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University of Minnesota Extension on Training Young Grapevines

University of Minnesota Extension on Training Young Grapevines
Madeline Wimmer
by Madeline Wimmer, Fruit Production Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Extension

　

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Grapevines can be planted and established during their first year without having a trellis installed (left). During the second year of training, grapevine shoots can be grown out from single or double trunks to begin cordon establishment (middle); multiple branches can be grown and then selected during dormant pruning the following year. After the new canes have been selected and tied down to become cordons, the next step allows shoots to grow out to eventually become spurs (right).

Training, trellising, and determining the canopy height

Grapevines require more intensive training than other fruit crops, and they have great flexibility to adapt to various training systems and trellis designs. Training systems and trellis designs go together, in which three-dimensionally trained vines require three-dimensional trellises, for instance. Vine vigor and growth type, harvesting technique, and ergonomics (think about how high you can comfortably reach before deciding to establish 7 foot tall High Cordon vines, for example) all go into the planning and design process.

(Semi) permanent cordon establishment vs cane pruning

In addition to the grapevine training system, trellis type, and canopy height, some growers may also be thinking about whether to establish (semi) permanent cordons, or use cane pruning. In cane-pruned systems, no permanent cordons are established, but instead, the arm is replaced each year. This process works well for varieties grown in conditions where bud survival is high at the cane tips to allow for a final count of 12–15 nodes on each fruiting cane.

Establishing cordons in Upper Midwest regions has its own risk as they can accumulate winter injury, blank wood, and overall decline. This is why they are sometimes referred to as semi-permanent, because, while they are not regularly replaced, they will usually need to be replaced with a fresh cane at one or more points during its lifetime.

As a final note, it is possible to change the height of the canopy, or even training system type for already established grapevines. Although there are some limitations and it may require some added steps to adapt a trellis if converting from Vertical Shoot Positioning to High Cordon, or a three-dimensional system like Geneva Double Curtain. — By Madeline Wimmer- UMN Fruit Production Extension Educator

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Resources:

Training systems for cold climate hybrid wine grapes (University of Wisconsin Extension)

Establishing cold hardy grapevines on spur-pruned high cordon system (University of Wisconsin; includes infographic showing training of vines for first three years created by Madeline Wimmer, 2016)

Madeline Wimmer

Article By

Madeline Wimmer

Fruit Production Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Extension

Madeline Wimmer is a fruit production extension educator with University of Minnesota Extension, based at the regional office in Rochester, where she works with growers across the state on apples, grapes, honeyberries and strawberries. She studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, working with cold-climate wine grapes during her graduate years, and has worked in vineyards in Wisconsin and Missouri. Her programming focuses on building the confidence of new growers producing fruit in Minnesota conditions.