 |
|
|
 |
In
the first weeks of March, the buds on the pruned
canes swell and burst open, and leafy growth
begins on the vines. As the shoots get longer,
they are positioned in the trellis wires to grow
upwards to best harness the sun. The danger now
is frost, which will kill the fragile young shoots.
Shoots killed by frost may re-grow, but with
dramatically diminished fruitfulness.
Spring is when we begin to supplement vine nutrition
through fertigation. For example, if we wish to
add calcium to the soil, we might use our Ag Solution
Master machine to create a suspension of natural
mined gypsum, and pump this throughout the vineyard
through our irrigation system.
Spring also is when we begin to address vineyard
pests. Chief among these pests is Powdery Mildew,
which is prevented primarily by a regular program
of spraying organic sulfur dust onto the vine foliage.
Gophers are another prominent pest. Gophers are
drawn into the vineyard during the winter by the
lush growth of erosion-control grasses. Mowing
and spading between the vine rows sends many of
the gophers scurrying onto the neighboring pasture
land. Releasing native gopher snakes into the vineyard
takes care of many others.
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
