Easy Spring

What a fabulous start to vintage 2023. Cool and very dry conditions have tempered vine growth to a very manageable pace. A dry soil has also slowed weed, cover crop and grass growth allowing us to focus exclusively on vine canopy management. Disease pressure is almost nonexistent. This has been the easiest and most enjoyable spring in recent memory.

This week we are in the middle of “aerating” the fruit zone. All the flower clusters are positioned in a band between the lower two trellis wires. This area, called the fruit zone, is where all the fine tuning takes place. By hand, we are removing newly emerging unnecessary shoots from the head of the vine (also known as suckers or watersprouts), lateral shoots (those small secondary shoots originating from vigorous main shoots) and any leaves that may be preventing air flow. The fruit zone should be open to air and some sun, but not too much sun. There is a skill to getting it just right. The four of us can do about an acre a day.

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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal/Field Notes: June 6, 2023