To produce strong, healthy grape vines, pruning is key.
Get expert advice on everything from how to prep to exactly when to make your cuts.
The botanical gift that keeps on giving,grape vines provide you with fresh, delicious fruityear after year.
Credit:Johnny Quirin
The secret to producing the most plentiful harvests: pruning.
Becoming familiar with the anatomy of a vine is the first step.
Then, all you need isyour trellis, a cutting tool, and your best gardening judgment.
The benefits (i.e.all the homemade wine, jams, juice, etc.)
are definitely worth it.
Check out a few diagrams or photos online, such as theones from the California Table Grape Commission.
A grape vine is aperennial plant, meaning it comes back each year.
To cut your canes, invest in a pair of handheld pruners or loppers.
Stay away from saws (especially chainsaws).
When deciding on the canes to keep, look for smooth bark and a dark color.
The darker the color, themore cold-hardy the stem tends to be.
Grape Vine Pruning Mistakes to Avoid
The most common mistake home growers make?
They don’t clear out enough canes, Vos says.
It might seem contradictory, but the more growth you remove, the healthier your remaining vines will be.
Another misconception to watch out for involves the size of the cane: Remember that bigger isn’t better.
Moderate-diameter canes yield the best results.
Think slightly thicker than your thumb, and definitely not any smaller than a pencil.
