New Maryland Vineyard

[ChuckD]

grapevines can handle -6 Fahrenheit (i.e. -21 Celsius). If your Cabernet Franc are grafted maybe a bit lower. What are you growing and why?

No Cab here. I’m in Northern Wisconsin. I have all northern hybrids. Marquette, Petite Pearl, Frontenac, Itasca, and Brianna.

It’s not the low temps that bother me it’s the -12F to 45F in a week… and there is lots of winter left so we could be below zero again soon.

 

[Dustyfj]

In central Maryland we were at 9 degrees a week ago and 74 on Friday. I was a little concerned about our cab franc because the buds got fuzzy and look like they swelled a bit. If we get another warm spell, we will probably prune to try and stunt them till temps go back down.

 

[Dennis Griffith]

In central Maryland we were at 9 degrees a week ago and 74 on Friday. I was a little concerned about our cab franc because the buds got fuzzy and look like they swelled a bit. If we get another warm spell, we will probably prune to try and stunt them till temps go back down.
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Have the same problem here in Southern Ohio. Last year was a warm late winter/spring, then we had a 22 degree night in late May. Lost all apples, plums, and pears as all the fruit had set already. Vines took a hard hit as well and I even had a couple that died. Zone here is supposed to be a 6A/B, but i only pick varieties that are 5 and colder. Tried grafted Cab Franc, but they all died over 3 years due to the unpredictable springs. They do not like to freeze after they bud out.

 

[Dustyfj]

2024 season here we go. Pruned all morning. Hoping to get two full rows done today. With my wife and I, we are taking about 5 hours to do two rows. That means about 35 hours of solid pruning left.

 

[Dennis Griffith]

2024 season here we go. Pruned all morning. Hoping to get two full rows done today. With my wife and I, we are taking about 5 hours to do two rows. That means about 35 hours of solid pruning left.

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Great idea with the tarp.

 

[Dustyfj]

Great idea with the tarp.

it wasn’t our idea, but it has worked out really well. Spent some good time out there again today.

 

[ChuckD]

I like the little wheeled off-road seats… where can I find those?

 

[Dustyfj]

I like the little wheeled off-road seats… where can I find those?

Those are both Amazon jobs. I think the optimal height is probably between the two.

 

[Dustyfj]

(Way behind on updates)

We added 220 cab franc this spring. We had a good planting party in the rain with friends and family. We were able to set the remaining posts by hand the same day.

(My son got a rescue pup)

 

[Dustyfj]

early summer we learned about leaf pulling and exposing the clusters. We added another catch wire on each row above the fruiting wire. (See Belford and after on the same vine)

In the last picture check out the color difference between the cab sauv (left) and the Sangiovese (right)

Deer continue to be a nuisance. Especially to the younger vines.

 

[Dustyfj]

Lots of trimming back surrounding trees this year.

We have been hearing for years now that too much vigor can be an issue. This was the first year we needed to continually manage the canopy. Lots of growth!

 

[Dustyfj]

We upped our weed control game this year. I used a water heater tray to make a cone to protect the younger plants. I have to walk both sides of each row to get good coverage. But it does look much tidier. I’ll have to build something that is tractor mounted for next year.

 

[Dustyfj]

Veraison was about mid July for us. Deer are continuing to be a problem.

 

[Dustyfj]

For the most part, our spray plan worked pretty well below 6’. Late July we started seeing loads of downey mildew at the top of the canopy. It appeared to be spreading rapidly to the leaves and grape clusters below. We cut out the worst of it, including mummified grape clusters.

We added a third set of spray nozzles to our hitch mounted sprayer. This seems to have tackled the issue for now. Downside, we are using. More chemical and need to fill the tank three times for each spray. We have our eyes open for a larger tank, or some type of air assist solution.

 

[Dustyfj]

We made the drive to Pittsburgh and back yesterday. We had the pleasure to meet @Hokapsig and take some surplus tanks and tables off his hands.

 

[ChuckD]

I know the vineyard is fairly new. How many gallons do you expect to make this year?

 

[Dustyfj]

I know the vineyard is fairly new. How many gallons do you expect to make this year?

With guidance from our vineyard consultant we were expecting close to a ton of fruit this year. The damage from the deer, especially to the chardonnay, is really severe. I’ll try to get some pictures this week. We have our eyes out for a grant to help build a fence.

 

[ChuckD]

With guidance from our vineyard consultant we were expecting close to a ton of fruit this year. The damage from the deer, especially to the chardonnay, is really severe. I’ll try to get some pictures this week. We have our eyes out for a grant to help build a fence.

When do you start on the winery?

 

[VinesnBines]

With guidance from our vineyard consultant we were expecting close to a ton of fruit this year. The damage from the deer, especially to the chardonnay, is really severe. I’ll try to get some pictures this week. We have our eyes out for a grant to help build a fence.

How many acres are producing?

Re: Deer damage. I solved my deer problem at the same time I tackled the raccoon problem. I put up electric fence netting from Premier One. I got poultry net plus because I thought anything with bigger spacing would not stop the raccoons. Mine is 48 inches high and although the deer could jump it they don’t. I only had one fawn jump in and it spent two days before it took the hit and jumped out.

You can get up to 60 inch deer fence for $139 per 100 feet. Of course the energizer is pricy ($300 to power up to 3500 ft) but the fencing works and it is easy to move. I leave it up all year. I have pictures of the raccoons and deer just walking beside the fence. You will lose a tremendous amount with deer damage.

You can see the white fence around the vines. I have a separate system around the garden. Without it, I’d have nothing. We have tremendous deer and raccoon pressure.

 

[ChuckD]

So far I have been getting by with spraying deer repellent, but you need to be vigilant about it early in the season. This year I got lax and had deer strip almost all the new growth from a couple rows in a single night. My long-term goal is a permanent fence for the vineyard.