How to Prune Grapes for the Best Harvest
Grape cultivation is very rewarding. The vines need to be pruned heavily each year to get the best productivity and quality. Don't be afraid - we'll show you how to do it! You HAVE to prune your grape vines EACH year to get the desired harvest. Grapes are only produced on same-season wood. Last year's (and earlier) won't directly produce any fruit. So if you keep letting your vines grow unchecked, you will have massive amounts of woody material and very little fruit. DirtFarmerJay uses the Kniffen method. This is simply a central vine trunk and four side branches per vine, along with two renewal spurs per side branch to create the following years fruiting canes. The pattern we use is two lower opposing side canes (known by grape growers as "cordons") along a wire about 24" above the ground, and another two upper opposing cordons running along the top wire, about 5" above the ground. Two short renewal spurs, about 3 to 4 inches long, and with 2 buds are left in place at the base of each of the 4 cordons. Follow along as DFJ demystifies the process and helps you develop "muscle-memory" for this important grape cultivation skill. Once you get the pattern down, you can approach the most unruly grape vine with confident and bring it back into order and productivity. Just Do It Yourself!
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