Late May is the start of our growing year. We commenced by thinning- out the heads to reduce the overall canopy size and to allow for improved airflow and spacing around the canopy later in the year. This allows us to select the growth we want for the following year to tie down to the fruiting wires. However, more crown-thinning will need to be done later in the year. We try to remove shoots which may grow outwards into the rows as they are difficult to tie down and often get torn off or damaged by tractors or manual work throughout the year.
June 7th 2024
The canopy did, as it normally does, rush to grow as tall as it can in very little time. This year, we are allowing the canopy to be taller than previous years to optimise the leaf-to-fruit ratio and increase the overall
crop health. This means we will be topping off the vines either later in the month or, preferably waiting until next month, to get the crop as tall as possible without it leaning into the rows or snapping off in the breeze.
June 16th 2024
The canopy grew steadily throughout June and did very well in the last week due to the strong sun. The flowering also started around this time, being very similar to last year, except for the Bacchus grapes which were a little later although, this is unlikely to affect the crop. We prefer to keep notes on key dates from year-to year as it is helpful for making comparisons.
July 2nd 2024
The canopy has got quite large. We have been clipping the foliage wires together to hold the canopy within the wires and keep the stems apart, allowing for better airflow and spray penetration. As the picture above shows, the canopy has become much larger quite quickly. It requires constant management and attention from mid-June onwards. We will keep you updated on the goings-on in the vineyard throughout the year until and after harvest.
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