Journal | April 6, 2020
Hardscrabble Journal
Insidious Climbing Cutworms
It is a small comfort to go back to familiar worries. April’s warmth brings bud swell in the vines. Those plump juicy buds attract climbing cutworms. They systematically hollow out the potentially fruitful buds, leaving the vine barren overnight.
During the day the cutworm lives in the soil at the base of the vine. At night it climbs up the trunk and eats its way through each bud. One vine can be ravished, the neighboring vine untouched.
Every spring we see damage. Some years more than others. So far it hasn’t been too bad, but we still have another several weeks of susceptibility.
As we scout the vineyard for damage, we naturally focus on the affected vines. This can bring a sense of panic. Over the years we’ve learned that the damage is usually not that significant, even though it looks terrible. The crop in some vines will be reduced, but the alternative would be to spray an insecticide which could kill other beneficial insects including honey bees.
Often it is wise to do nothing.
Subscribe to Linden Updates for the latest vineyard and cellar information.
Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal: April 6, 2020