems have cordons • Cane – One year old shoot – SPUR- Canes pruned to 2- 3 buds • Shoot – Current seasons growth – Bear fruit clusters

Vine Anatomy Pruning and Training CANES, CORDONS AND SHOOTS… http://ohioline.osu.edu/b919/ OH MY! • Cordon-permanent stem – Trained horizontally Initial Pruning from planting to fruiting – Not all systems have cordons • Cane – One year old shoot High Bi-Lateral Cordon – SPUR- Canes pruned to 2- 3 buds Relies on downward combing of new growth • Shoot – Current seasons growth – Bear fruit clusters

8 Pruning and Training Training Methods

Initial Pruning from planting to fruiting High Cordon Low Cordon

High Bi-Lateral Cordon Use for trailing Use for upright Relies on downward combing of new growth grape cultivars grape cultivars

Training Methods Pruning Rules

Low-Cordon Vertical Shoot Positioning 40 buds per plant for medium to larger cluster grapes Up to 60 buds per plant for smaller cluster grapes The 2013 growing season is developing the 2014 crop For a mature vine, you will remove 80- 90% of last year’s growth

Pruning Rules Pruning Rules

Year one is for developing the root When you start to prune, you have to be Year two is for developing the trunk able to tell what was last year’s growth Year three is for developing the cordon which is usually a nice light brown and maybe a little fruit, 5-10 fruiting color buds Year four is for more fruit, 20 fruiting buds Year five should be a mature vine

9 Grape Pests Diseases Problems

• Weed management With Weed Control critical during • Powdery Mildew establishment years – Start weed free • Downy Mildew – Maintain weed free zone in rows Without Weed Control – Weeds impede air • Black Rot flow-resulting in potential higher • Phomopsis Cane and Leaf spot incidence of grape diseases • Copper and Sulfur Sensitivities

Diseases Problems Powdery Mildew

• Producing organically or naturally does NOT • Fungal Disease mean “do nothing” • Can infect all green tissue • If you want fruit and you want to do it • Cluster petioles and stems organically, as a rule of thumb, you will be – Susceptible all season using twice as much product and spraying • Berries susceptibility twice as often – Based on sugar content – <10% high, >10% none • A dormant application of lime sulfur will help • Overwinters in buds & canes • At minimum, apply the dormant lime sulfur • Dependent on environment and then spray fungicides just before bloom, – Temps. 68-80F at bloom and just after bloom – Cloudy and High Humidity • Midwest Fruit and Grape Spray Guide

10 Powdery Mildew Management Downy Mildew

Early Control is Critical • Fungal disease • Heavy rains will disrupt development • Dry, warm, am/pm dews favor development • Overwinters in infected leaves • Fungicide applications; 8-10” shoot-pre-bloom • Early leaf infection moves to blossoms – 2-3 Applications ,repeat Sept-Oct.; Weather dependent • Favored by rapid growth + wet conditions • Commercial –Nova • Ideal temperature for infection 65° F – Rally, Elite, Procure – Strobilurins; Sovran, Flint • Broader spectrum; Control other diseases • Protective qualities • Home vineyards – Immunox (Myclobutanil)

Downy Mildew Management Black Rot

• Susceptibility Dependent on Variety • Fungal disease infecting leaves - fruit – Vinifera hybrids most- American least – Overwinters in mummified fruit • Control Starts Early – Initial shoot growth to pre-Bloom • Infects early leaves – Critical before bloom to prevent fruit infection – Requires a wetting period – Fungicide applications very effective • Temperature + rainfall(.1”+) + Hrs. leaf wetness – Sporulates on leaves and infects fruit – Continue 10-14 d interval dependent on weather • Commercial – Susceptibility lessens as leaves, fruit mature – Control with Captan, Dithane – Sovran, Flint, Dithane, Mancozeb or Captan • Begin at Pre-bloom – Verasion (fruit coloring) •Home • Intervals of 14 days, 21 days dry weather – Captan, Dithane

Phomopsis Phomopsis Management

• Fungus Overwinters In Canes and Buds • Sanitation • Spores Released in Spring – Remove all dead and infected canes – Needs Free Water – Use only clean healthy propagation wood – Optimum Temps. Of 65-70F – Susceptibility • Fungicide Program • Very Young Tissue of Stems and Fruit – Start early shoot development • Bud Break – Early Fruit Set – Continue through fruit set-pea sized fruit • Varies Among Varieties – Early protection • Captan, Dithane

11 Grape Insects Grape Berry Moth

• Grape Berry Moth • Overwinters in cocoon on ground • Adults emerge May 15-June 15 • Grape Leafhopper • Eggs laid near/On grape clusters • Look for webs on clusters • Grape Flea Beetle •1st Generation pupate in leaf •2nd Generation larva enter fruit • Rose Chafer • Larvae leave fruit to pupate in leaves and debris on ground • Sporadic Pests • Control with Sevin if detected

Leafhoppers Grape Flea Beetle

• Grape and Potato • Overwinter or migrate • Emerge in Spring • Feeding speckles leaves – Feed on swelling buds • Examine leaf undersides • Lay eggs on emerging leaves • High populations • Hatching larvae feed on lvs. – Can Stunt Vines – Fruit Quality Affected • Monitor on warm spring days • Treatment – Apply Danitol or Sevin to active adults – Imidacloprid, Imidan, Sevin – Can cause significant damage

Rose Chafer Sporadic Pests

• Phylloxera – Aphid-like insect • Larvae overwinter in soil – Foliar most important to Midwest – Root feeding important to Vinifera hybrids • Adults emerge at bloom – Produces galls on leaves – Sevin or Danitol at pre-bloom if galls present • Adults feed on blossoms developing, • Japanese Beetle fruit, and leaves – Biggest problem in southern WI • Common pest in light sandy soils – Monitor and spray – Do not use Japanese beetle traps • Control with Sevin, Danitol, and Assail

12 Grape Pests and Phenology Grape Pests and Phenology

Growth stage Bud Shoot Shoot Pre- Bloom Pea- Berry Bunch Verais Pre- Harves Post- Visual swell 1-5” 8-12” bloom sized touch closin on harvest t Harves g t Growth stage Modified 2-3 7-13 14-18 19-22 23 31 32 33-34 35 36-37 38 39-47 Eichhorn-Lorenz

Insects Cutworm ++ Grape Flea beetle + Rose Chafer +++ Grape Berry Moth +++++++++ Grape Leafhopper ++ +++++ Potato Leafhopper +++ +++ Japanese beetle +++

Diseases Phomopsis ++++++++++ Black rot ++++++++ Downy mildew ++++++++++ Powdery mildew +++++++++++ Botrytis bunch rot +++++

Other Grape Pests Other Grape Pests

• Robin • Deer – Delightful to see but can eat a cluster at a time • Starling – Fence, repellants (non- bearing years) • Raccoon • Pileated Woodpecker – Peels the grapes first – Electric fence, they will rip plastic bird netting • The smaller and redder the berry – Trap out the more they like them - Netting

Mid-Summer Pre-Harvest

Leaf removal around clusters at veraison Remove from east side/north side first – More Leaf removal around clusters at verasion Helps with color and sugar development • From the south/west side if it is cooler than normal growing season Cluster Thin if needed • Can get sunscald Usually 2 clusters per shoot for large berry 3 Clusters per shoot for smaller berry

Shoot Thinning Remove secondary shoots that develop Keep shoots growing up or down and NOT sideways

13 Harvest Advanced Pruning – The Challenge

• Harvest – Use a Refractometer to test – Table grape harvest • Multiple harvests for color and flavor • Grapes do not develop more flavor after harvest • Store at 35 °F for up to 7 days – Wine grapes • Sugar development and acid reduction • Should be 20% + (variety dependent) • Can store in refrigeration for several days before processing • Double check all the Pre-Harvest Intervals (PHI) of all the products that you used on the grapes.

Advanced Pruning – The Options Advanced Pruning – Let’s Prune

• Cut them all off at the base of the trunk in spring and • Cut out all the known dead material hope for suckers to grow this year….50/50 chance • Follow dead vines to trunks and cut them out if dead • Prune back into balance….80/20 chance • If buds are tight, it is easier to pull out prunings • Take dormant 4 bud count cuttings during February or March and propagate them first, then go with one of the options above • Keep track of good shoots • You WILL make cutting errors – just don’t make it a finger or hand!

Advanced Pruning – ID the good Advanced Pruning – Count buds

14 Advanced Pruning–What a difference Information

• Wisconsin Grape Growers Association http://wigrapes.org/ • Weekly Grape IPM Scouting Reports http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/door/ • Grape Cultivar Trials @ – West Madison ARS – Peninsular ARS – Spooner ARS

Upcoming Events

For the commercial growers……. All grape production events are always posted on the Wisconsin Grape Grower’s Website http://wigrapes.org/

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