Planting Soon - Seeking Wisdom

Villa Niagara · May 24, 2023

My family is jumping into grape growing this season with 135 Cab Franc vines - we’re super excited! We are preparing our little vineyard and I plan on planting vines first and finishing the trellis system over the next little while. Question: how much times can the new vines be supported by just the stakes which will be inserted along with the plants? ( and, is that an OK plan to finish the trellis system last??) thanks in advance!

wood1954 · May 24, 2023

You should be able to use the stakes for the first year. It’s easier to make your trellis when they are small. Good luck, cab franc is a good choice.

ChuckD · May 24, 2023

Villa Niagara said:
My family is jumping into grape growing this season with 135 Cab Franc vines - we’re super excited! We are preparing our little vineyard and I plan on planting vines first and finishing the trellis system over the next little while. Question: how much times can the new vines be supported by just the stakes which will be inserted along with the plants? ( and, is that an OK plan to finish the trellis system last??) thanks in advance!

You don’t need a trellis the first year. This is a Marquette vine at the start of year two

In year one it was maybe 4’ tall. No trellis, just a bamboo stake. In March I pruned to four buds and replaced the bamboo stake with 1/2” rebar. I’ll be building the trellis in a month or so.