Backyard Vineyard - Annual Maintenance to Prevent Problems and Make Great Grapes

[@aarons8295]

Cherokee County GA- I use a side netting that has a very small weave. It keeps out the birds, wasps, hornets, and any insect except fruit fly. I had a problem with sour rot, but now I use pristine, and oxidate mixed with insecticide. Just have to make sure it gets through the netting to the grape cluster. Growing Syrah, Viognier, and Cabernet Sauvignon

[@GEOPH2625]

Sometimes I'm grateful I live in Utah. The low humidity and minimal rainfall really helps with pest control.

[@NickDeWachter]

Very good explanation! Interesting to hear that the pests over there are quite different compared to the ones we suffer from in Belgium. Next to wasps the main issue here are Suzukii fruit flies (Drosophila Suzukii). If you don't have those yet over there, praise yourself lucky!

[@kylehermes630]

I have some cuttings of Frontenac and st criox budding out in pots here in WI. This video is giving me second thoughts.

[@fowlfables]

I'm in southern California. Most years, we get next to no rain after May. August usually includes a couple days over 110 F. Got 2 dozen vines on drippers, and I have to net well by July or risk losing most of my harvest to pests (bees, surprisingly). I actually had to use shade cloth some years due to extreme heat. I'd love more tips on pruning as the season progresses. What is the best place to cut on a stem, how do i fix some older vines that twisted incorrectly some years ago, how tall is okay before needing to cut, etc.

[@jimdent351]

I wish I had the room to have my own vineyard. I guess it allows me time to do other things. For now I'll have to be content buying them

[@TheHomeWinemakingChannel]

It is a pretty serious undertaking but is super rewarding if nature doesn't come at you too hard! It really puts into perspective the amount of labor necessary for a large vineyard and starts to make it feel more worth it to pay for grapes

[@Jack-It-UP]

Great reporting thank you.

[@TheHomeWinemakingChannel]

Thanks!

[@quistplay7370]

I would love a video on making high quality melomels, I know that others would agree. Keep it up!

[@fraserskomorowski2311]

ManMadeMead, Doing the Most and City Steading Brews would be three channels that cove all things mead.

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Great tips. We are just seeing our first bugs today. My biggest problems are the Japanese beetles. With our hives I can't use chemicals, much. Have you ever tried soap sprays?

[@GEOPH2625]

I would love to see your diy air blast sprayer

[@Hillcapper1]

I’m looking at doing a small vineyard on my property, around 40-50 vines. I’ve had soil test done and Double A vineyard supply has made several recommendations for varieties. One is Regent which my wife’s extended family grows in Germany, it was very good wine, sort of Pinot Noir but a little ‘heavier’. Do you have any experience with that? Also, they like Chambourcine for my area and soil.

[@TheHomeWinemakingChannel]

There is a tricky balance between what is best to grow and best to make wine from. The easiest hybrids to grow generally aren't the easiest to make wine from and reds can be especially difficult to make great wine from. I would consider regent but probably not chambourcin. Keep in mind, some hybrids are sold grafted onto different rootstocks for different soils. You also don't necessarily want the "best" root for the soil in the sense that it will make the biggest healthiest vine. One of my biggest problems is that the vines have too much vigor and will create dense canopies that will trap moisture.

[@ILuvRum]

Northern Maine checking in. I've been at it for a few years, learning as I go and just found your channel and man, you have a lot of great information that will help me a lot. I grow exclusively hybrids (Marquette, Brianna and Itasca) as it is too cold, sometimes as low as 30 below zero here, for anything else. I am thinking about trying the Petite Pearl you mentioned as I have been looking for a red to augment/ blend with my Marquette. I have seen them but didn't know what to think about them. Are they high acid?

[@kennethtrumpower6654]

Everything that I have been told the spotted lantern fly will be at its peak. Birds are learning they are safe to eat.

[@joeydecarlo2532]

Curious about your thoughts on organic. It seems like copper and sulfur fungicides are the main sprays you can use for disease. Just about no pesticides. My vines are in year 3 now, mostly Itasca, and I'm considering this route. Western Wisconsin, St. Croix Valley area. Our main pests are deer and Japanese beetles!

[@TheHomeWinemakingChannel]

If you are doing pretty disease resistant hybrids you may be able to get away with organic sprays. With vinifera that is basically no shot, unless you are somewhere more Mediterranean.

[@tjjt6066]

SoCal based so im not as worried about the cold, but is year 1 just essentially letting the vines grow as much as they can? No real training yet?

[@TheHomeWinemakingChannel]

Yeah no real training in year one. Some people subscribe to the "bush vine" year one to maximize leaf area and let the roots really establish. I like to grow them up in a tube, since an untubed vine would get wiped out by our wildlife here.

[@tjjt6066]

@@TheHomeWinemakingChannel Got it, thank you!

[@fowlfables]

SoCal here, too! East SD, summers get hot. Drippers on timers are your friend. Keep an eye out for those green beetles, and years 2+ I suggest by mid July using netting that can keep out wasps and bees (AG Fabric is a good brand).

[@TL50-r9f]

burning sulfur helps with big infestations.