Grape vines and pruning

[ducks4you]

Ok--so I've lived on the property for one decade, with my 5-strike that, one died--4 vines, don't know how old, producing tons of Concord grapes each and every year. So...I follow the advice of some book that suggests if I DON'T prune my vines, eventually they'll just die. The suggestion was to prune in late winter/early Spring. So...I pruned all of them. I pruned down to just a few tendrils. Well...this (extremely wet) spring and summer my vines grew and grew and grew. They produced perhaps only 10 clusters, which ripened, fell off or were eaten by birds and bugs. The vines LOOK beautiful and healthy, but, like NO FRUIT this year!!!

So...what did I do wrong? What can I expect next year? Should I prune again? I need HELP!!!!!

 

[Greenthumb18]

Ok--so I've lived on the property for one decade, with my 5-strike that, one died--4 vines, don't know how old, producing tons of Concord grapes each and every year. So...I follow the advice of some book that suggests if I DON'T prune my vines, eventually they'll just die. The suggestion was to prune in late winter/early Spring. So...I pruned all of them. I pruned down to just a few tendrils. Well...this (extremely wet) spring and summer my vines grew and grew and grew. They produced perhaps only 10 clusters, which ripened, fell off or were eaten by birds and bugs. The vines LOOK beautiful and healthy, but, like NO FRUIT this year!!!

So...what did I do wrong? What can I expect next year? Should I prune again? I need HELP!!!!!

Well your suppose to prune 75 % of the grape vines so you'll produce better next year.
Maybe you pruned too many thats a possibility.

Here read this post through theirs some information.


http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=26556&p=1

 

[ducks4you]

I read the post, but it didn't really answer my question. The book I read had 2 page articles on a number of different gardening topics. The author suggested that sometimes you have to prune a vine all of the way down to the ground, if it's been neglected too long. I left about two shoots for each vine from the previous year--no where NEAR 75% of each plant, maybe 50%. Do you think that the weather had anything to do with it? I know that I've had a lousy tomato crop this year from the heavy rain. Anybody got any other ideas?

 

[chills]

so sorry i have no answers, only questions myself .. im always on the hunt for grape info .. i'll be watching and reading what others have to share ..

 

[ducks4you]

I may have researched and answered my own question:
http://books.google.com/books?id=pm...nepage&q=excessive rain on grapevines&f=false

I was kind of hoping that the problem was caused by excessive rainful---we have had an extreme overabundance of rainful here since January!--instead of something insidious.

Guess I'll prune this fall and make a wreath or two, then wait until next year! Thanks for the help, all.