Late Fall Until Spring is Pruning Time

Pruning your grapevines is critical for maximizing both quality and yield and expanding your vineyards. Cuttings can be taken anytime from the late fall until the plants are leafing out in the spring. Cuttings should consist of at least five buds off the previous year's growth. A single cane can usually yield four or five cuttings.

To expand your vineyard, root your pruned cuttings.

Preparation:

Store your Fall cuttings covered in damp, wrung out sphagnum moss. Place both the moss and the cuttings into a plastic bag and keep them cool, but not freezing. Loosely seal the plastic bag and watch the condition of the cuttings from time to time throughout the winter. If you see any mold, open the bag and allow the moss to dry out. If cuttings appear dry and shriveling, moisten the moss up a little. For your early spring cuttings, root them directly into the soil.

Planting:

First, make sure that the soil is loose and well drained. Then, dip your cuttings in a rooting hormone powder and then immediately stick the cutting into the soil. At least two buds should be buried. Your cuttings should start budding and rooting within a month and in a year they should be ready for transplanting.

Repeat this process every year and you can expand your vineyards indefinitely.