The bunch grape season is well under way throughout the state! Many sites are seeing clear inflorescence emerging indicating shoot thinning should be started. As we approach the prebloom period, it is time to start planning which disease specific materials to add to your backbone spray program (mancozeb and sulfur). This prebloom period is the start for the most important sprays for downy mildew, powdery mildew, Phomopsis, and black rot. As always make sure to rotate FRAC groups and limit the use of these disease specific materials to less than three times a season (two or less is ideal). Keep up with insect scouting and apply insecticide when thresholds are met. You can read in more detail about SE pest and disease management at the Southeast Regional Small Fruits Consortium Bunch Grape Integrated Management Guide.
Tissue testing for your nutrition management program is another upcoming task to consider. Tissue samples should be collected at bloom or veriason (or both if you like the data). Read more about how to sample throughout your vineyard and samples can be submitted to the NCDA&CS for testing. Learn more from our Bunch Grape Webinar Series – Nutrition Management recording here.
Bunch Grape Webinar Series
Insect and Floor Management May 12th 12 – 1 pm Webinar is free but registration required.
NCSU Viticulture Extension presents the monthly Bunch Grape Webinar Series that focuses on the basics of bunch grape management in North Carolina with viticulture experts throughout the US. Our April Webinar will be, “Insect and Floor Management”, May 12th 12 – 1 pm. Our presenters will be Dr. Wayne Mitchem, NCSU Extension Associate and Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium Coordinator and Dr. Lorena Lopez, NCSU Assistant Extension Professor Entomology & Plant Pathology. We will cover the basics of vineyard floor management and how to manage key vineyard pests. Bring your questions and ask the experts!
All previous webinar recordings from this Bunch Grape Webinar Series can be found here.Spotted Lantern Fly Survey
General information on SLF.
USDA scientists are working with local universities on a research project entitled “Areawide Management of the Invasive Spotted Lanternfly and Tree of Heaven” to suppress populations of SLF.
They are asking for local vineyards to fill out the attached short survey to get a better understanding of current management strategies, even if you do not currently have SLF.
