Q. Should
I cut my grapes back now or wait until spring?
I cut my grapes back now or wait until spring?
A. I
don’t like to finish pruning my grapes until about March 1. This is because I
don’t know what kind of damage they will sustain this winter because of the
cold and wind. If I prune them back to very short spurs or canes now, I run the
risk of losing my crop or a majority of it.
don’t like to finish pruning my grapes until about March 1. This is because I
don’t know what kind of damage they will sustain this winter because of the
cold and wind. If I prune them back to very short spurs or canes now, I run the
risk of losing my crop or a majority of it.
I usually prune grapes in two steps
in our Las Vegas climate; the first step I remove most of this last year’s growth down to
about 18 to 24 inches long. Then I wait for the majority of the winter to pass.
in our Las Vegas climate; the first step I remove most of this last year’s growth down to
about 18 to 24 inches long. Then I wait for the majority of the winter to pass.
.JPG) |
| Leaving growth really long through the winter |
The second step occurs close to the
first week of March. This is the time when I prune the remainder of last year’s
growth down to about one or 2 inches long if I I am producing on spurs and
about 12 to 15 inches long if I am producing on canes.
first week of March. This is the time when I prune the remainder of last year’s
growth down to about one or 2 inches long if I I am producing on spurs and
about 12 to 15 inches long if I am producing on canes.
 |
| Spur cut back leaving only 1 to 2 inches |
Do not cut your grapes back yet. Wait until the major cold
weather has passed.
weather has passed.