Pruning
We are finishing pruning today in the snow! The end of a task that started at the beginning of December, with 20000 vines to prune. Each vine is pruned back to two canes which will produce this seasons crop. All the rest is cut off and mulched into the soil. I find pruning on a clear sunny (but normally cold) day is a real pleasure, but this year we have have plenty of snow and rain plus very cold temperatures, we are all pleased to be finished.
As the vines get older we are training new trunks up to the wire so that we can renew as much of the old wood as possible and remove any diseases in the trunk wood. Every pruning cut is also painted with Trichoderma, a beneficial fungi that helps to prevent harmful spores infecting pruning cuts.
Talking of sunshine, I have just ordered some more solar panels for the winery roof. Ever the optimist, I am hoping we can not only produce enough electricity for the winery but also offset the carbon emmisions for the vineyard tractors as well. The new panels should be up and running by the nd of April, ready for the late Spring heatwave.
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