Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 1 · column 2 of 4 · from the scan, no model involved
..... t • • , . , .
Wine Grape
Crop Reduced.
By CINDY MAHAN T
Rappahannock Newt Staff Writer
Rappahannock County vineyards have been hit hard by the cold and ice this winter.
Most vineyard owners say they are taking a “wait and see” attitude, but determining the extent of the bud loss may be crucial in determining how the vines should be pruned while they are dormant.
On Jan. 19, temperatures dipped to eleven degrees below zero at Persimmon Springs vineyard in Flint Hill.
That same night temperatures of seven degrees below zero were measured at Gray Ghost Vineyard in Amissville and Farfelu Vineyard in Flint Hill.
The Armor vineyard near Nethers registered a low of four degrees below zero.
To assess crop damage, estimations can be made with knowledge of low temperatures occurring at a vineyard, and further tests can be made on the vines themselves, for a more accurate assessment.
Primary buds on grapevines will suffer the most damage when temperatures reach ten or more degrees below zero.
Dr. Tony Wolf, Viticulture Extension Specialist for Virginia Tech, provided information about several counties with vineyards, but he did not have any specific information for Rappahannock vineyards.
In Fauquier County, at a vineyard reporting a low temperature of twelve below zero, primary bud loss is expected to be 100 percent for Chardonnay and Cabernet franc and 95 percent for Cabernet Sauvignon.
In Madison County, at a vineyard which reported a low temperature of seven below zero, the primary bud loss is expected to be 22 percent for Chardonnay grapes, 28 percent for Cabernet Sauvignon, and 19 percent for Cabernet franc.
In Orange County at a vineyard with a reported temperature of four below zero, the expected loss is three percent for Chardonnay, nine percent for Cabernet Sauvignon, and four percent for Cabernet franc.
Just three degrees difference can mean a lot in the expected crop production.
When primary buds die on a grapevine, the secondary buds will produce fruit, but the crop will probably be at least thirty percent less than the primary buds would have produced, vineyard owner Donna Brune said.
In a worst case scenario, if the primary buds have died and frost hits the secondary buds coming out, then the tertiary buds will take over. However, they produce almost all foliage and little fruit, she added.
In Viticulture Notes, Dr. Wolf says, “It is essential to assess the extent of winter injury to make adjustments, if necessary, in dormant pruning schedules.”
Dr. Wolf will be giving a grapevine pruning demonstration in Rappahannock on Saturday, Feb. 26 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Armor vineyard on Route ’Jfrl near Nethers.
The Armors have a five acre vineyard of Chardonnary and Cabernet Sauvignon. The purpose of this pruning demonstration will be to review principles and to focus on the training and pruning of the vines in their formative years.
Also, Dr. Wolf will be discussing various aspects of winter injury, including assessments of bud and wood injury to grapevines.
For more information on the pruning demonstration, call 703-667-2830. The snow/rain date is March 5.
88.5%