Grape stems breaking off at the base - Ask Extension
We pruned back our grapes last year with the help of an expert, to train the overgrown vines onto wire supports. They're budding out and growing like ...
Knowledgebase
Grape stems breaking off at the base #797840
Asked June 25, 2022, 8:14 PM EDT
We pruned back our grapes last year with the help of an expert, to train the overgrown vines onto wire supports. They're budding out and growing like crazy, but the vines seem extremely fragile. Just the weight of the growing vine causes them to snap off at the base where they emerged from the woody trunk. Trying to gently bend the growing vines around to guide them to the wire supports often causes them to snap off too. They're growing fast, but we don't know how to keep them from breaking.
Benton County Oregon
Expert Response
Thanks for contacting "ask extension" with your question about grapevines. We are sorry for the delay in responding, we have been experiencing some volunteer staff shortages.
Young vines are typically easy to snap off. Too much weight or even wind can cause them to break away. It's not something to be concerned about. Grapes are very vigorous and you likely have more vines than you need. Select the vines that you can easily tie to the wire and remove the ones that aren't going where you want them grow. You should prune the vines to make it shorter and more manageable and to direct energy into fruit development (Unless you are trying to train a vine to an arbor or arch and need the length.)
Would you be able to send me a picture, so that I understand your trellis system? With that information I could provide more specific guidance.
Young vines are typically easy to snap off. Too much weight or even wind can cause them to break away. It's not something to be concerned about. Grapes are very vigorous and you likely have more vines than you need. Select the vines that you can easily tie to the wire and remove the ones that aren't going where you want them grow. You should prune the vines to make it shorter and more manageable and to direct energy into fruit development (Unless you are trying to train a vine to an arbor or arch and need the length.)
Would you be able to send me a picture, so that I understand your trellis system? With that information I could provide more specific guidance.
Thanks, Deb!
Vines, I've got. Boy do I ever have vines! I guess I should thin out some of the extras, then. Looking at those
dead-looking stems, I was wondering whether we'd killed them, but that is clearly not the case. Grapes fruit
on first-year stems, right?
These are seedless grapes, been there quite a while and were very overgrown. They used to be growing on some fencing,
but I took all that out and replaced it with five posts and two stainless steel wires. Overall length is about 100 feet. The ends
are anchored in concrete, post-hole sized block in the ground about 2 feet deep. Posts have deep concrete bases and
metal support brackets at the base. Wires run through stainless steel eyes and are tensioned with turnbuckles. The whole
area is surrounded with chain link, since otherwise the deer have a feast. Overhead PVC pipe spacers give the fence some
stability, and the back fence has posts set in concrete. Behind us is city property, the wastewater treatment plant.
MGF
From: askextension=<personal data hidden> <askextension=<personal data hidden>> on behalf of Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Saturday, July 2, 2022 7:51 AM
To: mark mgforbes.com <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Grape stems breaking off at the base (#0067771)
Sent: Saturday, July 2, 2022 7:51 AM
To: mark mgforbes.com <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Grape stems breaking off at the base (#0067771)
Your grapes look very vigorous! I agree, the canes can look dead in early spring, and then they surprise you by budding out.
Berries grow on the new growth from spurs on one year old canes. Once the grapes are dormant, you should cut out all but a few of the new growth from this growing season. Tie Those remaining canes to your trellis wire. (This is call cane pruning).
Keep the trunk and base clear of shoots. You can do a little thinning now, but do the majority after dormancy.
Do you know the grape variety?
They are looking good!
Berries grow on the new growth from spurs on one year old canes. Once the grapes are dormant, you should cut out all but a few of the new growth from this growing season. Tie Those remaining canes to your trellis wire. (This is call cane pruning).
Keep the trunk and base clear of shoots. You can do a little thinning now, but do the majority after dormancy.
Do you know the grape variety?
They are looking good!
No idea on variety. Seedless, mostly green, some red, some dark blue. All tasty. Is there a guide to grape identification,
or is that just a matter of "yummm, tastes good, eat more like these"?
MGF
From: askextension=<personal data hidden> <askextension=<personal data hidden>> on behalf of Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Monday, July 11, 2022 6:57 PM
To: mark mgforbes.com <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Grape stems breaking off at the base (#0067771)
Sent: Monday, July 11, 2022 6:57 PM
To: mark mgforbes.com <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Grape stems breaking off at the base (#0067771)
Why yes there is a guide to grape id! But note, it only list the most common.. there are hundreds and hundreds of varieties out there.
Here's the link to "Grape variety identification" from OSU: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/crop-production/wine-grapes/grape-variety-identification
Cheers!
Here's the link to "Grape variety identification" from OSU: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/crop-production/wine-grapes/grape-variety-identification
Cheers!
