I can't spend all my time obsessing over the non-existent spring-like weather, or looking for the almost non-existent bloom...well, I could, but I shouldn't. There are other things to be done in the vineyard. So, this weekend I redirected my energy towards unearthing the rootstocks that I field-budded late last summer. There are several simple steps to follow in performing this particular vineyard operation; carefully push away the dirt pile, unwind the grafting tape, check the bud has a good callous, whip off the rootstock's new growth, place a milk carton over the new shoot (in this case Syrah) for protection, all the time avoiding stealth-puppy-kisses from a particular, small black and white dog. Oh, and get up, brush off your knees and move on to the next vine. Easy-peasy!
5 comments:
VG,
Have you explored using growth tubes?
Apparently we have had the driest spring ever...in actuality for us poor north westeners it has rained steadily except luckily for your visit.
Thomas: No, not convinced of their efficacy over the tried, and trusted, milk carton (or OJ if you want to be posh). I seem to remember from my Vineyard Mgt class that cartoned vines grew stronger, with better quality trunks, and were more cold-hardy than their plastic-sheathed counterparts. Besides, who wants to have to store all those weird, corrugated plastic tubes when they're not actually being used?
Thud: It's official - Northern California has just had it's second coolest May on record. I could use some of that fantastic, and totally unexpected, weather I had on my recent holiday right about now.
Hmm.
Over here, in cold-hardy land, young vineyards all around are often lined with the tubes.
I had success using the tube to nurture a new peach tree which I managed to start from a peach seed--it's a long story, and not an easy feat!
Well, yes, Napa is hardly the cold-hardy capital of the world, and some new vineyards actually do use grow tubes, but I was taught to use cartons and they work just fine for me.
Pity I won't get the peach story in person :)
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