PRUNING SYSTEMS FOR GRAPE

VINES

Andrew Teubes
VG Nurseries
 In this presentation
Pruning objectives
Grape fruitfulness
Types of pruning
Spur
Short canes
Long canes
Practical use of pruning systems
 Objectives of pruning

Controlling the size and structure of the

vine
Regulate crop size
Maintain a balance between vegetative
growth and fruiting
maximizing the yield potential while
maintaining the health of the plant
 Fruitfulness of grape vines
Fruitfulness depends on
Grape variety (genetic)
Foliage management (summer practices)
Sunlight penetration into canopy during and after
flowering
Fruitfulness involves the number of
clusters per bud as well as the weight of
the clusters
FRUITFULNESS: 1 year old on 2 year old = fruitful (carry clusters)

Shoot from this season

(1 year)

Spur of previous season

(2 years)

Permanent trunk
(3 years or more)
 14 Thompson Seedless,
Dauphine

10
Natural fruitfulness
Redglobe, increases from the
Autumn Royal
basal position to the
apical position
5

Flame, Victoria 1
 Bud fruitfulness of Thompson Seedless canes as a
function of bud position

0.9
SUN
Number of clusters per node

0.8
SHADE
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Node position on cane
 Pruning types
Short spurs/bearers (2 buds)
High fertility cultivars on cordon trellis
Flame Seedless, Victoria, Dan-ben-Hannah,
Alphonse Lavalle
Half-long/short canes (5-8 buds)
Medium fertile cultivars
Red Globe, Autumn Royal
Canes (10-14 buds)
Low fertility cultivars
Thompson Seedless/Kishmish
 Productivity of Sauvignon blanc as a function of
pruning technique

Pruning Clusters Cluster Total

method /vine weight weight/
(gram) vine
(gram)
2 bud spurs 20.2 63 1273

4 bud spurs 31.7 65 2061

Canes 38.5 79 3042

 Spur pruning
Used for varieties that shows high enough
fruitfulness on basal buds
Vine structure is permanent cordon system
Shoot positioning normally vertical (VSP) or at
angle (Gable, Y-trellis)
Spacing between spurs of 12-15 cm important
Sunlight penetration
Space for the clusters
Length of spur is 2 clearly defined buds
CORRECT SPACING

12-15 cm
Spacing between spurs result in good sunlight
penetration and spacing of clusters

12-15 cm
Clusters well spaced, not touching each
other
Well spaced clusters on spurs
WRONG SPACING
Results of poor spacing

No lignification of shoots

Low crop levels

 Poor spacing of spurs

=
No sunlight in canopy

Dead shoots

Results of poor sunlight in into canopy

 Cane pruning
Used for varieties with low natural fruitfulness on basal
buds (1-3)
Vine structure consists of permanent trunk with annual
renewal canes
Shoot positioning can be vertical or horizontal
VERY IMPORTANT: For every one (1) cane that is
pruned, one (1) 2 bud spur must also be left below the
cane for renewal
Length of cane depends on the position of highest bud
fruitfulness
Bud 5-8: Short cane
Bud 9-14: Long cane
Canes in the field

1 year old cane

from this season

2 year old cane from

previous season
How should it be pruned??

Principle of cane pruning

New cane

NOTE: The spur is always

below the position
of the cane

Spur for renewal

CORRECT CANE PRUNING

Fruiting canes of this season

Cane for spur pruning this season

Short cane of previous season

Spur of previous season in correct

Position below cane
CORRECT CANE PRUNING

New cane

Spur for renewal

WRONG CANE PRUNING

Short cane of previous season

No spur at the base of the cane

?? for renewal
Cane pruning in practice

Canes

Spurs
Cane pruning in practice

Cane

Spur
Well spaced clusters on canes