TRAINING AND PRUNING

The systems of training the Grape are as various as can well be imagined, but the one which seems to recommend itself as the best, is as follows:SFCC 18.3

Soon after planting the Grape, set a stake by its side firmly in the ground, leaving five or six feet above ground. To this the vine should be kept tied with strong rags, basswood bark, or something that will not damage the tender vine.SFCC 18.4

The first year of setting, the root should be allowed to send up but one shoot, from which the laterals (little shoots starting from the base of each leaf,) should all be kept off. Fuller says that each lateral should be allowed to make one leaf before it is trimmed, then pinch the end off above the leaf. As leaves filter the sap, they should not be trimmed too close. This vine, if thrifty, will make from four to six feet the first year. At the time of the fall trimming, this cane should be cut down to within twelve or eighteen inches of the ground. Fall trimming should be done as soon as the leaves drop off.SFCC 18.5

The second year two shoots may be allowed to grow from this stub, each shoot being supported by a stake. These shoots, if thrifty, will usually bear three bunches each. If they are not very vigorous, the bunches should be pinched off immediately after they have set. All the laterals should be kept trimmed close. These vines should not be allowed to make more than six or eight feet during the season, and at the time of fall trimming should be cut back to five or six feet.SFCC 19.1

The third year these two vines should be trained to separate stakes. Fruit-bearing shoots will start out from these last year’s canes, the ends of which should be pinched off after the fifth or sixth bud. These shoots will usually bear three or four clusters each. The laterals should all be kept subdued. At the time of the fall trimming the arms which have borne this year should be trimmed off to within two buds of the old stock, saving the original two stocks for standard bearing vines, allowing bearing arms to start from them each year, and trimming them off in the fall to within two buds of the old vines.SFCC 19.2

If after several bearing years the canes become degenerated, the fruit smaller, and not of as good flavor, they should be cut down to within twelve or eighteen inches of the ground, allowing them to send up two new shoots as before.SFCC 19.3

The vines should be taken down from the stakes in the fall, just before the ground freezes, and covered with earth, especially till they are four or five years old.SFCC 20.1