| Do I Cluster Prune? |
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|  It's June, the clusters have shown themselves, and you're wondering whether you should cluster prune. What are advantages and disadvantages to cluster pruning? What infloresences do I prune off? What's the big deal and what's it all about? That's what I intend to explore in this newsletter.
First let's explore the advantages.
- Less stress on the vine
- Larger remaining clusters
- Earlier ripening
- Higher brix
- Lower acids
- Earlier cane maturity
Less stress on the vine means a healthier vine. Fruiting takes a lot of energy. There is a balance between all the metabolic functions of the grapevine and producing fruit is one of the most taxing. By reducing the fruit load of the vine through cluster pruning, you allow more energy to go to shoot growth and cane maturity. This energy not only goes into growth, but goes to strengthening functions like disease resistance.
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| 2004 Spring Pruning Workshop |
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|  Rist Canyon Vineyards would like to envite you to our Spring Pruning Workshop.
This workshop will cover Bud Evaluation, Trellis and Training Systems, and basic Spur and Cane Pruning. We will also have some discussions of varieties and other topics of interest to the participants such as the use of sodium alginate for delaying bud burst and frost avoidance. Other methods of frost avoidance will also be discussed. It will be a half-day workshop at the Rist Canyon Vineyards just to the northwest of Fort Collins, CO.
I have tenatively set the date for Sunday April 18, 2004. (In the event of deep snow on that date, I will re-schedule the event for the following Sunday.) Rist Canyon Vineyards is located on a dirt road and 4-wheel drive vehicles are recommended for travel.
If you would like to attend, fill out the form below to obtain the times, adgenda, and a map to the Rist Canyon Vineyards.
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| Tell
Us What You Think |
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| We
would love to hear what you think of
this issue of Rist Canyon Vineyards Grape Growing Newsletter. And of
course, if you have any suggestions
for upcoming issues that you'd like
to share with us, please send those,
too!
Just email me at: ristcanyonvineyards
Thank You for subscribing to the Rist Canyon Vineyards Newsletter.
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In
This Issue:
-
Do I Cluster Prune?
- 2004 Summer Workshop
- Tell
Us What You Think
RCV Sponsors:
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GEMPLER'S strives to be the leader in the product niches where they specialize. GEMPLER'S Online Farm Store has made it a point to offer the largest selection of the following areas in their catalog and on-line store:
Safety and personal protection equipment for people working outdoors.
Work apparel: boots, gloves, hats, caps, coveralls, etc. – including personalized embroidery for these goods.
Horticultural tools and supplies: pruners, shovels, sprayers, flagging, carts, and a lot more.
Pest management diagnostic equipment and supplies, from pH meters to pheromone lure traps.
They have the largest assortment of IPM products that growers can use to monitor soil, weather, nutrient and insect problems.
Weather monitoring equipment.
Unique maintenance tools and supplies .
Tire repair and replacement supplies
(This category is where GEMPLER'S got its start in 1984.)
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