Vine Size: The most basic management tool
The Concord theme this week is vine size. A common measurement in Concord vineyards, even if it done by eye, is to asses the mass of dormant cane prunings. This measurement is commonly referred to as pruning weight (mass) or “vine size.”
So why do we weight a bunch of sticks that we are just going to chuck? Pruning weight is directly related to the previous season’s leaf area development and function. A vine with a big canopy and low stress will have more pruning mass. It is also an indicator of the vines potential capacity, or total potential for growth for next season…which includes roots, leaves, and stems as well as fruit.
This is important because management decisions, like pruning level, will determine how much of the vine’s energy will be directed to fruit development and how much will go to vegetative structures. Knowing vine size helps vineyard managers decide if they want to be vine focused, fruit focused, or balanced for the upcoming season.
