Last week, we planted 1,587 Clarion vines in a two acre parcel where we had Sabrevois vines that were first planted in 2004.
Planting vines is a multi-step process.
- Keep the vine cuttings damp until they are planted.
- Mark where the new vines will be planted with ground paint.
- Dig a hole in the ground with a four-inch auger or with a shovel.
- Put the vine in the hole and backfill the hole with dirt that has just been removed.
- Install a six-foot length of pencil rod (1/4-inch steel rod) and the grow tube which will surround and protect the new vine until late August. Secure the pencil rod to the top wire.
- Water-in the new vines.
We harvested petioles (leaf stems) for analysis at a lab. We have to redo some of the petiole samples because the lab could not get enough juice from crushing some of the petioles. We will collect more petioles this week. We also sprayed an insecticide in all of our vineyards because Japanese beetles were already appearing on our vines.
The big job this week will be to continue cleaning up the ground under the vines at Meadowcreek. We will water the new vines and mow all of our vineyards. And, there are some broken posts and H-braces that will be replaced.
