We are approaching budbreak quickly! It is time to wrap up pruning and/or start watching for budbreak to complete delayed/double pruning. If you are implementing delayed/double pruning, the final pruning step to the desired number of spurs and buds per vine should be performed manually at growth stage E-L 4-5, budburst: leaf tips visible. The apical buds on the pre-pruned one-year-old wood will break first, and in the case of a late spring frost, will be “sacrificed” for the still-dormant basal buds, which will be retained after the final manual pruning step. More information for frost prevention and management can be found in the here.
Another task that should be completed is vineyard sprayer calibration. Resources here. If you would like to attend an in-depth, hands-on demonstration and training, we are holding a Vineyard Sprayer Calibration Workshop with Sprayer Expert Gwen Hoheisel, March 27th 9 am - 3 pm. Registration will be $25 and includes lunch. The registration link for the March 27 Vineyard Sprayer Calibration Workshop.
Pest and Disease management plans should be starting soon. Briefly for bunch grapes, preventative fungicide sprays for powdery mildew, downy mildew and Phomopsis sprays should begin after budbreak. Please brush up on products and application timings in the 2023 Southeast Regional Bunch Grape Integrated Management Guide. Another great resources is the My IPM app.
Once shoot growth has begun nutrients can be applied. We will be holding a nutrition webinar, “Building a Nutrition Management Program”, March 19th 12 – 1:30 p.m. Our presenters will be Jagathi Kamalakanthan, Soil Agronomist with NCDA, John Havlin, Professor of Soil Science and Extension Specialist at NCSU, and Justin Scheiner, Assistant Professor and Extension Viticulture Specialist. During this webinar we will learn how to interpret soil and foliar test results from the NCDA, how to incorporate fertilizers per recommendations, and the practical application for vineyard nutrition management. Registration is free but required. Penn State has a great Nutrition Extension Publication, A General Review of Applied Grapevine Nutrition Principles, for additional reading.
