ve Garden Grapevine Questions

Hopefully I’m posting this in the right place, if not my apologies.
I have planted 12 grapevines in my backyard for fun - mostly chambourcin as I figured it would be easier than going to vinifera. They are planted along our fence in what looks pretty much like clay soil. I put in 4x4 posts every 14ft that are around 2 meters high. I’m outside of Philly.

Last year the vines grew, most of them are around 2-3 meters long. From my understanding this year they should be pruned before Spring so that there is only one “main” stalk. A couple of questions:

  1. If at the base of the vine there are two stalks that both seem to be “main” stalks (like a Y split almost) - should I keep the thicker one, or the one that is longer?
  2. What is the best time for pruning? After last frost, or before while they are still in dormancy?

Lastly - I wanted to put in a few more vines - and wanted to grow some vinifera. I’ve read that Cab Franc is suitable for this area/climate. Would Nebbiolo have a chance?

Thanks in advance for any help. Any other thoughts are more than welcome, I am a total noob! newhere

Daniel - I might suggest the following forum … http://www.winepress.us/forums/index.php?/forum/9-grape-growing-and-vineyard-management/ … as many hybrid growers chat there including some of the midwest and east coast nurseries. Look through past threads on that forum and you will see many entries to some of your questions. If not ask some questions there. With pruning the first year will be a significant haircut and now is the time to do it. Double trunks are common with hybrids but when to introduce is better left to a discussion by folks growing these grapes. One thing you had not mentioned is what kind of trellising do you intend to do? Where you are located the bordeaux varieties are performing well and a little south of you is a vineyard that grows Italian varieties including nebbiolo …What is Va La? Va La Vineyards is a small farm in Avondale, Chester County, Pennsylvania . Good luck…Gary

Thanks for the info and link, appreciate it!

Chambourcin is not very cold hardy when compared to other hybrids and is actually closer to cab franc in that respect. So to minimize your risk I would double trunk your vines. Research done in Maryland showed that winter temps can result in trunk death but that it does not always impact both trunks avoiding vine death in some vines that would have otherwise been lost.

Cab franc is widely grown on the east coast with varied results. Neb is rarely grown and generally not that good where it is grown. Neb is very vigorous in Virginia and those I have spoken with that grow it went to a divided canopy to manage the vigor.

If you have not prunned yet I would do so now. Bud burst should be within the next couple of weeks for you based on what I am seeing from my vines.

Chambourcin is cold hardy. We have been growing it in our vineyard in southeastern PA since 1975. The coldest temperature during that time was -17F and it never got above zero that day. No winter damage. Chambourcin is hit hard by grape root borer and most vine death is due to this nasty grub. Grafting chambourcin is usually recommended, although it will last about 20 years on its own roots with no attempt to control grape root borer.

Of all the vinifera I would recommend Cab Franc for the amateur. It has been in our vineyard since 1985. All hybrids and vinifera do need a good spray program. In our humid and wet climate a good spray program is a necessity. You can check out http://www.pawinegrape.com for the Cornell and PSU grape spray booklet.

Double trunking is not a necessity for the hybrids. Even our Cab Franc is single trunk. I do double trunk our Pinot Noir. It seems to get crown gall easier than Cab Franc and sometimes I can save a vine with a double trunk but not always. Having a single or double trunk really will not matter for you.

Zero experience with Nebbiolo.