Grapes and Vineyards

1
Grapes and Vineyards

• Nicki Walker
• South Nodaway
• Winter Intersession 2005
• AGE 518

2
Objective

• The students will be able to identify
  characteristics of and techniques for growing
  grapes.

3
Requirements for Grape Production

• A growing season of at least 140 frost-free days.
• A site with full sunshine and good air drainage.
• Soils that are neither waterlogged nor shallow,
  at least 3 feet deep.
• Willingness to spray for pest control.
• Patience to wait three to four years for vines to
  reach maturity before cropping.
• Annual pruning of vines.

4
Vineyards
5
(No Transcript)
6
(No Transcript)
7
Types of Grapes Grown

• Old World Types
• Grown in California and some southwest regions
• Used for wine and table
• Muscadines
• Grown in southern regions
• Used for wine and table
• American and French-American
• Grown in humid regions
• Tolerant of diseases and insects
• Used for Midwest regions
• Grown for wine, table, and processing

8
Starting a Vineyard

• Plant wines in the spring.
• Plant vines at about the same height they were
  grown in the nursery.
• Cut top back to 2 to 3 buds.
• After these buds break and new shoots begin to
  grow, remove all but the most vigorous and
  straight shoot.
• Support systems.
• 4 cane kniffen
• Geneva double curtain
• General considerations for support systems.
• Bracing
• Set posts no more than 20 feet apart
• Use 11 or 12 gauge smooth galvanized wire
• Lowest wire should be 30 to 36 inches above the
  ground

9
Kniffen System
10
Geneva Double Curtain
11
Pruning and Thinning

• Pruning is conducted during the dormant season.
• Fruiting canes are trained outward along trellis
  wires.
• Portions of or whole fruiting canes are removed.
• Cluster thinning is conducted to remove
  additional excess grape bunches to balance the
  fruit load.

12
Pruning (Start to Finish)
13
Harvesting

• Table Use
• Good flavor
• Blue grapes lose their red color
• White grapes change from green to golden yellow
• Ripe berries will soften and seeds become brown
• Wine Use
• Experience
• Acid and sugar levels measured with special
  instruments

14
Harvesting
15
(No Transcript)
16
Evaluation

• List the basic requirements for grape production.
• What type of grape is generally best suited for
  Midwestern growing conditions?
• What is the growers objective for the newly set
  grape plants first season of growth?
• Describe cluster thinning.

17
Additional Information

• http//www.missourigrapegrowers.org/hu1.shtml
• http//www.vesta-usa.org
• http//muextension.missouri.edu/xplor/agguides/hor
  t/g06090.htm
• http//www.ipmcenters.org/cropprofiles/docs/mograp
  es.html
• http//library.smsu.edu/paulevans/enology/enology5
  .shtml